Queen Mary's Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Queen Mary's Grammar School (QMGS) is a selective grammar school located in Sutton Road, Walsall
, England
, about a mile from the town centre.
is the destination for girls aged 11 passing the entry exam. Despite expansion, it is still small by modern standards, with about 700 pupils, while the sixth form consists of well over two hundred students.
as its royal patron and benefactor. At this time it had about sixty pupils, all boys, and taught Classics
almost exclusively.
The current headmaster is Mr. Tim Swain; the Deputies are Mrs D Wood and Mr R Langton, the Assistant Heads are Mr. Tim Lawrence, and Mr. Mark Donnan.
. The extra funds from this have, amongst other things, facilitated the building of a new wing of the school buildings. The school recently completed work on a new sports hall to support the current gym and swimming facilities. The Science Block was also updated, with new Biology labs being built.
of Queen Mary and reflects her parentage, being formed from half a Tudor rose
(a symbol of Henry VIII
) impaled
with a sheaf of arrows (a symbol of Katharine of Aragon
). The badge was modified slightly during the 2006/2007 school year. A fully red rose was changed to an accurate red and white Tudor rose, which is usually shown with a red outer rose and a white inner one. However the school's Tudor rose, based on early school records, has a white outer rose and a red inner one, which the College of Arms
accepts as equally valid. Despite the update, there are still some subtle differences between the current badge and Queen Mary's.
The school's motto is "Quas dederis solas semper habebis opes" ("those which you give, alone are the riches you will always have", originally a comment on the value of investing in friendship from the last line of Martial's
epigram XLII, Book V.), although "Floreat Regina Schola Mariae" is also used (literally, "May the school of Queen Mary flourish").
The school retains a number of traditions of dress and conduct. Green and blue school jumpers and ties are reserved for the sixth form. In 2004, the school celebrated its 450th anniversary which included a commemorative tie. Some responsibilities for discipline are delegated to prefects, who have the privilege of setting lines (of the school motto) as a punishment for misdemeanours. Events including Speech Day, Sports Day, and the Carol Service are held yearly.
contingent (Army and RAF sections).
The school has a close relationship with its sister school, Queen Mary's High School
. Pupils regularly collaborate to stage plays; the previous performance was 'Cinderella', as the sixth form pantomime. The two schools participate in a German exchange every year with a school in the town of Biedenkopf
.
In sport, the school's Under 18 and Under 16 hockey teams both won the Staffordshire Cup for their respective age groups in the same season.
QMGS also hosted the national finals of Junior Schools' Challenge
quiz on 24 June 2007, with a team from the school winning the Plate Final. In 2008, the school hosted and reached the national final, losing in the final.
The school is the only school in the country to have won the UKMT Junior Maths Team Competition twice, doing so in successive years. The competition attracts over 1000 schools every year.
, receiving an OBE. He is currently Wing Commander
of the CCF. Late PE teacher George ('Sam') Crudace was awarded the BEM.
Famous former pupils include:
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, about a mile from the town centre.
Admissions
Admittance to the school is by entrance exam, taken at the age of 11. A cohort of 96 pupils (all boys) enters the school in September each year. There is further intake for sixth form; the school receives applications from pupils attending schools around the borough, and at this stage of the school, girls are also admitted. Nearby Queen Mary's High SchoolQueen Mary's High School
Queen Mary's High School, situated on Upper Forster Street, just outside Walsall town centre, is an all-female selective-education school and entry in Year 7 is by passing an entrance exam...
is the destination for girls aged 11 passing the entry exam. Despite expansion, it is still small by modern standards, with about 700 pupils, while the sixth form consists of well over two hundred students.
Foundation
It was founded in 1554 by George and Nicholas Hawe, two leading townsmen, with Queen Mary IMary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
as its royal patron and benefactor. At this time it had about sixty pupils, all boys, and taught Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
almost exclusively.
New sites
It has grown significantly since its foundation and moved three times. Originally housed in an old town guild-hall near St Matthew's Parish church, it moved to Park Street in 1811, into new buildings in Lichfield Street in 1850 (a site now used by Queen Mary's High School for Girls) and finally to a purpose-built school on the Mayfield site in 1965.Headmasters
- Anthony Hamilton 1951-55 (Head from 1955-74 of Hardye's SchoolThe Thomas Hardye SchoolThe Thomas Hardye School is a secondary school in Dorchester, Dorset.As part of a scheme run by the BBC and the British Council called Olympic Dreams, the school is twinned with The Doon School which India's first Olympic Gold Medalist Abhinav Bindra attended as a child.-Admissions:It provides...
, Dorchester, and previously Head from 1948-51 of Strathallan SchoolStrathallan SchoolStrathallan School is an independent boarding and day school in Scotland for boys and girls aged 9–18. The school has a campus at Forgandenny, a few miles south of Perth. It typically takes 50 minutes to travel to the school from Edinburgh and 1:15 hours from Glasgow.The school has 99 full time...
) - Hugh Montagu Butler 1931-51
The current headmaster is Mr. Tim Swain; the Deputies are Mrs D Wood and Mr R Langton, the Assistant Heads are Mr. Tim Lawrence, and Mr. Mark Donnan.
Academic performance
Queen Mary's performs very well in exams across the board, with consistent success in the sixth form. In recent years, the school has become a specialist Language CollegeLanguage College
Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages...
. The extra funds from this have, amongst other things, facilitated the building of a new wing of the school buildings. The school recently completed work on a new sports hall to support the current gym and swimming facilities. The Science Block was also updated, with new Biology labs being built.
Traditions
The school's badge is based on the Heraldic badgeHeraldic badge
A heraldic badge is an emblem or personal device worn as a badge to indicate allegiance to or the property of an individual or family. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance...
of Queen Mary and reflects her parentage, being formed from half a Tudor rose
Tudor rose
The Tudor Rose is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the Tudor dynasty.-Origins:...
(a symbol of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
) impaled
Impalement (heraldry)
In heraldry, impalement is the combination of two coats of arms side-by-side in one shield or escutcheon to denote union, most often that of a husband and wife, but also for ecclesiastical use...
with a sheaf of arrows (a symbol of Katharine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
). The badge was modified slightly during the 2006/2007 school year. A fully red rose was changed to an accurate red and white Tudor rose, which is usually shown with a red outer rose and a white inner one. However the school's Tudor rose, based on early school records, has a white outer rose and a red inner one, which the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
accepts as equally valid. Despite the update, there are still some subtle differences between the current badge and Queen Mary's.
The school's motto is "Quas dederis solas semper habebis opes" ("those which you give, alone are the riches you will always have", originally a comment on the value of investing in friendship from the last line of Martial's
Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis , was a Latin poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan...
epigram XLII, Book V.), although "Floreat Regina Schola Mariae" is also used (literally, "May the school of Queen Mary flourish").
The school retains a number of traditions of dress and conduct. Green and blue school jumpers and ties are reserved for the sixth form. In 2004, the school celebrated its 450th anniversary which included a commemorative tie. Some responsibilities for discipline are delegated to prefects, who have the privilege of setting lines (of the school motto) as a punishment for misdemeanours. Events including Speech Day, Sports Day, and the Carol Service are held yearly.
Activities
A host of extracurricular activities is available for pupils, including plays and drama, sports teams, subject-related societies, and a Combined Cadet ForceCombined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
contingent (Army and RAF sections).
The school has a close relationship with its sister school, Queen Mary's High School
Queen Mary's High School
Queen Mary's High School, situated on Upper Forster Street, just outside Walsall town centre, is an all-female selective-education school and entry in Year 7 is by passing an entrance exam...
. Pupils regularly collaborate to stage plays; the previous performance was 'Cinderella', as the sixth form pantomime. The two schools participate in a German exchange every year with a school in the town of Biedenkopf
Biedenkopf
Biedenkopf is a spa town in western Hessen, Germany with a population of 13,271.- Location :The town of Biedenkopf lies in the west of Marburg-Biedenkopf district. Ringed by mountains reaching up to 674 m above sea level – the Sackpfeife in the Rothaargebirge reaches this height – the town...
.
In sport, the school's Under 18 and Under 16 hockey teams both won the Staffordshire Cup for their respective age groups in the same season.
QMGS also hosted the national finals of Junior Schools' Challenge
Schools' Challenge
Schools' Challenge is the national general knowledge competition for schools in the United Kingdom. It uses the same basic rules as University Challenge, although it is affiliated with neither the game nor the television show....
quiz on 24 June 2007, with a team from the school winning the Plate Final. In 2008, the school hosted and reached the national final, losing in the final.
The school is the only school in the country to have won the UKMT Junior Maths Team Competition twice, doing so in successive years. The competition attracts over 1000 schools every year.
Notable former pupils
Former history master and former Labour councillor for Pelsall – Tom Perrett – was awarded the MBE in January 2007. The late John Anderson, former Second Master, received the MBE for services to the CCF. Dave Pomeroy, a former Maths teacher, also received an honour from the QueenElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, receiving an OBE. He is currently Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
of the CCF. Late PE teacher George ('Sam') Crudace was awarded the BEM.
Famous former pupils include:
- David Brown, England cricketer
- Colin CharvisColin CharvisColin Charvis is a former captain of the Welsh national rugby union team and also played for the British and Irish lions. A back row forward, Charvis was equally adept as a flanker or as the no...
, Rugby Union player - British and Irish Lions and former Captain of Wales - Vernon ColemanVernon ColemanVernon Coleman is a former general practitioner, and the author of over 100 books, including non-fiction works about human health, politics, cricket, and animal issues, and a range of novels. Son of an electrical engineer, he grew up an only child, in Walsall, West Midlands, England, where he...
, author, writer, medical doctor, and activist - David Ennals, Baron EnnalsDavid Ennals, Baron EnnalsDavid Hedley Ennals, Baron Ennals PC was a British Labour Party politician and campaigner for human rights...
, Labour MP from 1974-83 for Norwich North, and from 1964-70 for DoverDover (UK Parliament constituency)Dover is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:... - Prof Martin EnnalsMartin EnnalsMartin Ennals was a British human rights activist.Ennals served as the Secretary-General of Amnesty International, between 1968 and 1980....
, Ariel F. Sallows Professor of Human Rights in 1991 at the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of SaskatchewanThe University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, Secretary-General from 1968-80 of Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, and younger brother of David - Michael FitzgeraldMichael FitzgeraldMichael Louis Fitzgerald is a Roman Catholic archbishop. He is the papal nuncio to Egypt and delegate to the Arab League. He was previously the head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.-Early life and ordination:...
, RC Archbishop - Martin FowlerMartin Fowler-Online presentations:* at RailsConf 2006* at JAOO 2006* at QCon London 2007 * at QCon London 2008 * at ThoughtWorks Quarterly Technology Briefing, October 2008...
, software developer - Prof F. J. C. HearnshawF. J. C. HearnshawFossey John Cobb Hearnshaw was an English professor of history, specializing in medieval history. He was noted for his conservative interpretation of the past, showing an empire-oriented ideology in defence of hierarchical authority, paternalism, deference, the monarchy, Church, family, nation,...
, Professor of Mediaeval History from 1912-34 at King's College LondonKing's College LondonKing's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and... - Sir Gary HickinbottomGary HickinbottomSir Gary Robert Hickinbottom , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Hickinbotton, is a British judge. In 2008, he became the fifth solicitor to be appointed a High Court judge, after John Wall in 1990, Michael Sachs in 1993, Lawrence Collins in 2000, and Henry Hodge in 2004.He was admitted as a solicitor in...
, High Court judge - Prof Sir Harry HinsleyHarry HinsleySir Francis Harry Hinsley OBE was an English historian and cryptanalyst. He worked at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and wrote widely on the history of international relations and British Intelligence during the Second World War...
OBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1981-3, Master of St John's College, CambridgeSt John's College, CambridgeSt John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
from 1979-89, Professor of History of International Relations from 1969-83, and worked at Bletchley ParkBletchley ParkBletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing... - Jeffrey HollandJeffrey HollandJeffrey Holland is an English actor well known for roles in television sitcoms, as well as BBC Radio comedy, including Week Ending.-Early life and career:...
, (Jeffrey Parkes) actor - Hi-de-Hi! etc. - David HowarthDavid HowarthDavid Ross Howarth is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was Member of Parliament for Cambridge from 2005 to 2010.- Education and academic career :...
, Law lecturer, Clare College, CambridgeClare College, CambridgeClare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, Lib Dem MP from 2005-10 for CambridgeCambridge (UK Parliament constituency)Cambridge is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system.... - Rupert MoonRupert MoonRupert Henry St. John Barker Moon is a former international rugby union player. He was born in England, but played club rugby for Welsh clubs Abertillery and Neath; he is, however, most associated with Llanelli. He played international rugby for Wales, winning 24 caps.-Personal career:Moon was...
, Rugby Union international for Wales - Sir Henry NewboltHenry NewboltSir Henry John Newbolt, CH was an English poet. He is best remembered for Vitaï Lampada, a lyrical piece used for propaganda purposes during the First World War.-Background:...
, poet - Sir Harmar NichollsHarmar NichollsHarmar Harmar-Nicholls, Baron Harmar-Nicholls , known as Sir Harmar Nicholls, 1st Baronet, from 1960 to 1975, was a British Conservative Party politician.-Early life and career:...
1st Baronet, Conservative MP from 1950-74 of PeterboroughPeterborough (UK Parliament constituency)Peterborough is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, formally styled The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past... - David Nicholson, Conservative MP from 1987-97 for TauntonTaunton (UK Parliament constituency)Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset...
- Andrew PeachAndrew PeachAndrew Peach is a radio presenter in the UK. He presents regular news and phone-in shows on BBC WM and BBC Radio Berkshire...
BBC Radio broadcaster, breakfast show presenter of Radio BerkshireBBC RadioBBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company... - Terry PittTerry PittTerence John Pitt was a British political researcher and adviser. He became well known behind the scenes as the long-serving head of the Labour Party's research department, and worked for other bodies...
, Labour MEP from 1984-6 for Midlands WestMidlands West (European Parliament constituency)Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
, Head of the Labour Party Research Department from 1965-74 - Sir Edwin Thomas SmithEdwin Thomas SmithSir Edwin Thomas Smith KCMG was an English-born South Australian brewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and benefactor.-Early years:...
, Australian politician - John Somers, 1st Baron SomersJohn Somers, 1st Baron SomersJohn Somers, 1st Baron Somers, PC, FRS was an English Whig jurist and statesman. Somers first came to national attention in the trial of the Seven Bishops where he was on the their defence counsel. He published tracts on political topics such as the succession to the crown, where he elaborated his...
- Bryan StanleyBryan StanleyBryan Capewell Stanley was a British trade union leader.Born in Walsall , and educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Stanley started work with the Post Office in 1942, and also joined the Post Office Engineering Union...
, trade union leader and member of Labour's National Executive CommitteeNational Executive CommitteeThe National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,... - Frank WindsorFrank WindsorFrank Windsor is an English actor, mainly on television.He attended Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall. He began his career on radio and made an appearance in a 1953 film of Henry V...
, (Frank W Higgins) actor – Z-Cars, Softly Softly, etc.