Boston Grammar School

The Boston Grammar School is a selective grammar school and sixth form college for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls attending the sixth form aged 16–18 located in Boston, Lincolnshire, England.

Boston Grammar School
Address
South End

Boston
,
Lincolnshire
,
PE21 6JY

England
Coordinates52°58′28″N 0°01′16″W
Information
TypeGrammar school;
Academy
MottoFloreat Bostona
Established1555 (1555)
FoundersPhilip and Mary
Department for Education URN139180 Tables
OfstedReports
Chairman of GovernorsPhillip Bosworth
HeadteacherJohn McHenry
GenderBoys (coeducational sixth form)
Age11 to 18
Enrolment800<
HousesMuston
Laughton
Gannock
Parry
Colour(s)Black and Amber
   
PublicationThe Grammar Gazette
AlumniOld Bostonians
Websitehttp://www.bostongrammarschool.co.uk/

A 2013 and more recent 2018 Ofsted report assessed the school overall as 'requires improvement'.[1]

Boston Grammar School

History

The school was founded by charter of Philip and Mary in 1555. The oldest sections of the school were built in 1567, formerly referred to as the "big school" and is now used as the school library. South End Site became the model for Boston Latin School which was the first school in what was to become the United States of America. The school still retains the Latin motto 'Floreat Bostona' (May Boston Flourish). This motto also forms the title of the official school song, written by Dr G.E. Pattenden, headmaster from 1850–1887, which he referred to as 'my school hymn'. The song is still sung at official school occasions such as Prizegiving, Charter Day and Beastmart.

In the 1960s when under Holland County Council Education Committee, it was a voluntary controlled school with around 500 boys, 550 by the 1970s, and 600 by the 1990s. The school had a CCF.

Girls are now admitted to the sixth form. There were 597 pupils on the roll as at April 2008, including 170 in the sixth form. The school has been awarded Technology College and Sports specialist status. In December 2012, Boston Grammar School shut its doors for the final time as a selective school, run by the local authority. In January 2013, Boston Grammar School re-opened as a selective academy.

Academy status

On 1 January 2013, Boston Grammar School became a converter academy, under the leadership of the then headteacher, Mr Paul Marsh. No changes were made to the school uniform and the school retained its existing name. This ended the federation between Boston Grammar School and Boston High School, with both schools now having an independent governing body, budget and establishment number.[2]

Federation plans

In 2006, there were controversial plans by Lincolnshire County Council to federate Boston Grammar School with the local girls grammar school Boston High School, with effect from September 2011.[3] In 2010 it was announced that due to the withdrawal of Building Schools for the Future funding by the new coalition government,[4] that both schools would operate as two separate schools, still under a federation - on two sites - with one governing body. This arrangement ended when Boston Grammar School became an Academy in 2013.[5]

Traditions

Houses

There are four houses in the school named after important figures in the school's history. Each is associated with a different colour which is reflected in PE shirts, and boys are assigned to a house when they join the school on an arbitrary basis in order to create different groups for school activities, including Sports Day.

Laughton – (yellow), John Laughton left a bequest to the local bluecoats' school. On its closure this was subsequently given to the grammar school. Head of House: Miss Amanda Cook;

Muston – (blue), Robert De Muston was the first schoolmaster of Boston in 1329. Head of House: Mr Alan Mountford;

Gannock – (red), William Gannock was the Mayor of Boston at the time the school was built on its current site in 1567. Head of House: Miss Christine Abrams;

Parry – (green), John Parry the Liberal MP for Boston who in 1875 gave a gold medal to the scholar of the year. This medal is still awarded to the student who attains the best A-level results each year. Head of House: Miss Louise Brown.

Beast Mart

Beast Mart is an annual half-day holiday, awarded to boys to commemorate the annual cattle market that took place traditionally in the school yard (the Beast Yard). The Beast Mart declaration takes place one day in December each year. The Council Chief Executive (in place of the historical Town Clerk) reads the declaration of the Beast Mart and the Mayor requests that the headmaster give the school a half-day holiday. The head of school then leads three cheers to the Queen and the Mayor calling "hip, hip, hip!"

Charter Day

A celebration of the granting of the school charter takes place annually at St Botolph's Church, Boston, (known locally as Boston Stump). During this celebration the school song is traditionally sung.

Prizegiving

An annual prizegiving ceremony is held in December of each year. During this event a number of awards recognising achievement in academic disciplines, sport and other areas are awarded. Old boys are often in attendance, including the previous year's A-level students who return to receive their A-level certificates. The prestigious Parry Gold Medal is awarded to the student who achieved the best A-level results. A guest speaker is always invited, and notable guests of honour have included Helen Sharman, Barry Spikings and Mark Simmonds MP.

Notable former pupils

See also
  • List of the oldest schools in the world

References
  1. https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/139180
  2. http://www.bostongrammarschools.co.uk/
  3. Federation row
  4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10514113
  5. http://www.bostongrammarschools.co.uk/
  6. (Retrieved 25 November 2015) Business Update - CBI Annual Conference 2015 CBI
  7. Enderby, David (Retrieved 20 November 2012) George Edward Hale Enderby - Pioneer and architect of modern anaesthesia BMJ
  8. Bremer, Francis J. (30 May 2012). First Founders: American Puritans and Puritanism in an Atlantic World. University of New Hampshire Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-1584659594.

News items
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