Batley Grammar School Explained

Batley Grammar School
Coordinates:	53.722°N -1.6407°W
Motto:	Forte non Ignave (Bravely not cowardly)
Chair Label:	Chair of Governors
Chair:	Alistair Hartley
Founder:	Rev William Lee
Address:	Carlinghow Hill
Country:	England
Postcode:	WF17 0AD
Ofsted:	yes
Urn:	137487
Enrolment:	820
Houses:	Akroyd, Benstead, Lee, Talbot
Colours:	Blue & Gold
Free Label 1:	Former pupils
Website:	http://www.batleygrammar.co.uk/
Headmaster:	John Hughes
Age Range:	4–16
Nobel Laureates:	Sir Owen Willians Richardson
Religion:	mixed

Batley Grammar School is a state-funded co-educational free school in Batley, West Yorkshire, England, for pupils aged 4 to 16.

History

The school was founded in 1612 by the Rev. William Lee. An annual founder's day service is held in his memory at Batley Parish Church, as requested in his will, although it is not held on the date originally specified. In 1878, the school moved to its current site at Carlinghow Hill, Upper Batley. The school selected boys on their performance in the eleven-plus exams, regardless of family background. Following the introduction of comprehensive schools, the school became a private school in 1978 and entry became restricted to boys whose parents could afford its fees.

The school introduced girls into the sixth form in 1988 and became co-educational in 1996. In 2011, it became a state-funded free school.^[1] The following year, it celebrated its quatercentenary. A junior school, Priestley House (after Joseph Priestley, an old Batelian) is set in the grounds. The school has had several Royal visits; the Royal family lands on its playing fields when visiting the area. Prince Andrew has visited the school, as has Princess Anne.

On 25 March 2021, a teacher was suspended after a cartoon of Muhammad was shown in class during a discussion about press freedom and religious extremism, which sparked protests outside the school, demanding the resignation of the teacher involved,^[2] and a 61,000 signature petition of support.^[3] Gary Kibble, the former head of Batley Grammar has offered an apology. Commenting on the situation, Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said teachers should be able to "appropriately show images of the prophet" in class and the protests are "deeply unsettling" due to the UK being a "free society". He added teachers should "not be threatened" by religious extremists.^[4] The trust conducted an investigation, concluding in May 2021, that in respect for the community, images of Muhammad should not be used, and lifted the teacher's suspension.^[5]

Notable Old Batelians

Former pupils of the school are referred to as Old Batelians.

• Ismail Dawood, former British county cricketer
• Richard Dawson, former English county cricketer^[6]
• Andrew Firth, Michael Brooke and Ben Davies, members of indie-pop band The Dandys
• Tim Fountain, Writer
• Lee Goddard, former English County Cricketer^[7]
• Cecil Grayson (1920–1998), Serena Professor of Italian, University of Oxford, 1958–1988
• Sir Herbert Holdsworth, 1890–1949, Liberal and later Liberal National MP
• Benjamin Ingham (1712–1772), Methodist and Moravian evangelist and preacher^[8]
• Godfrey Lienhardt (1921–1993), anthropologist
• Andrew Milner, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Monash University^[9]
• Sir Mark Oldroyd (1843–1927), woollen manufacturer, politician and philanthropist^[10]
• David Peace, Author^[11]
• Richard Pearson, former English county cricketer
• Joseph Priestley (1733–1804), theologian, natural philosopher, and discoverer of oxygen^[12]
• Richard Reed, co-founder of innocent Drinks^[13]
• Georgia Roche, England international Rugby league footballer
• Sir Owen Willans Richardson (1879–1959), Professor of Physics, Princeton University, 1906–1914, Wheatstone Professor of Physics, King's College London, 1914–1924, and Yarrow Research Professor, Royal Society, 1924–1959, Nobel Prize in Physics (1928)
• Sir Titus Salt (1803–1876), textile manufacturer and politician^[14]
• David Stiff, professional cricketer^[15]
• Samuel Sugden (1892–1950), Professor of Physical Chemistry, Birkbeck College, London, 1932–1937, and Professor of Chemistry, University College London, 1937–1950^[16]
• Theodore Cooke Taylor (1850–1952), Businessman, Liberal politician, Profit-sharing pioneer^[17]
• Lawrence Tomlinson, businessman and philanthropist^[18]
• Paul Trepte, Organist of Ely Cathedral
• Horace Waller VC (1896–1917), First World War Victoria Cross recipient^[19]
• Lukas Wooller, keyboardist with the band Maxïmo Park
• Thomas Wormald (1802–1873), surgeon^[20]

See also

• List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)

External links

• Official website of Batley Grammar School

Notes and References

1. Web site: Batley Grammar School. The Department for Education. 6 September 2011. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110908122100/https://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/b0066077/free-schools-opening-in-2011/batley. dead. 8 September 2011.
2. News: Batley Grammar School teacher suspended after Muhammad cartoon protest . 25 March 2021 . BBC News . 25 March 2021.
3. News: Jolly . Bradley . Teale . Connor . Pupils back suspended teacher in Prophet Muhammad cartoon row and say 'he is not racist' . 28 May 2021 . Express.co.uk . 2021-03-29 . en.
4. Web site: Batley school protests: Prophet Muhammad cartoon row 'hijacked' . . 26 March 2021 . 26 March 2021.
5. News: Turner . Camilla . Batley Grammar teacher allowed back to school but Prophet Mohammed picture should not be used again . 28 May 2021 . The Telegraph . 2021-05-26.
6. News: Derek . Hodgson . Dawson's turn to make an impact . 22 August 2001 . The Independent . 23 October 2009 .
7. Web site: Lee Goddard. Cricket Derbyshire Foundation. 12 August 2020.
8. Ingham, Benjamin. 28.
9. Who's Who in Australia 2009, ed. Leanne Sullivan, Crown Content, Melbourne, 2009, p. 1480
10. [Tony Hannan]
11. News: Damned United author David Peace nominated for short story award. 4 February 2015. Batley & Birstall News. 12 August 2020.
12. Priestley, Joseph.
13. News: CBE for Innocent Smoothies co-founder Richard Reed . Chloe . Glover . . 19 October 2016 . 13 August 2020.
14. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Salt, Sir Titus, first baronet (1803–1876) . James . David . 23 May 2008.
15. News: Tykes deal for Easingwold boy. 8 June 2000. The Press. 12 August 2020. York.
16. Sutton . L. E. . Samuel Sugden. 1892-1950 . 10.1098/rsbm.1951.0015 . . 7 . 20 . 492 . 1951 .
17. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Taylor, Theodore Cooke (1850–1952). Jenkins. D. T.. 13 August 2020.
18. News: Lawrence Tomlinson named Entrepreneur of the Year. 6 May 2014. Yorkshire Live. 13 August 2020.
19. Web site: Horace Waller VC . victoriacross . 26 June 2019.
20. Wormald, Thomas. 63. Power. D'Arcy. D'Arcy Power.