Our History

Heckmondwike Grammar School was established on 17th January 1898.

Building the school

On 29th January 1894, the Building Committee of the Heckmondwike School Board decided to build a school on the High Street in Heckmondwike. The school would take up to 900 children. The local Technical Instruction Committee made several key recommendations as to facilities: their chairman, Arthur Anderton, built close links with the school and one of the school’s buildings is still named after him. The builders of the original school building were Thomas Horsfall & Co. Their work is still in evidence; the original building, consisting of a large hall surrounded by classrooms, is still visible in the shape of what is now the Swann Hall, named after a former chair of governors.

Early headteachers

Mr Cahill was appointed as the first headteacher in late 1897, and he served in that role until 1924. He was succeeded by Colonel Edwards, who significantly expanded the school facilities during his 24 years in charge: including a library and a gym.

After the first two headteachers served a combined 51 years, Mr Bennett who followed was in post for just four years. His successor, Mr Kyte, was also in post for four years, taking on the challenge until 1956. A physicist, he had been a squadron leader in the RAF during the war.

Mr Ford was next, serving as headteacher until 1970. A first-class chemist, he was appointed from the post of ‘second master’ within the school. Following Mr Ford was Mr Riddles, a maths specialist who returned the school to the tradition of long-lasting leadership with a nineteen year long tenure. His interest in tennis and badminton led to the floor of the Swann Hall being ‘decorated’ with court lines that remain visible today. He stepped down as head in 1989, but maintained his interest in the school as a very committed governor until 2016.

Recent headteachers

Mr Wilson, a current governor and former deputy headteacher of the school, stepped in briefly as temporary headteacher, until Mr Tweedle took up post in 1990. He oversaw the transition to grant maintained status and began the history of school independence that continues today. Mr Tweedle was a highly qualified physicist who saw the school through four outstanding Ofsted inspections. He also significantly expanded the buildings, with new rooms in five subject areas, a sports hall, and an all-weather sports pitch. The Crellin building, containing five labs, an ICT suite and 11 classrooms, was his final ‘concrete’ legacy. The summer before his resignation took effect saw his supervision of the conversion to an academy in 2010.

Mr Cook took over from 2010 until 2016. He was another physicist and had served previously as deputy head for five years at the school. Mr Bulley, his successor, was an historian rather than a scientist. During his tenure, the school received a £1.1 million grant to redevelop the old church hall ‘annexe’ into a Sixth Form centre. The resplendent building was formally opened in January 2019, and named the ‘Jo Cox Centre’ in memory of our dear friend and former head girl.

Current headteacher

Mr Roberts became the eleventh headteacher of the school in January 2019, having previously served eight years as deputy head. A true local lad, Mr Roberts is an old scholar of HGS, having attended in the 1980s. He comes from a long line of Heckmondwike Grammar School heritage covering four generations, having been preceded at the school by his grandmother, father and uncle, joined by his brother and sister, and succeeded by his daughter and son who have since gone on to university. To make it a real family affair, Mr Roberts’ wife joined the school as a teacher in 2016.