Bedford High School (Leigh)
Bedford High School is a comprehensive school with specialist Business and Enterprise College status in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England.
History
Bedford High School was established in 1976 when the town's grammar schools were abolished by the 1976 Education Act. It was formed by merging Leigh Boys´ Grammar School and Manchester Road Secondary Modern School, which were located next to each other. The former grammar school buildings now form the upper school and the secondary modern buildings form the lower school. In 2003 the school gained specialist Business and Enterprise College status and opened a construction training facility in conjunction with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).[1]
Performance
In 2008, 37% of pupils achieved five GCSE passes at grade A* to C including Mathematics and English, while 75% achieved five A* to C grades overall. These results were a significant improvement over 2007, when 29% of pupils achieved five GCSE passes at grade A* to C including Mathematics and English,[2][3] The school's Ofsted inspection in September 2004 stated that GCSE results were above that of similar schools.[1] The same Ofsted report rated the school as satisfactory with effective leadership and praised the school's relationship with the local community. It also highlighted issues with year 9 performance, the provision of modern languages and personal development, and the attitudes and behaviour of a number of boys in the school.[1]
Alumni
Leigh Grammar School
- Sir John Lennard-Jones KBE FRS, theoretical chemist and physicist, first John Humphrey Plummer Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Cambridge 1932-1953 and second principal of the University College of North Staffordshire (now Keele University) 1953-1954. (?-1912)
- Robert Forbes CBE, pianist and conductor, Principal from 1929-53 of the Royal Manchester College of Music (now the Royal Northern College of Music), and President from 1938-39 of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (1889–1896)
- Prof John Speakman CBE, Professor of Textile Industries from 1939-63 at the University of Leeds (1909–16)
- Prof William Bradley, Professor of Colour Chemistry from 1948-63 at the University of Leeds (1914–21)
- Meredith Evans, Professor of Physical Chemistry from 1949-52 at the University of Manchester (1916–23)
- Prof Sir David Evans CBE, Director of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) from 1972-6, President of the Society for General Microbiology from 1972-5, and Professor of Bacteriology and Immunology from 1961-71 at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Director from 1971-2 of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine (1921-8)
- George Bolsover CBE, Director from 1947-76 of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (1922-9)
- Prof Basil Lythgoe, Professor from 1953-78 of Organic Chemistry at the University of Leeds (1924–31)
- John Wallwork CBE, Chairman of the Press Association from 1973-4, President of the Newspaper Society from 1977-8, and Managing Director from 1972-82 of Northcliffe Newspapers Group (1930-7)
- Sir Alan Battersby, BP Professor of Organic Chemistry from 1969-92 at the University of Cambridge (1936–43)
- Eric Hassall CBE, Director from 1994-2001 of the British Geological Survey Board, President from 1997-9 of the Institute of Mining Engineers (1942-9)
- David Wyatt CBE, diplomat (1942-9)
- Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CBE, conductor and composer and President since 1983 of the Schools Music Association, (1946–53)
- Prof Michael Newton, Professor from 1984-2001 of Pharmaceutics at the School of Pharmacy, University of London (1947–54)
- James Maines CB, Director General from 1988-95 of Guided Weapons and Electronic Systems at the Ministry of Defence (1948–55)
- Rev Eric Shegog, Head of Religious Broadcasting from 1984-1990 at the IBA (1948–55)
- Sir David Phillips, Chief Constable from 1993-2003 of Kent Police (1955–62)
- Prof Robin Leatherbarrow, Professor of Biological and Biophysical Chemistry since 2002 and Director since 2001 of the Chemical Biology Centre at Imperial College London (1970-5)
References
External links