Oakbank School, Keighley

Oakbank School is a comprehensive school with dual specialist status, located in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated near Ingrow Lane on Oakworth Road (B6143) in the west of Keighley. It officially became a Sports College in 1997, and gained Technology College accreditation in 2004.

History

Grammar school

Oakbank was originally founded from the Drake and Tonson School as Keighley Trade and Grammar School in 1871. Around 1900 it became Keighley Boys' Grammar School (KGBS) on Alice Street. New buildings were built in 1964 and it became Oakbank Grammar School when administered under Keighley Committee for Education.

Comprehensive

It became a comprehensive school in the 1970s for ages 14 to 18, and still under the name Oakbank Grammar School. It changed its name to Oakbank School in 1990. During the same period of time the school, with students aged 13 to 19, moved to its current site from Bronte Upper School. In 2000 it became a secondary school for 11- to 19-year-olds through a re-organisation of British schools.

Throughout the years the school has gained improved status and is currently a double specialist school in sports and technology, the first awarded in 2001 and the second in 2004.

The school was visited by former Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe.

Curriculum

The school has been graded as satisfactory or better in all areas of the curriculum in its last two Ofsted inspections. Around 52% of students achieved five A* to C grade passes at GCSE in 2008.

Sixth form and Cove

Oakbank pupils have the choice of staying on to Sixth Form for further study and to gain further qualifications. In 2003 the new six form block opened, facilitating a higher number of pupils. In 2004 the Cove Centre of Vocational Excellence building was opened to provide more space.

Alumni

• John Cryer, Labour MP from 1997 to 2005 for Hornchurch
• Paul Hudson - BBC weather forecaster
• Tommy Lee (footballer) - footballer currently playing for Chesterfield

Keighley Boys' Grammar School

• Gordon Bottomley, poet
• Asa Briggs, Baron Briggs, Chancellor of the Open University 1978-94, Vice-Chancellor 1967-76 of the University of Sussex. and Professor of History 1961-76
• Sir Herbert Butterfield, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1959-61 and Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge 1955-68, Professor of Modern History 1944-63 at the University of Cambridge and President 1955-58 of the Historical Association
• Prof James Cameron, Professor of Philosophy 1960-71 at the University of Kent
• Sir Wilfred Cockcroft, mathematician, Vice-Chancellor 1976-82 of the New University of Ulster, Chief Executive 1983-88 of the Secondary Exams Council, and President since 1992 of the British Accreditation Council
• John Hatch, Baron Hatch of Lusby
• Dr Kevin Hawkins OBE, Director-General 2004-08 of the British Retail Consortium
• Sir Trevor Holdsworth CVO, Chairman of GKN 1980-88 and of National Power 1990-95, and Chancellor 1992-97 of the University of Bradford
• David Jeanes, rugby league player
• John Moffatt, Provost 1987-93 of The Queen's College, Oxford
• Percival Moore, illustrator
• Don Mosey, sports journalist and cricket commentator for Test Match Special
• Harry Riley, Professor of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 1932-47 of King's College, Durham (Newcastle University)
• Peter Roe, rugby league player and coach
• Sir Bracewell Smith, Conservative MP 1932-45 for Dulwich
• Leonard James Spencer CBE, geologist and President 1936-39 of the Mineralogical Society
• Prof Geoffrey Tillotson, Professor of English Literature 1944-68 at Birkbeck, University of London
• George Watson, Professor of Medicine 1933-38 at the University of Leeds
• Lieutenant Dave Wright

Former teachers

• Robert Westall, children's author (taught art at boys' grammar 1958-60)

External links

• School website
• Former grammar school
• EduBase