Handsworth Grammar School celebrates 150 years

Handsworth Grammar School, the oldest surviving selective school in Birmingham, is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2012.

Founded on August 5, 1862, as the Handsworth Bridge Trust School, Handsworth Grammar School admits boys from the age of 11 and both boys and girls who wish to join the sixth form.

Starting with only 59 students it has grown in size and reputation to now accommodate 933 students, including over 50 girls in sixth form.

A continuous building development programme has meant that the number and complexity of buildings has also increased.

The last five years have seen the completion of a new Sports Hall, a Bridge Link housing sixth form ICT classrooms and a state of the art Learning Hub and Library. Skylab, which comprises an Art and Psychology classroom was opened in 2010 and in September 2011 a Food Technology Block.

To mark the 150th anniversary, a year of celebrations and fund raising are taking place. Giant birthday cakes, whole school trip days, an outdoor musical summer soiree and a competition to compose and record a new verse to the School song are just some of the events that have been organised.

The anniversary year will culminate with a Grand Gala Dinner to be held in December to which old and current staff, students, parents and friends of the school are welcome.

The school has identified the building of a new Sixth Form Centre as its chosen fundraising project. While there is still much funding needed to complete the project it is hoped that the first phase can be started before the end of the anniversary year.

More details can be found on the school website www.handsworth.bham.sch.uk or by contacting Mrs Davies on 0121 554 2794.