HEAD’S WELCOME

HEADMASTER: Martin Shevill

Welcome

My two-term stewardship of the school has raced by quickly, and I must say, I’ll be sad to leave at the end of the academic year. I have been warmly welcomed into the Foundation by all colleagues, students and of course, the Old Savs. It was an honour to be asked to take on the role of Headmaster and it will have been an honour to work with so many people with a passion for education both past and present.

My contact with the Old Savilians has been closer than many of you may expect given that Alistair McKinlay (OS 1990 and President Old Savilian Club) is a Governor and also the Chair of the QEGS General Purposes Committee and our frequent discussions often drift into chats about the Old Savs. More importantly, I’ve been presented with a tie as in fulfilling this role I become a member.

It’s obviously been a strange year but one of the best moments was back in early April, on a sunny spring morning, to see some of the younger boys in their cricket whites out there practising. It somehow felt we were back to normal. Since then cricket, football and athletics have been taking pace daily. We just need to make sure that we are all fully focussed on our learning, particularly important for the Year 11 and Year 13 boys as they complete their final assessments in this second year without public examinations.

The bigger news this term has been about the re-introduction of the House System (at the time of writing one competition has already taken place). Bentley, Cave, Freeston and Savile have re-emerged in the Senior Section obviously with continuity from the Juniors. I am really pleased that this initiative has sparked such enthusiasm, I thought it would but must say I am surprised by the amount. I’m frequently stopped by boys in corridors, in the yard and on the field to say how pleased they are and obviously tell be that ‘Freeston’ or... or... is best. The staff have demonstrated equal enthusiasm. The most serious conversations with staff appear to have been around the House System... ’My dad came to this school and he was in Bentley, I must be in Bentley, and so it goes on. The Houses will have sister houses at the Girls’ School for occasional joint competitions such as debating and we may well have a Foundation champion House as well as an individual school champion House.

I'm sure you would join me in wishing all staff who have left during the past academic year all the very best for the future, in either a new role or retirement.

My first and last contribution as Headmaster; it’s been a great opportunity and I pass the baton onto Dr Richard Brookes knowing that QEGS continues to flourish.

Martin Shevill

Martin Shevill

Headmaster

Welcome Dr Brookes

It is a school with a tremendous heritage, but one which looks forward with confidence and an eye for innovation ”

NEW HEADMASTEr TO TAKE up HIS rOLE IN SEpTEMbEr 2021

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Brookes as the next Head of QEGS from September 2021

Dr Brookes has been Senior Deputy Head of City of London School since 2015, where he was also Interim Head for a period. He has day-to-day responsibility for all aspects of the school’s management, and has worked closely with the Head and Governors in the development of a new Strategic Vision for the school.

Before this, Dr Brookes was Director of Teaching and Learning at Tonbridge School, where he led the development of enhanced approaches to teachers’ reflective practice. Previously, he was Head of Chemistry and Sixth Form tutor at King Edward’s School, Birmingham. He started his career at Whitgift School as a teacher of Chemistry, where he was the Assistant Head of Sixth Form and the Oxbridge Admissions Coordinator.

Dr Brookes studied at Oxford University, where he gained a Masters in Chemistry (First Class) before completing his D.Phil in Theoretical Chemistry.

Dr Brookes said: “It is a tremendous privilege to have been selected as the next Head of QEGS. It is a school which champions the strengths of a holistic, single sex education for boys, whilst benefiting from the ‘best of both worlds’ approach offered by being part of Wakefield Grammar School Foundation. It is a school with a tremendous heritage, but one which looks forward with confidence and an eye for innovation. It is a school which represents its community and is committed to partnership with that community. The next chapter in the school’s evolution is an important one, as we bring together the Junior and Senior sections into a single school, and continue to ensure that the breadth and depth of our education is as accessible to as many pupils as possible.

I was struck during my visit to the school and meetings with staff and pupils how much everyone loves the school, and how down to earth and friendly they all were. My wife, Emma, is also a teacher, and we are both very much excited about getting to know everyone in the QEGS community over the coming months. Yorkshire will be a fantastic place to bring up our daughter, and we are looking forward to exploring its Dales and Moors.” Simon Chamberlain, Chair of Governors at Wakefield Grammar School Foundation, said:

“After a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, we are delighted to be appointing Dr Richard Brookes as the 32nd Head of QEGS, Wakefield. We are confident that Dr Brookes has the right experience and qualities to lead the new all-through school successfully, preserving the proud traditions of QEGS whilst embracing a contemporary education for all pupils. We look forward to welcoming Dr Brookes and his family to Yorkshire in September.”

Governors, Wakefield Grammar School Foundation

Clayton update

CLAYTON HOSPITAL SITE, DEMOLITION HAS FINALLY STARTED

Demolition View June 2021

View from Northgate View from Wentworth Street

View towards WGHS

A considerable amount of time has passed since we first communicated our exciting plans for the former Clayton Hospital site to you. The Governors and our consultants have been busy in the background negotiating with Wakefield Council about our plans for the site.

I am therefore delighted to confirm that the Foundation received permission on 15 April 2021 to undertake the first part of the redevelopment scheme for the benefit of WGHS and QEGS and to be able to offer some community uses.

Planning permissions will be required to continue with the future phases but this step forward is very much welcomed for the investment made so far.

As background, Wakefield Grammar School Foundation purchased the Clayton Hospital site from the NHS in 2018 having successfully obtained Outline Planning permission in the previous year. The buildings had stood empty for six years prior to this and the Foundation have made the site secure, removed the asbestos, and engaged with stakeholders (staff, parents and alumni) to create the vision. With that we have pursued the planning and now can progress the demolition and create the first part of the development. The land sits strategically between both school campuses and presents an opportunity to create new facilities for the benefit of all children within our Foundation. It will be known as the Clayton Campus.

The discussions with Wakefield Council have been long and protracted, however they support us in our endeavours, as do Wakefield Civic Society. Clayton Hospital is not a listed building but it does sit within the St John's Conservation Area so great attention has been given to ensuring the development is sympathetic to its surroundings.

The "enabling" phase, as it is referred to, comprises the demolition of buildings, retention and repair of the central pavilion, creation of a landscaped boulevard through the centre of the site, creation of a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) and associated parking. The rest of the site will be grassed in preparation for future phases. We were delighted that the demolition contractors started on the site in June 2021 and are making good progress. We have installed a time lapse camera to record the demolition so we will have a permanent record of the work undertaken. These works should be completed before the end of this calendar year.

Fundraising for this scheme is underway to enable future phases and we continue to explore funding options for the scheme. Please contact the Foundation Development Director, Cath Worsley, in our Development Office if you are able to assist us with this in any way or if you would like any details of how you can support the building project financially. cworsley@wgsf.net

We hope you will support us as we continue with our efforts.

Helen Massey (OG, 1998)

Deputy Chair of Governors and Chair of Land and Buildings Committee, Wakefield Grammar School Foundation.