Queen Mary's Grammar School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Queen Mary's Grammar School |
|
| Motto | Quas dederis solas semper habebis opes (Latin: "You get out what you put in" (Rough translation)) |
| Established | 1554 |
| Type | Grammar School |
| Headmaster | Mr. Stuart Holtam |
| Location | Walsall, West Midlands England |
| Website | www.qmgs.walsall.sch.uk |
Queen Mary's Grammar School, on Sutton Road in Walsall, England, was founded in 1554 by Queen Mary I, at which time it had about seventy pupils, all boys, and taught Classics almost exclusively. Today it is still mainly single-sex, though with a few girls in the sixth form, and has a sister school, Queen Mary's High School. It has grown since its foundation, and moved twice, first from its original town centre building to the building now used by the High School, and secondly to a purpose-built school on the Mayfield site. Despite expansion, it is still small by modern standards, with 650 pupils. It is a selective school. The schools badge is that of Queen Mary and reflects her parentage, being formed from half a Tudor rose (a symbol of Henry VIII) and a bundle of arrows (a symbol of Catherine of Aragon)[1].
Queen Mary's consistently performs well in exams across the board. In recent years, the school has become a specialist Language College. The extra funds from this have, amongst other things, facilitated the building of a new wing of the school buildings. Language college status came at a price however; Latin was, after 450 years, removed from the school's curriculum and replaced by Spanish.
A host of extra-curricular activities are available for pupils, including plays and drama, sports teams, subject-related societies, and a Combined Cadet Force (Army and RAF sections) contingent.
The school's motto is "Quas dederis solas semper habebis opes" which (loosely) translates as "one will get out what one puts in", although "Floreat Reginae Schola Mariae" is also used (literally, "May the school of Queen Mary Flourish").
In 2004,the school celebrated its 450th anniversary. The School is based just outside the Town Centre in the Chuckery area.
Former history teacher and former Labour councillor for Pelsall - Tom Perrett - was awarded the MBE in January 2007. John Anderson, former second master, received the MBE for services to the CCF.
Famous former pupils of the school include:
- Jerome K. Jerome the writer of Three Men in a Boat
- Colin Charvis, British and Irish Lion and Welsh International
- Harry Hinsley, historian and World War II codebreaker
- Vernon Coleman, activist
- Tim Beech, Editor, BBC Radio Shropshire
- Frank Windsor, actor
- Andrew Parrott, musician [[founder of the Taverner Choir, Consort and Players]]
- David Brown, former England cricketer
- David Howarth Member of Parliament, Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge
- Michael Flower, Conservative councillor for Aldridge North & Walsall Wood
- Ben McPhee, Local photographer and artist
