BGS News - Bradford Grammar School

Immersed in India
Exploring the
globe
Out & About, page 9 >>
Jubilee Celebrations
Pupils enjoy the
occasion
National Events, page 6 >>
Olympic Gold
Supporting the
Brownlees
Olympics, page 4 >>
October | 2012
bradford grammar school’s annual news magazine
p7 David Hockney
Pupils visit his studio
p15 Perfecting Pentathlon
Junior School pupils have many
clubs to choose from

introduction
It’s an enormous pleasure and a privilege to write the introduction to this year’s BGS News. What a year it has been in the UK. It’s
certainly been one of those which will stick in the memory (like 1966) and for all the right reasons. We seem to have rediscovered
our confidence as a nation and shaken off that sense of defeatism and gloom.
As these pages reveal, it’s been a wonderful year for BGS. Excellent examination results have rounded off a year in which there
has been so much endeavour and success. The school of course delighted in the success of Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee
- what an example they’ve set for the present generation of students within the school. In the classroom, on the stage, in the
concert hall and on the sports field I’ve seen countless examples of students fulfilling their talent and making the most of the
tremendous opportunities on offer at the school.
At the heart of BGS lies a strong set of values. In an ever changing and complex world it’s these values which sustain
teachers, students and parents. Enjoy reading the story of the year - it makes me very proud of all the students and their
teachers.
Both examination results days produced lots to
celebrate. The school is delighted that its A Level
results have shown a huge increase from last
year’s already impressive results. The percentage
of pupils passing with an A* A/B grade has risen
from 78% last year to 84% this year. This was
achieved in a year where the national results took
a downward turn.
impressive results
This year’s GCSE results are the highest ever
achieved by the school! Not only have 93% of
pupils passed with an A* A/B grade, a recordbreaking
74% gained an A*/A. The pupils and the
staff are thrilled to see all the hard work rewarded in
this way and the school results going from strength
to strength.
results
inspection report
Bradford Grammar School and Bradford Grammar
Junior School are celebrating their best ever inspection
report, which they believe rivals that for any other school
in Yorkshire. In a report published in 2012 Bradford
Grammar School was commended for providing ‘an
outstanding education.’
The Independent Schools’ Inspectors visited the schools
to carry out a full inspection which included observing
lessons and interviewing pupils and staff. Questionnaires
were completed by parents and pupils and the school’s
administration was thoroughly inspected. The whole
of the school community was delighted to receive such
an outstanding report. It’s a moment of
great pride for the school, particularly
the staff and pupils.
Quotations from the Inspection Report include:
“The highly-qualified teachers have excellent subject
knowledge and are often scholarly, conveying to the
pupils their own love of their subject as an intellectual
discipline.”
“Senior Leadership is inspirational.”
“Interviews with pupils showed that they
were hugely supportive of the
school.”
“Pupils are highly successful in gaining places to their
first choice of university and course, achieving entry at
the most competitive universities.”
“The school has excellent relations with parents.”
The school will soon be celebrating over 350 years of
educating children from the Yorkshire area and is thrilled
that the quality of the education continues to improve.
Kevin Riley, Headmaster, says: “Bradford Grammar
School has an illustrious history in educating able
children from the city and from Yorkshire. We aim to
provide an outstanding education fit for purpose in
the 21st Century. We’re delighted that we’re judged
to be doing so. There’s nothing better than your
peers recognising and acknowledging outstanding
achievements.”
© Sergei Bachlakov / Shutterstock.com
bgs at the
olympics
future
olympians
national
events
art
out & about
news
roundup
supporting
others
junior school
music &
drama
sport
2 BGSnews BGSnews 3

gs at the olympics
bgs at the olympics
Bradford Grammar School had involvement in the Olympics from beginning
to end. Mr Boden, father of Kate and Jamie Boden, both current pupils at the
school, carried the Olympic torch on its very first day in the UK. Mr Boden
has worked as Head of BT’s communications project for the Olympics for
the past six years. The Olympic torch passed the school on 24 June on its
journey from Bradford to Keighley. Former pupil Roger Mosey is Head of BBC
Olympic 2012 and was responsible for the BBC’s entire delivery programme
for the event. Former pupil and previous gold medallist, Adrian Moorhouse is
an official British Olympic Ambassador and commentated on the swimming
events. Double Olympian and former pupil, Richard Nerurkar, was delighted to
be spectating with his family this time round! Fourth Form pupil Jordan Murray
played drums in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics and the Paralympics.
The whole school and everyone connected to it was so proud to see former
pupils, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, receiving their Gold and Bronze Olympic
triathlon medals respectively. It was a wonderful achievement for them both.
Director of Sport, Charles Lines, was delighted to be a marshal at the event
and witness the former pupils, who started their sporting careers at the school,
compete at the highest level.
swimming
Freddie Hoban and Sian Morgan qualified to
compete in the British Swimming Championships
which was also an Olympic trials event and
took place in the Olympic Aquatic Centre in
London in March. Sian competed in the 400
metre individual medley and the 400 metre
and 200 metre freestyle events. Sian has
been coached by Andy Pearce from
Bradford Council’s Aquatics Programme
for seven years and was the first City
of Bradford swimmer to compete at
the Commonwealth Games.
Freddie, 15, was one of the
youngest boys to qualify for
the 400 metre individual
medley and 200 metre
butterfly.
future olympians
olympic
gold
medallist
Former pupil Adrian Moorhouse won an
Olympic Gold Medal in the 1988 Seoul
Games. It seemed very fitting that the school
swimming pool should take his name during
the London 2012 Olympic year.
The day itself consisted of a series of events
starting with a family swim in the pool,
followed by an Old Bradfordian Association v
School swimming match and an Old Bradfordian
Association v School water polo match. At the end
of the day Adrian spoke about his time at school
and unveiled a plaque. The guests, including
Adrian’s extended family, former pupils, former
staff, current pupils and staff associated with
swimming and water polo, enjoyed an afternoon tea
in the Sixth Form Centre.
Adrian took part in the swimming event and his
brother Stephen, a former international water polo
player, took part in the water polo match.
wheelchair
basketball
Mark Scholefield
continues
to play
wheelchair
basketball
in the
Superleague
and First
Divisions
for his club,
Sheffield
Steelers.
He played for Yorkshire U19s in the Junior League
Finals and the First Division League Final Playoffs.
He continues to be part of the GB U22
squad, is a TASS supported athlete (Talented
Athlete Scholarship Scheme) and has taken part in
the Schools Games in London.
tae
kwon
do
Adam Haq from the Second Form entered
the 25th Traditional Tae Kwon Do Team
Championships. Teams from all over
the UK took part in this event and
the entrants competed in individual
fights. Adam successfully won many
rounds to secure his place in the final
of his belt category. In the final he
came first and won gold. Adam trains
with the Leeds TTA club who won
a trophy for Best Team Spirit in the
competition.
olympic
preparations
Junior School pupils held a number of Olympicthemed
events including a special assembly
where they acted out parts of the Olympic
ceremonies including being a torch bearer.
Pupils read out how they thought it would feel
to carry the torch.
First Year pupil Jessica Manning was the top
performing 11-year-old at the British Gas National
Championships in the 200IM and 3rd at 400IM.
She is now 12 and is one of 6 swimmers who have
been offered a place in the National Fast track Track
squad Squad swimming at the City of Leeds.
kitesurfing
Matthew and Joshua Carey have been windsurfing
for the last six years and kitesurfing for three.
Whilst it all started as a bit of fun on the weekends,
they’ve gradually progressed in both sports which
resulted in them attending their first windsurfing
World Championships this year where Joshua
was the youngest male competitor. There were
over 350 sailors at the event and Matthew came
in 55th and Joshua 70th. They currently represent
the North of England in the Zone Squad and
are competing for a place in the National Squad
for next year. They’re both fighting for a place
to represent Great Britain in the 2014 Youth
Olympics, which is being held in Hong Kong.
Between their windsurfing events they both
kitesurf and have recently been sponsored by
Core Kites as Team Riders. Matthew and Joshua
intend to compete at the highest level in these
sports with the next challenges being this year’s
European Championships in Spain in October and
the 2013 World Championship which will be held
in Poland next summer.
sailing
Hector Simpson began sailing at the age of five and by
the age of fourteen he was one of ten to be selected
for the National Squad. This led to attending many
regattas and winter training weekends based in the
South of England. He sails regularly at his home club,
Grimshaw Reservoir. The hard work has paid off and
he is now in the Youth
Squad, which is one level
down from the Olympic
Development Squad.
diving
cycling
Abby Parkinson won the National Schools GHS 10
mile time trial in London aged fifteen. As this is an
U16 event Abby won the U16 and U15 award.
The following day she began the Cyclo Cross
season, wearing her National Champion colours,
with a fine win in the Keighley round of the
Yorkshire Cross series. Abby has been selected
to ride for Yorkshire at the three day Inter-Regional
Track Championships in Newport, Wales.
Ruby Bower is a member of the City of Bradford Esprit Diving Club. She won the bronze medal on the 1m board
in the British Gas ASA National Age Group Championships. She gave an exceptional performance and dived her
way onto the medal rostrum with 176.70 points. The competition, which was the final national event of the season,
was held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. Ruby was part of a team of fourteen members from City of Bradford, which is
the competitive outlet for Bradford Council’s Sport and Leisure Services’ coaching and training scheme. The team
competed against 163 divers from around the country.
4 BGSnews BGSnews 5

national events
diamond jubilee
david hockney
In June a small group of pupils and staff were
delighted to be invited to visit former pupil, David
Hockney, at his home and studio. The Headmaster,
Kevin Riley, and Head of Art, Josie Barraclough,
were joined by Art students Sarah McWhinney, Nick
Winn and James Sugden. The group were shown
two of David’s latest film projects. The first was
a film of his recent The Bigger Picture exhibition
at the Royal Academy of Art made using three
cameras to create an image that allowed the viewer
to see either side and around the exhibition as the
cameras moved through the different galleries.
The second had been filmed using eighteen static
cameras to film twelve jugglers moving around
a studio. This film created an image which the
viewer could look around to see different elements
of the performance as if it was been watched in a
theatre. Over a lunch of east coast fish and chips
the pupils were engrossed to hear David’s thoughts
on colour choice, the iPad as a tool and learning to
see the colours and world around us. David was
extremely generous with his time, vast knowledge
and spirit and gave the visitors an inspirational day.
A film clip of the visit can be seen on the iPad app
downloadable from the App Store.
art
The last day before the spring half term saw both the Junior and Senior
Schools celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. A full fun-packed day was
enjoyed by pupils and staff.
The Junior School held a street party in the school gardens for all pupils, parents
and grandparents. Pupils and staff dressed in the style of one of the decades of
the Queen’s reign. This was followed by a Jubilee Concert in the Price Hall with
performances including songs from each decade, poetry and an excerpt from the
production Bugsy Malone. The afternoon concluded with renditions of Land of Hope
and Glory and the National Anthem.
The Senior School pupils and staff dressed in red, white and blue and enjoyed
a traditional British fayre lunch of fish and chips or a full English breakfast
followed by treacle sponge and custard.
Different year groups planned a range of activities. The whole of the First Year
walked from school to Ilkley dressed in red, white and blue and raised money for the
Teenage Cancer Trust. Second and Third Form pupils entertained each other at a
Jubilee Variety Show. The prize for the best performance went to 2DJM who acted
out sketches relating to the Sixties such as the first heart transplant and England
winning the World Cup. One hundred and sixteen Fourth Form pupils spent the day
paintballing at the Delta Force Centre.
The Stitch Club produced a wall-hanging themed on the Diamond Jubilee which was
displayed at City Hall during Heritage Day. The girls each designed and hand sewed
their own block. All sixteen blocks were joined together to make the
hanging.
lord mayor’s
parade - london
BGS was delighted to lead the Lord Mayor’s Parade and support its
former pupil, David Wootton, as he became the Lord Mayor of the
City of London. David attended BGS between 1960 and 1969 and
was Deputy Head Boy and Captain of Boats. After studying Classics
at Cambridge University, he became an International Corporate
Lawyer and is a Partner with Allen and Overy. David’s theme for
the parade was Fit for Life. The school float followed this theme and incorporated
rowing and the Olympics. David began a lifelong love of rowing during his time at
BGS and it was the London 2012 Olympics during his term of office. The school’s
senior rowers, some of whom are the current world record holders, rowed
on the back of the float throughout the parade. Former
pupils taking part included Richard
Nerurkar MBE.
He won the English National Cross-Country
Championship three times and twice finished
in the top twenty in the World Cross-Country
Championships. Richard holds the British record for
10 miles of 46:02, set in October 1993. Boris Rankov, who
led Oxford to victory in the Boat Race six times between 1978 and
1983 which led to the Rankov rule preventing him from taking part again,
also represented the Old Bradfordians in the parade. The evening before the
parade, David invited the whole school party, including former pupil and Olympic
Gold medal winner, Adrian Moorhouse OBE, to Mansion House for drinks with his
immediate family and friends. The pupils were a credit to the school and their
families throughout the weekend. During the parade the thirtythree
pupils, four members of staff and six former
pupils received a fantastic response
from the media and the
600,000+ crowd.
exhibition
On Friday 30th September 2011 Bradford Grammar School held its Bi-Annual
Art Exhibition. This event is held predominantly to showcase the huge variety
and quality of work produced by its pupils and staff. There were over 430
pieces of original artwork on display throughout the evening. Many visitors
attended including pupils, staff, former pupils, governors, former staff,
parents, former parents and benefactors.
This year was extra special for a number of reasons: it was the first held by
the new Head of Art, Josie Barraclough, and the first event at the school for
the incoming Headmaster, Kevin Riley.
The Exhibition included a Hockney Room. In this room original art pieces that have
been donated to the school by David Hockney, a former pupil, were displayed.
The main picture was brought over for the evening from Cartwright Hall where it’s
usually stored; this is a rarely seen piece known as View of Bradford from Earl’s
Court. Paul Hockney, former Lord Mayor of Bradford and former pupil of Bradford
Grammar School, also very kindly lent six pieces of his own original artwork to add
to the Exhibition. It’s thought to be the only time that both brothers have displayed
pieces together.
The whole event was co-ordinated by local artist and teacher Henry Thornton
with the help of the Art Department staff.
whitby
The Annual Art Trip to Whitby for a
weekend of drawing and painting
started on a sunny evening in
July. Friday evening was spent
on the beach playing a friendly but
nevertheless, competitive game
of rounders. Mr Norman and Mr
Thornton were most definitely
outplayed by students and female
teachers alike, much to their
annoyance.
Saturday morning started off in a
relaxed way with a trip to Doodle
Pots, followed by lunch at the
famous Magpie restaurant for
fish and chips. The afternoon
commenced with a climb up the
steps to the Abbey for an afternoon
of drawing and painting. Very wet
weather certainly contributed to
some dramatic watercolour studies
of the Abbey!
Thankfully by late afternoon studies
of the Abbey, Whitby and local
architecture were completed and
the weather began to ease. The
group enjoyed a choppy but
pleasant boat trip around Whitby
Bay – sea shanties and all.
On Saturday everyone danced
and sang their favourite tune at a
disco and karaoke party. After a
sketching session the following day
the party returned to BGS.
6 BGSnews BGSnews 7

out & about
annual
camp
At the end of the summer term the
CCF contingent travelled to Wathgill
Camp which is part of the Catterick
Training Area. On arrival everyone
was checked in and billeted into
comfortable accommodation along with
other schools from around the country.
Bradford Grammar School was teamed
with St Bees School, Cumbria, and a
good espirit de corps was established
from the outset.
The hectic training schedule included
drill, first aid, command /leadership tasks,
orienteering, archery, volley ball, various water
activities and rock climbing. There was a shooting
competition which consisted of a range of different
types of shooting. The BGS contingent was delighted
to win the shooting trophy. The remainder of the
weekend was filled with a 24 hour field training/field
craft exercise, advanced field craft tactics, obstacle
course, paint balling and high wire confidence course.
The training was excellent and action packed
throughout with professional input from the Regular
Army Cadet Training Teams. This year Battery
Sergeant Major Jonny Lewis, an enthusiastic leader
of the contingent, is going to university to pursue an
engineering/flying career with the Royal Navy.
300
bronze
awards
There are over 300 Bradford Grammar School
pupils who have achieved their Bronze Award
through the school’s scheme. A further fiftyfive
have completed their Silver Award and over
thirty have achieved the Gold Award. Last year
ninety-eight pupils completed their Bronze Award
assessed expedition and this year 117 Fourth
Form pupils are working towards their Bronze
Award. They completed their training expeditions
over two weekends in May and the assessed
expeditions took place in June.
Gabi Swanepoel was officially the school’s 300th
Bronze Award holder. As part of achieving her
Bronze Award, Gabi helped in Ilkley’s British
Heart Foundation shop for three months, reached
Grade 4 at the flute and completed expeditions in
Lower Wharfedale and Nidderdale.
snowboarding
The Senior School runs two optional ski trips each
year; one for the First to Third Forms and the other for
the Fifth Form and above. On both trips the pupils are
given the choice of either
skiing or snowboarding
and split into groups
depending on their level
of previous experience.
This year the Fifth
and Sixth Form pupils
visited the Alp d’Huez,
France. The conditions
were excellent and
some fantastic skiing
and snowboarding was
enjoyed by the group.
Plenty of après-ski activities filled the evenings with
activities such as swimming, ice-skating and visits to
local towns. The last night was a very entertaining
games night which provided a fun end to an action
packed trip.
peace jam
PeaceJam UK is part of an international youth
movement led by Nobel Peace Prize winners. This
year the BGS PeaceJam Society learned about the
Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu. They delivered
an assembly in January to
raise awareness of the conflict
between Israel and Palestine,
and sold wristbands around
school to raise money for the
charity Children of Peace.
In April the PeaceJam Society
went to the annual PeaceJam
weekend conference at
Bradford University. At the
conference the students took part in a variety of
workshops and activities. All workshops were based
around different ways of resolving conflict.
usa
The Easter holidays saw the Geography Department
embark on its fifth visit to the South West United States
of America. Forty-three students and six staff made up
the party embarking on what promised to be the trip of
a lifetime. They weren’t to be disappointed; as the trip
proved to be one of the most successful the department
has enjoyed.
One of many highlights was the day spent
at Bryce Canyon. The beautiful weather, the
brilliantly clear light and the patches of snow
capping the salmon pink rock hoodoos
made it a spectacular experience.
The students particularly relished
the two days spent in Las Vegas.
They were able to explore the many
attractions that the city has to offer:
the Stratosphere rides, the New
York New York roller coaster,
the view from the top of the Eiffel
Tower, the Bellagio fountains and
the evening outdoor shows while
still finding time to shop.
The trip also included a visit to
the awesome Grand Canyon, a
memorable journey by boat from
Glen Dam through Red Canyon,
the vertigo-inducing views
from Horseshoe Overlook and
the brilliant colours of the rock
formations and spring vegetation
in Zion.
world challenge india
Thirty-one students and staff undertook a fourweek
World Challenge Expedition to Tamil Nadu
which is the South Eastern area of India.
On arrival in Chennai, at 5am, the culture shock
was immediate with vehicles jostling on the roads,
cows wandering around in the middle of them, the
never-ending sound of car horns and the visible
abject poverty.
paris
classics
italy trip
This year’s Junior Classics Trip to the Bay of Naples began with an afternoon in
the Naples Archaeological Museum, exploring its collections of Roman paintings, statues
and mosaics, before driving on to the hotel in Piano di Sorrento. Warm sunshine on the first
day gave way to some spectacular stormy weather on the following one, and the disappointing news that the
top of Vesuvius was closed to visitors because of high winds. Although the tour of Herculaneum was a wet
one, with thunder and lightning making it quite exciting at times, the rain had cleared by the time the group
reached the magnificent imperial villa at Oplontis,
and the last day of the trip was blessed with good
weather again. This was spent at Pompeii, exploring
amsterdam
The History Department organised a new trip to
Amsterdam. Thirty pupils from the Second to Fourth
Form travelled overnight on the Hull to Rotterdam
ferry. The centrepiece of the trip was a visit to Anne
Frank’s house. The house had a great impact on the
pupils. They particularly enjoyed a very informative
study session there, as well as walking round the
family’s secret hideaway.
Other highlights included a boat tour of Amsterdam’s
canals and a visit to the Jewish Quarter. The
destination proved to be a successful new initiative
and will be repeated in following years.
the amphitheatre, theatre, forum and various shops
and houses. Pupils had the chance to see the setting
of their First Year Cambridge Latin Course stories
first hand, and to wander around the streets where
Caecilius once walked. The final evening was spent
eating pizzas and ice creams in Sorrento, before flying
home the next morning.
The group was split into two and each undertook
their own itineraries which included projects based
on either ecological or educational themes, visits
to cultural monuments, visits to national parks and
immersing themselves in the Indian way of life.
Highlights included riding elephants through the
Indiri Ghandhi National Park and visiting the Hindu
temples in Madurai. The memory that most of the
participants will take away from the trip will be the
people that they have met.
german
exchange
out & about
Eighteen pupils from Third, Fourth and Fifth
Forms went to live with pupils from our
partner school, the Albert-Schweitzer-Schule,
Hofgeismar. Hofgeismar is a pretty market town
near Kassel with lots of very old half-timbered
houses. The pupils spent a day experiencing life
in a German school. They had the opportunity
to take part in lessons, tour the school and enjoy
a German school lunch. In Kassel the group
visited the Christmas Market, went to a dinosaur
museum and enjoyed Christmas shopping before
going bowling in the evening. The school party
visited the old university town of Gottingen where
they were given a tour of the University and the
Town Hall. There was time to sample delicious
German sausages and the special biscuits and
chocolates which are eaten at the festive season.
Pupils from the Albert-Schweitzer-Schule came
to BGS at the end of January and enjoyed a visit
to York Minster and the Jorvik Centre. They
spent time in our lessons, toured the school
and visited Leeds, Bradford and Shipley. On
their final evening a fun rematch was held at the
bowling alley.
Forty-one excited First and Second Form pupils and six of their teachers met at school to start a five-day
visit to Paris. The first day started with the Eiffel Tower. Most of the group took the lift up to the top of the
tower for the breath-taking views over the city. After lunch, a walking tour of Paris included the Ile de la Cité,
Notre Dame Cathedral, the Hôtel des Invalides and the River Seine. A party of art-lovers made a detour to the
Louvre Museum. They managed to see some of the wonders of European art, such as Leonardo di Vinci’s
Mona Lisa. Everybody enjoyed a leisurely cruise on a bateau-mouche on the River Seine.
The second day in Paris began in Montmartre. Here the party saw the Sacré- Cœur and the Place du Tertre,
admiring the work of the street artists and enjoying the quintessentially Parisian atmosphere. In the afternoon,
a coach-trip round the main sights of Paris, took in the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe with its
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The group was accompanied on both days by fantastic local animateurs who helped guide the pupils round
Paris and who spoke to them in French throughout the day.
The final day was spent at Disneyland. The pupils enjoyed all the attractions of this theme park enormously,
and there were some scary tales from the thrilling roller coaster experiences. The following day the group
returned to Bradford, having learned a great deal about Paris and lots of French too.
8 BGSnews BGSnews 9

news roundup
the royal
economic society
Many congratulations to Ravi Prasad who gained second place in the
international 2012 Young Economist of the Year Competition. From the final
shortlist of eighteen essays drawn from a total entry of over 750, the judging
panel of Professor Richard Blundell (RES), Charles Bean (Bank of England) and
Stephanie Flanders (BBC) selected four winners. The overall standard was
extremely high, with a number of entries from international schools. Second
place was awarded to Ravi for his essay answering the question on “A breakup
of the euro provides the best hope for a durable recovery of the European
economy.” The judges commented that ‘The essay is notable for its careful
analysis of the roots of the current difficulties in the euro area, noting that there
are three interlinked problems – a fiscal crisis, a banking crisis and a growth
crisis. There is a particularly good discussion of the costs of exit, drawing on the
experience of Argentina inter alia. The author employs a good selection of supporting charts
and the essay is nicely written. A really excellent essay’. Ravi has been invited to attend the
Society’s Public Lecture at the Royal Institution in London where he will be presented with a cheque for £500.
debating
This year’s Great Shakespeare Debate kicked off with a first round based on the authorship debate. Lower Six
Form pupils Matt Procter, Chris Casson and Georgie Henley were delighted to be one of the twelve teams who
reached the final round, which meant two days in Stratford Upon Avon. The students’ days were jam-packed with
workshops, debates, lectures, a performance of Measure for Measure at the RSC New Theatre and a Q&A session
with the actor who played the Duke. After four gruelling rounds of debate the two highest scoring teams were
announced for the final debate: and Bradford Grammar School was one of them! In a nail-biting final the team
demonstrated their skill and flair for debating: Georgie, in her first national debating competition was confident and
engaging, Chris was analytical and precise in his argumentation and Matt eloquently and powerfully summarised the
debate as a whole. It was a very close call and BGS did amazingly well to finish second in this national competition!
speech day
Speech Day is one of the most important days in the BGS school calendar. This year’s speaker was
eminent Old Bradfordian, Steve Abbott.
Steve attended Bradford Grammar School between 1965 and1972 and left with an Open Scholarship to
read Mathematics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Following graduation in 1976, he trained as
a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in London. Once qualified, he spent most of his career
working in film and television with members of the Monty Python team. Steve’s production credits include
A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures and Brassed Off. His company, Prominent Features, has won
awards and festival prizes throughout the world, including an Oscar, a César and several BAFTAs. He was
recently Executive Producer on Michael Palin’s New Europe TV travel series for BBC1. He entertained a
packed Price Hall with tales from his schooldays and career.
high sheriff
Former Headmaster, Stephen Davidson, retired in December 2011. Before he left BGS a
Stephen Davidson Bursary Fund was established, which raised an extraordinary £137,000, to
be used to help fund bursary places at the school for those who pass the Entrance Exam but
who are not able to pay the full amount of the fees. Stephen remains in touch with the school
and will play an active role in supporting the bursary recipients from the Stephen Davidson
Bursary Fund, the first of whom joined the school in September 2012.
At Easter 2012 Stephen became the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire for one year. A great
honour for him which involves lending support and encouragement to crime prevention
agencies, the emergency services and to the voluntary sector. High Sheriffs actively work
with crime reduction initiatives, especially amongst young people. There are many official
engagements to attend some of which require the official costume including sword to be worn.
arkwright
scholarship
At a ceremony held at the Institution of
Engineering & Technology, Savoy Place, London
Oscar Mann was awarded a prestigious Arkwright
Scholarship for his outstanding work in design,
engineering and technology.
The Scholarships support young people who
show the potential to be industry’s future leaders
in engineering and design during their Sixth Form
studies.
Oscar’s scholarship is sponsored by The Royal
Air Force and was presented at the afternoon
ceremony by Emeritus Professor John Burland
CBE DSc(Eng) FREng FRS, Imperial College,
London.
Scholars are selected following a rigorous
selection process comprising of a detailed
application form, a two-hour aptitude paper
and an interview. The interviews are held at top
engineering universities across Britain. During
his interview Oscar presented his GCSE project
work to a panel of interviewers and discussed
his commitment to design, engineering and
technology.
world
book day
As part of the celebrations for World Book Day
Bradford Grammar School held a number of events
throughout the day. The events were organised by
Chatterbooks, a book group for First and Second
Form pupils, which is run jointly by the Library
and the English Department. The club meets
during Thursday lunchtime and allows students to
share their passion for books. They discuss new
releases, write reviews, share recommendations
and generally try to have lots of book-related fun.
The World Book Day events included showing a
selection of films over lunchtime (all adaptations
of books), a number of competitions and a book
hunt. The World Book Day Poetry Competition was
won by Second Form pupil Isobel Wellings. Over
thirty-five teachers including the
Headmaster took part in a
‘Guess the Fancy Dress’
assembly. Members
of staff dressed up
as fictional book
characters for the
day. This was a bit
of fun to encourage
pupils to read more
and to remind them
that reading isn’t
just for English
lessons and
English teachers.
royalty drops in
Mr and Mrs Riley were pleased to welcome Princess Anne to Bradford Grammar School as she arrived here by
helicopter during a visit to the county. It was the first time Mr Riley had greeted royalty after becoming Headmaster
in January. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal took time to speak to those waiting and waved to pupil and
staff onlookers.
faiths in
the city
The Faiths in the City event in April was a day to
remember for the Third Form. The all-day event
involved a series of religious workshops from a
variety of faiths. The Hindu and Classical Indian
Dance workshop involved students learning about
how important dance and music are within Hinduism
as an expression of Hindu belief and practice. The
students performed a variety of classical Hindu
legends about particular gods and goddesses. The
Islamic calligraphy and art workshop allowed students
to creatively explore and produce Islamic art. The
Buddhist workshop enabled students to practice
meditation and learn about Buddhist practice and
beliefs. The Christian workshop saw performances
from the York based Riding Lights Theatre Company.
In this workshop, students were challenged to think
about Christian beliefs about Jesus and explore what
it means for a young person to have a Christian faith
in today’s world. The Sikh workshop focused on the
music of Sikh worship. Students were able to listen to
the harmonium and tabla (as well as other drums) and
learn about the significance of music for the Sikh faith.
At the end of the day students presented what
they had learned from the workshops. There were
notable dance
and music
performances
as well as
interesting
presentations.
visiting
speakers
Throughout the year BGS invites many visiting
speakers to address different age groups that are
aimed to widen, inform and sometimes challenge
their thinking.
One Friday evening in May, Bradford West’s new MP,
George Galloway, came to speak in school at the
invitation of a number of school societies. It was an
initiative by the Sixth Form and Upper Sixth student
Rowan Arthur deserves huge credit for all the work he
put in to organise the successful event. Mr Galloway
entertained a packed Hockney Theatre for over an
hour and a half.
It was excellent for our students to see such a
politician at first hand and to engage with him.
Their questions were intelligent and testing, often
demanding a nuanced response.
model
united
nations
news roundup
This year’s Inter-School Model United Nations
Competition was held at Bradford Grammar
School with over 110 students taking part from
schools across West Yorkshire. The debate
centred on the Convention for the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(adopted by the United Nations in 1979). Sixty
countries were represented by the nine schools
taking part, which included St Joseph’s
Catholic College, Holy Family Catholic School,
Hipperholme Grammar School, Hanson School,
Carlton Bolling College, Grammar School at
Leeds, Ackworth School and Beckfoot School.
Our students did particularly well, with Connor
Warden being awarded Best Speaker, Chris
Casson and Scott Brayshaw awarded Joint
Best Contribution and Ben Scantlebury and
Toby Mountain awarded Best Delegation.
rsc chemistry olympiad
The RSC Chemistry Olympiad is a national competition open to Upper Sixth Chemists. Five Bradford Grammar
School students gained certificates. Well done to: Jen Bonson (Bronze), Jamie Davidson (Silver), Will Paget
(Bronze) and Jamie Boden (Bronze). Ben Gaunt, a Lower Sixth student, achieved top mark in the school and
was only four marks away from achieving gold.
10 BGSnews BGSnews 11

supporting others
cello
recital
Joanna Twaddle
continues to play
cello with the National
Youth Orchestra.
This summer she
attended their
workshop in Birmingham
which ended with
a performance by
the orchestra. The performance was
recorded and aired on the BBC. Last
year Joanna held a recital in the
Junior School Hall to raise funds for
the Teenage Cancer Trust and was
delighted to be able to send them £80.
amnesty
Congratulations to Sarah Ross who has been
shortlisted for Amnesty International’s
Young Human Rights Reporter
of the Year Award. Over
3,000 students from across
the country took part in
the competition. Sarah
was thrilled to make the
top ten in the Sixth
Form category. The
competition required Sarah
to write a 500-word essay
on a human rights issue.
She wrote a piece as if she
were a neglected elderly
lady living alone who was
occasionally visited by a
disinterested carer.
the big
green society
The Big Green Society is one of many lunchtime clubs at
BGS. It aims to discover the environmental impact of
the school and to make positive changes (however
small). The Society is currently working towards
achieving the Silver Eco-Schools Award. The
Green Society’s recent projects have included
conducting a whole school environmental
survey, a mini beast survey conducted in the
school grounds, a brain storming session and
discussion about an eco-garden development,
fund raising by developing products to be sold
at the Spring Fair, a big switch-off campaign and
a Christmas card recycling project. During March
and as part of a national waste campaign the group
conducted a tour of the kitchens and met with
Geoff Holmes, Catering Manager, to look at ways the school deals
with food waste. The club is working on a project which involves reviewing an area known as the Glade. With
the valuable support of the Parents’ Association the plans are beginning to take shape.
spring fair
The Parents’ Association organised yet another
fantastic Spring Fair with an amazing array of
stalls, games and activities. The weather was
kind and meant that all the outdoor activities on
the Governors’ Lawn were enjoyed to the full.
New to the Fair this year was; a large climbing
wall, birds of prey and a full size inflatable
table football game. Entertainment included
Mr Mann’s magic show, flower arranging
demonstrations and music performances.
There was a delicious selection of foods available
from freshly made samosas to a burger from
the barbeque or afternoon tea in the Dining
Hall. It was a wonderful occasion filled with
entertainment and fun for all. The day raised
over £6,500 and was sponsored by
Farnell Land Rover.
fashion show
The annual BGS Netball Parents’ Association Fashion Show was a vibrant night with a fantastic atmosphere for all who took part and watched this superb
event. The evening was supported by a number of local boutiques who had their clothes expertly and enthusiastically modelled by pupils from the Sixth Form,
Fifth Form and the Junior School. The models strutted on the catwalk to lively music and carefully choreographed pieces which had mainly been created by the
pupils. For the first time a pre-loved section was added. Pre-owned clothes were donated and modelled by the pupils. The items were then on display in the
Dining Hall and available to buy which raised extra funds. The money raised exceeded £6,000 and was split between Barnardos Young Carers and supporting
the Junior and Senior School netball tours.
supporting others
barnardos young carers
race for life
A team of over 100 from Bradford Grammar School joined up to 2,500 other entrants at Lister Park’s Race for Life in June. BGS had a team of runners, joggers,
walkers and supporters, consisting of pupils, former pupils, staff, parents, grandparents and the Headmaster’s wife. Many were supporting family and friends who
have been touched by cancer and raised over £1000 towards cancer charities.
This was the third time the school has entered this event and the numbers continue to grow each year. Fifth Form pupil Poppy Briggs was the first finisher for
the school closely followed by Katie Boden from the Third Form. Refreshments in the Dining Hall were a welcome end to this uplifting event and gave everyone
chance to share the experience.
first year
walk
On Friday 1st June, the entire First Year
celebrated the end of exam week with a
sponsored walk to Ilkley. They managed to avoid
some rather excitable bullocks and enjoyed a
leisurely picnic on top of Ilkley Moor. At White
Wells Mr Richards, the Ilkley town crier, greeted
them in full regalia and delivered an ode, specially
written for the BGS walkers. Cool, cloudy but
dry weather was perfect for the day and everyone
enjoyed the chance to let off steam in good
company.
Bradford Grammar School runs a joint project with Barnardos to help support young carers in their learning.
Eleven Sixth Form pupils volunteered for the project and were trained by Barnardos to enable them to become
mentors to the young carers. Courses were held at the Barnardos training e-learning centre and included
Child Protection and Equality and Diversity. These skills and knowledge will help the pupils become better
mentors as well as helping them in their future careers.
Following the Christmas break a number of young carers and staff from Barnardos attended BGS one evening
each week to obtain help and support in their academic studies at school and to help prepare them
for future examinations. Peer group support helped and encouraged the young carers to
improve their academic record.
The Netball Parents’
Association has also forged
links with Barnardos young
carers and raised money
at the Christmas Fair
to donate to this
scheme. A group
of young carers
visited BGS the
evening before
the Christmas
Fair to meet
Santa in his
grotto and take
part in activities
such as having
their faces
painted by Santa’s
Elves.
12 BGSnews
BGSnews 13

junior school
junior school
ski trip
A group of Junior School pupils enjoyed
an extremely successful ski trip to Risoul,
France. The weather was fantastic with
glorious blue skies and sunshine for the first
three days. Overnight on Tuesday a metre
of snow fell; which made skiing difficult
but lots of fun! The evenings included
entertaining activities and games. The
resort’s ski slopes provided a perfect
range for the mixed ability group. The
beginners were well catered for and
progressed to more difficult slopes quickly
whilst the more advanced skiers enjoyed a
variety of challenging runs and mogul fields. A safe
and successful trip was enjoyed by all.
teddy
bears’
adventure
All pupils at the school experience residential
trips which help build confidence and enhance
learning. It’s delightful to see our J2 pupils set
off with their teddy bears for their first residential
trip to Borrowdale with a mixture of nerves and
excitement. They invariably return with tales of
adventure from the teddy bears’ picnic reached
by a boat trip to an island.
british
science
festival
Junior School Year 5 and 6 pupils visited the
British Science Festival held at Bradford College.
The pupils took part in a variety of science
investigations involving Chemistry, sight and
sound, birds of prey, science of the circus,
forces and mobile phone technology. The boys
and girls had a great day and found out lots of
interesting facts.
enjoying
sport
Sports fixtures, festivals and days provide fun
and competition for all pupils whatever their
talent or ability. This year’s Junior School events
have been bigger and better than ever. The
Festival of Rugby and Netball attracted schools
from across the North of England, with over 530
pupils taking part in U8s tag rugby through to
U11s netball. Competition is always fierce at the
inter-house events. Congratulations to Founders
who won both the cross country and Sports Day.
assemblies
The Junior School has had a number of excellent assemblies this year. They
started with an assembly on New Beginnings, to welcome new pupils to the
school. Others included School Rules, Health and Safety, Setting Challenges,
followed by New Horizons which encouraged pupils to aim for the moon and if you
miss you are still among the stars.
Pupils enjoyed music, sport and helping others themed assemblies. By far the most
exciting was when Sixth Form pupil, and Narnia actress, Georgie Henley spoke to pupils
regarding working on the films and getting into character.
The Headmaster’s assembly, held each Friday, rewards good work and behaviour.
A book is kept in reception showing all their good deeds for parents to see.
cheerleading
Cheerleading is known as the Sport of Smiles and our youngest pupils had plenty to smile
about when they became national champions.
On Saturday 23rd June the BeeGeeS, Bradford Grammar Junior School Cheer Dance Squad,
took part in the UKCA National Schools Championships.
The National Schools Championships offer teams the chance to
demonstrate their skills, with categories for Key Stage 1 to 5. This year
our team comprised of fourteen J2 pupils, who have been perfecting
their routine with Head Coach Dawn Murray since October, competing
against five other teams in the KS1 Pom Dance Level 1 category.
helping others
Throughout the year the school raises awareness as well
as funds for those who are less fortunate. A whole week in
October is used as a Harvest Appeal week and the pupils hold
a variety of fun events to help raise money. This year a cheque
was presented to Senior School Headmaster, Kevin Riley, who
is also Chairman of The Bujagali Trust. The Bujagali Trust is a
charity supporting children and education in Uganda. The Junior School pupils were fascinated to be able to
see the photos of the children and the schools their money will be helping.
extra-curricular
The staff are very proud of the array of extra-curricular opportunities
available at the Junior School and the pupils are amazing at trying out all
the opportunities available to them with great enthusiasm. From fencing
and shooting at the Pentathlon Club to gardening in the green
house; there’s a wealth of options to encourage pupils to
try things out and learn something new. This year Year
5 and 6 pupils have particularly enjoyed developing
their cycling skills at a club run by British Cycling.
performance
There have been many special moments for our
pupils this year and highlights include the school
choir performing Evensong at Bradford Cathedral,
the House Music Competition and our whole
school Christmas and Spring concerts. However,
the summer term ended with an astonishing
performance of Bugsy Malone. The confidence
and professionalism of the performance was
a credit to all involved. Everyone played their
parts superbly. Those cast in the role of the main
characters were Joe Qureshi as Bugsy, Maryam
Nisa as Fat Sam, Talluah was played by Niamh
Gregg and Blouncey by Esme Hannafin. Dandy
Dan and Fizzy were played by Edmund Milwain
and Ben Moon respectively. There was no sign
of nerves as the young actors and actresses
entertained the appreciative audience.
On the day they overcame their nerves to perform to a medley of
music by the Tweenies combining dance, cheers and jumps in
unison in order to please the judges. After a tense wait for the
results - watching various other schools complete - the results
were in. A surprise victory for team BeeGeeS was announced
and fourteen delighted pupils, one relieved coach and two very
proud teachers accepted the trophy and plaudits that came with
it. The pupils performed their routine to the whole of Bradford
Grammar School in the Price Hall. The performance can be
viewed on iPads by downloading the BGS Showcase app.
14 BGSnews BGSnews 15

music & drama
royal
college of
organists
Henry Websdale achieved his Associateship of
the Royal College of Organists exam (ARCO),
winning the Limpus, Shinn and Durrant Prize for
the highest mark in the practical exam, as well as
the Lord St Audries Prize for the highest overall
mark for a candidate under 19.
The Royal College of Organist diplomas have a
high failure rate (about 60 - 70%) and are widely
respected as the gold standard in organ playing.
The average candidate tends to be someone
at postgraduate level in their mid-20s. It’s an
exceptional achievement to have passed the
exam at the age of 15! This makes Henry one of
the youngest ARCOs ever in history, and possibly
the youngest Limpus prize-winner ever in the
College’s history.
dreaming
shakespheare
In October groups from the Lower School and the Sixth Form presented an evening
entitled Dreaming Shakespeare. The finale involved pupils from the First Form up to the
Upper Sixth in a mass mob dance to Queen’s You’re My Best Friend which was a fitting
end to a show featuring groups from all years performing their spins on scenes from
Shakespeare. Love and friendship were the main themes as Second Form groups took
the audience into the Midsummer Night’s Dream wood, including one group that included
Oberon Kenobi in a galaxy far far away! The First Form filled the Hockney Theatre with
smoke as the witches from Macbeth and Holly Hellawell and Brittany St Clair in the Third
Form delivered a spoof on Hamlet. The Lower Sixth Theatre Studies group gave their
frenetic half-hour version of The Taming of the Shrew with sadistic Connor Warden taming
fiery Bryony Skinn before everything ended (reasonably) happily. It was wonderful to see
Shakespeare brought to life in the Theatre with costume and lighting.
theatre visiting
As well as appearing in music and drama productions there are three other
activities available for those who prefer to stay behind the scenes or watch in
the audience. On Wednesday afternoons pupils can join the backstage skills
group and learn about set production, lighting, sound etc. For those who prefer
creative writing there’s a script-writing group. The BGS Theatre Visiting Club regularly attends professional
productions at various theatres including the Royal Exchange and Lowry Theatres in Manchester.
grassington festival
The Bradford Grammar School catchment area extends from North Leeds to the heart of the Dales. The Music
Department’s Concert Band annually enjoys travelling to the Grassington Festival and performing. This year
the Concert Band braved the June rain showers and played a splendid one and half hour session, lifting the
spirits of all those around them.
hit machine
The Music Department ended the spring term with the production The Hit Machine. This was a fabulous
extravaganza of musical highlights featuring number one hits from previous decades. Musicians, singers, dancers
and backstage crew all helped to create a buoyant atmosphere and a memorable top quality evening.
The summer term has been equally as busy with Music and Poetry evenings, Lunchtime Recitals and performances
in school and out. The Price Hall was the venue for the annual concert which particularly features Upper Sixth
musicians who are leaving BGS and therefore playing together for the last time as a year group. Musicians who
have formed their own bands battled it out at the Battle of the Bands and the term ended with Pimms in the
Hockney, a relaxed event featuring musical performance highlights from the rest of the year.
music & drama
olympic
performance
Jordan Wright was second at the European
Percussion Championships held in Tournai,
Belgium in the open age section, losing out
on the European title to last year’s winner by
only one point. At the age of fifteen this was a
tremendous achievement for Jordan.
The percussion sections of The Company,
Jordan’s band, competed in the International
Marching Class category and were crowned
European champions. This led to them being
invited to perform as one of the professional
acts at the closing ceremonies of the Olympic
and Paralympic games. Jordan can say he has
performed alongside Coldplay, Rihanna and
JayZ to name a few. Both occasions were a
tremendous experience for Jordan to be a part of.
under
milk wood
Over fifty pupils from all years appeared in the
cast of the drama production Under Milk Wood
and many more helped backstage. The support
of the behind the scenes technical team is always
greatly appreciated at the drama productions.
There were three performances in the Hockney
Theatre on 30 November, 1 and 2 December,
beginning at 7.15pm and finishing just after
9.30pm. The play is a surreal depiction of a day,
and night, in the life of a small Welsh village,
where very little apparently happens – but a great
many things are taking place behind closed doors
and net curtains. Congratulations to all the cast
and technical team on a wonderful production.
16 BGSnews
BGSnews 17

sport
south africa netball tour
The fifth senior netball tour took place this summer in The Rainbow Nation; South Africa. Following a rest,
food and a trip to the Two Oceans Aquarium the netballers headed to Cape Town University which was a
fantastic facility for their first match against Rustenburg Girls School. All three teams won their matches which
was a fabulous start to the tour.
The sightseeing on the tour included a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, cute penguins at Boulders
Bay and a boat trip from Hout Bay.
Before meeting up with host families the girls were all victorious against some tough opposition at Wynburg
Girls. The tour was a huge success both in the terms of playing and on the whole winning against some very
strong South African opposition but also with the experiences shared. The visit to a local township was very
humbling and the trips to wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves were highlights.
south africa rugby tour
The first destination was Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape Province, situated about fifty kilometres east of
Cape Town. It is the second oldest European settlement in the province, after Cape Town, and is majority
Afrikaans speaking. The first fixture was to be against the Pniel Villagers club side, in perhaps the most
spectacular setting for any rugby match played by BGS, with a 360 degree back drop of mountains.
The game was played in the most fantastic spirit but in the end it was our ability to retain the ball in the
forwards that won us the game.
A chance tour of HMS Dauntless, one of the British Navy’s new Type 45 Destroyers was very enjoyable for
those who were interested. The tourists also travelled to Simon’s Town, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point.
An afternoon was spent at the Newlands Stadium watching the Stormers win in the Super 15s. Alongside all
the tourism we also played two games in the Cape Town region and visited a local township.
The group flew to Durban for more rugby and sightseeing. The tour ended with a win. The rugby played by
the South African schools was impressive, and improving, and it is to their credit that our talented boys gave
them competitive matches.
sport
rounders
Rounders proved to be a popular choice of
summer activity amongst the BGS girls. In an
unusual start to the season both the U13 and
U14 A squads had finals to play (unfinished from
last season due to the weather) against Ilkley
Grammar and St Joseph’s College respectively.
Both games proved to be high quality with
outstanding fielding skills and tactical awareness
demonstrated by all the BGS girls despite it being
so early in the season. Both our teams came
out victorious with the U14s beating St Joseph’s
by an innings and two rounders and in a closer
encounter the U13s coming out on top against
Ilkley with a score of 13 ½ - 9. This season
produced some excellent teams at all ages
including the U12s who have taken on board the
tactical side of the game.
vechtrace
A selected senior squad from the Boat Club
travelled to Gramsbergen, in the North of Holland,
for an intensive training camp and to compete in
the Vechtrace, an international head race attracting
competitors from across Europe.
On arrival at Roeivereniging Salland in Gramsbergen
the party were greeted warmly by their hosts who had
coffee and cakes ready.
The pupils were keen to take to the water and after a
short rest boats were rigged and the squad had their
first training session.
Friday involved a series of varied and structured
training sessions. One of these sessions gave the
opportunity for the crews to travel upstream to Lars
in Germany and the starting point of the Vechtrace so
that they could familiarise themselves with the course.
Friday evening was an opportunity to mingle with hosts.
squash
The BGS Squash Team had
one of its best ever starts to
the school year. A great set
of results have included a
fourteen to six point victory
away at Ampleforth. Well done
to all the players but especially
to James Sugden (Captain), Rama
Patel and Ben Merchant. Ben, a
First Form pupil, is the youngest
player in the history of the
school to play number one for
the first team.
On arrival at the Salland Club for race day the pupils set about making final preparations to their boats,
registering and assessing the opposition. The crews set off for the race’s start, which required them to row
6km into Germany to the start line before racing the
5km back to the finish. The Vechtrace is a head
(processional) race with crews racing against the
clock, the fastest crew in each event being declared
the winner.
Over the day BGS crews were successful in three
events: J18 Mixed Double sculls, J18 Mixed Quad
Sculls and J18 Coxed Four. After racing they joined
Salland members and other guests for an informal
banquet before returning to the hotel.
Once again this short but very intensive trip had been
very successful, not just from the clutch of medals, but
also from the development progress made by all those
pupils who attended.
hockey
A successful season with U13, U14 and U15s all becoming Bradford District Tournament
Winners. The U13s also competed well in the Mini Nationals Tournament reaching the
finals where they were eventually knocked out. Congratulations to a number of our pupils
who gained representative honours; Roise Ogden, Abi Spencer, Isabel Austin, Bessie
Allan, Frankie Broadbridge-Kirbitson, Corrie Jackson-
Levrier, Libby Linfield, Imogen Allan, James Celaire
and Dan Leach.
table
tennis
Bradford Grammar School’s U13 boys’ and
U13 girls’ teams became West Yorkshire
Champions in December. Both teams competed
in the zone finals of the English Schools’ Table
Tennis Championships against winners from
South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and
Nottinghamshire. After some very close games
the boys’ team finished a very credible fifth place.
Congratulations to the girls who were victorious
throughout and finished in first place.
Following an early start in February and a two
hour drive to Grantham, the U13 girls played
excellent table tennis in the Regional finals. They
competed at a high level and eventually finished
in a well-deserved second place, placing them in
the top eight nationally. The U11 girls have also
had an excellent season and are West Yorkshire
Champions.
tennis
This season has been the most successful term for girls’ tennis. From U12 to U15 BGS
has won all fixtures apart from two. The fixture calendar for girls’ tennis has been the
busiest ever for all age groups. The girls have had two successful tours to Stamford and
Nottingham. We held three Invitational Tournaments at BGS and have achieved the following
results: 1st Senior IV won the plate competition, U15s came third, U14s IV came second,
U13A came sixth, U13B came fifth and U12s came third. Congratulations to Pascale Fisher
for winning the school round of the National Competition Road To Wimbledon.
The boys’ tennis teams have also had an excellent season and have won almost 85% of
their fixtures. Notable results include: U15 and U13 teams are the Bradford and District
Aegon Champions and are through to the National Draw, U13s won the BGS Invitational
Tournament, U14s were runners up in their
tournament, U19 and U16 are the North of England
Plate winners and runners up respectively. James Liu
was the BGS Road to Wimbledon winner. The U12 to
U15 squads have all enjoyed tennis tours this season.
cricket
Cricket came second place to the weather
this season. On the plus side when the rain
occasionally relented our U14 and U12 sides
made good progress in the Lord’s Taverners and
Bunbury Cup competitions respectively. Another
highlight was the first teams win over Manchester
Grammar School.
badminton
The senior boys’ team have won all of their
matches in the Bradford Schools’ League and
have reached the semi-finals of the Yorkshire
Schools’ Badminton League. These boys also
played superbly as part of in the senior mixed
team. The U15 and U16 boys have won all
but one of their matches which is a fantastic
achievement for both squads. The U13 boys
have had some tough opposition but the team
spirit and determination shown by the players has
been second to none.
18 BGSnews BGSnews 19

adford grammar school
over 400 years of learning
Keighley Road, Bradford BD9 4JP tel 01274 542492 fax 01274 548129
www.bradfordgrammar.com
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