Former heads return to mark end of era

Four head teachers at Grange School prize night: Colin Bell, Gilly McMullen, Graeme Hollinshead, John Owen.

A TRIO of former head teachers made a poignant return to their old stomping ground for one last time.

John Owens, Colin Bell and Graeme Hollinshead attended the last ever prize-giving before the Rochdale Road school becomes an academy.

This opens on the existing site in September, 2010, moving to a new building in Royton in 2013 as part of Oldham’s £266 million secondary schools overhaul.

The trio were welcomed last night by current head teacher Gilly McMullen who told staff: “Together we will continue to move the school forward in its final months.

“We are going through uncertain times but we all need to remain positive for the pupils, for the good of the school and for Oldham.”

Grange opened in 1967 after Oldham took the controversial step of going comprehensive. It then moved to its current building — hailed as an educational showpiece — four years later. The late Ernest Dowson was in charge until 1978.

Mrs McMullen added: “The school today is very different from the one which opened in 1967.

“We are now a school of 24 different languages, 98 per cent of pupils speak at least two languages, 20 per cent of our pupils join us after the normal start in September of Year 7 and 60 per cent of our pupils are entitled to free school meals.”

Mr Dowson was was succeeded by Mr Owens, who retired in 1997, Mr Bell (1997-2004) and Mr Hollinshead (2004-2008). Mrs McMullen told pupils and guests at Grange Arts Centre that the school continued to evolve and go from strength to strength.

Highlights in 2008/09 included a jump in GCSE results and it aims to surpass the Government’s target of 30 per cent of pupils gaining five A* to C grades (including English and maths) in its final year. “It would be fantastic to top last year’s results and celebrate the closing of Grange School in style,” added Mrs McMullen.

“We pride ourselves on the care, guidance and support we give our pupils. We cannot afford to lose the soul of the school in our final two terms.”