Revolutionising the education system

Wallasey Grammar School

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The school was founded in the 16th century under the patronage of the Meoles family. By 1911 it had moved to its new home on Withens Lane.

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Under the 1944 Butler Act, the school provided tremendous opportunities for youngsters from less privileged backgrounds, council estate children from Birkenhead to Wallasey. Every last one of them was given a decent shot at a reasonable career. Many went to top universities... In 1967 the school moved to Leasowe, and later became Wallasey Comprehensive School.

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Frederick Leonard Allan - An inspiring leader

Wallasey Grammer School

The son of a parson, Fred Allan was educated at Newcastle Grammar School and Cambridge University. He completed 34 years as Head Master at Wallasey Grammar School, served in the British Army in the Northumberland Fusiliers during WW1, and in the Auxiliary Pioneer Corps during WW2. He rose from Lieutenant to Major, and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and an MBE for distinguished service.

Fred Allan became full time secretary of the Head Masters Conference (an association of Head Teachers) in retirement from 1960 to 1964.

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He collapsed and died on his way to work at the HMC in 1964, aged

69. Like many Head Masters of his time, Fred was a figure of massive integrity and exact standards, who inspired many during his life.

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"Stable, productive and very happy under an

inspiring headmaster, F. L. Allan"

Kenneth Owen

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"We need not grieve for Mr Allan for he died as he would have wished 'still in the harness' as we say. No doubt his mind was filled with the many things he was going to do that day for the benefit of many schools."

Mr Oliver, his successor at Wallasey Grammar School

HMC schools were for boys-only; it would take until 2005 before opening its membership to Heads of girls-only schools.

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Churchill maintained; 'headmasters are possessed of a power of which we politicians can only dream!'

Source: Wikipedia/ Wallasey Grammer School, A Brief History

Images: Believed to be in the Public Domain or used with permission

Notable ex-pupils

Click on a name for more information

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Brooke Benjamin FRS Physicist, known for nonlinear differential equations

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Peter Benson Actor (Heartbeat)

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Robert Campbell (Art gallery director)

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Arthur Christiansen Editor from 1933-57 of the Daily Express

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Alan Clarke Television and film director

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William Crampton Vexillologist (flags)

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Fred Jarvis Trade Union leader

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Albert Edward Litherland FRS FRSC Physicist

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Neil McKechnie Swimmer in the 400m freestyle at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne

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Kenneth Owen General surgeon Urologist

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Fred Perry Wimbledon men's singles champion 3 years in succession!

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Major-General Freddie Plaskett CB MBE Director-General from 1981-88 of the Road Haulage Association

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Graham Stark Actor (notably as policemen in The Pink Panther films)

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Cyril Taylor Doctor who pioneered NHS health centres, and President from 1980-89 of the Socialist Health Association

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Sir Malcolm Thornton Conservative MP from 1979-83 for Liverpool Garston, and from 1983-97 for Crosby (replacing Shirley Williams)

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Victor Tindall CBE Rugby Union international, and later Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from 1972 at the University of Manchester

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Prof Robert Williams FRS Chemist, won the Royal Medal in 1995

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Sir Alan Herries Wilson FRS Mathematician, Chairman from 1963-73 of Glaxo, and President from 1963-64 of the Institute of Physics

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Peter Worsley Sociologist who coined the term 'Third World', and Professor of Sociology from 1964 at the University of Manchester

Grammar Schools

Grammar schools became the selective tier of the Tripartite System of state-funded secondary education operating in England and Wales from the mid-1940s to the late 1960s and continuing in Northern Ireland.

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With the move to non-selective comprehensive schools in the 1960s and 1970s, some grammar schools became fully independent schools and charged fees, while most others were abolished or became comprehensive (or sometimes merged with a secondary modern to form a new comprehensive school). In both cases, many of these schools kept "grammar school" in their names. More recently, a number of state grammar schools still retaining their selective intake gained academy status, meaning that they are independent of the Local Education Authority (LEA). Some parts of England retain forms of the Tripartite System, and a few grammar schools survive in otherwise comprehensive areas. Some of the remaining grammar schools can trace their histories to before the 16th century.