School History

Foundation of the School

The school which we know as Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls actually opened for lessons on 18 th of September 1929 but local residents had been striving for that day since 1906. Even before the First World War the Board of Education had rejected the suggestion of a site behind the Council House and had proposed an alternative in Sutton Park . After 1918 Rectory Park was considered but eventually the paddock of Beeches House was chosen. Six and a half acres, formerly the domain of donkeys and ponies, were bought by compulsory purchase order.

Plans were made for a building to house three hundred pupils which might be extended for five hundred and twenty. Adequate numbers of applicants were expected as the Friary, Lichfield and King Edward's Birmingham , were the nearest similar schools. The local authority set aside £6,250 for capital expenditure and a special local rate of a halfpenny was levied from 1928 until 1938. Further financial aid was obtained from county rates and government grants and also from fees of eleven guineas a year. This sum covered stationery as well as basic instruction but girls bought their own textbooks and paid extra for elocution, music and games lessons. Such fees were charged until 1945 but a quarter of the places were free and others were held on special conditions. The County Council provided bicycles for those who came more than five miles. Parents had to sign agreements that their daughters would continue their education until the age of sixteen.

One hundred and fifty women applied for the post of Headmistress and Miss Kathleen Bradley M.A., was appointed. She had graduated in medieval and modern languages at Cambridge University before teaching in Kendal, in British Army Schools abroad and Birmingham then lecturing at Bingley Teachers' Training College . She brought the inspiration of a pioneering spirit combined with great organising ability and unfailing humour.

In May 1929 interviews were held for the first staff. When Miss Turner retired in 1962 she recorded her memories of waiting in a small museum where a mummified cat was exhibited. She was appointed to teach French with Miss Madan for Scripture and History, Miss Warmington for Maths and Art and Miss Howarth for Science and Geography. Miss Hyde, formerly with B.B.C. Children's Hour, was responsible for English and Latin, Miss Hunt taught music, Art and Mathematics and Miss Rennie was in charge of Physical Education. In those days staff were all female and resigned on marriage. Miss Hunt eventually composed the music of the school song "Beauty" and her death in 1932 is recalled by many contemporary pupils. Mr Evans was the caretaker and boiler man. Soon after the opening of the school, Miss Bolton and Miss Tilly joined the staff. Miss Warmington and Miss Tilly were later to become headmistresses of other schools.

The building itself was taking shape, although it was to be less than half finished on the first day of the first term. The western block extended from the present dining room through what was then the Domestic Science Room to the southern end of the modern Hall. This last was originally used for gymnastics as the hooks in the ceiling still indicate.

The two storey eastern block extended through classrooms to the Head's Study. The corridors of both floors were lit by unglazed windows looking onto the garden quadrangle but brown rubber curtains protected the upper level when necessary. Some former pupils mention how cold the corridors were in contrast to warm rooms and how the curtains flapped in the wind but others were too busy to notice. most recall glossy green and cream paints everywhere indoors and form rooms undecorated except by a few reproductions of famous paintings obtained by Miss Bradley. One charming memory is of a remarkably tame pigeon who attended many lessons and was known as David to girls and Staff.

Entrance examinations and interviews were held on the sixteenth of September 1929. Evidently the desks arrived just in time but the staff were without furniture and had to use two wire waste paper baskets as chairs in the staff room. Coat hook paint was still wet when the first girls arrived.

Two days later those selected assembled in the dining room. There were three first forms, two second forms, one third and one forth so the eldest pupil was only fifteen. The roll was called and tours of the building followed before the hall was put out of bounds. The girls had a free afternoon but the staff stayed till 9 p.m. for the first fortnight.

The curriculum was designed to enable pupils to sit School Certificate examinations when they were sixteen. Passes in five subjects were necessary for the award of any certificate at all and five credits were necessary for metriculation. When all the first entrants passed in 1933, Mrs Lowe, a very active governor, gave the school £100 for special needs. It was rare then for girls to study for Higher School Certificate but a sixth form was planned. They were taught that work was a pleasure because 'a girl of easy going minded type never produced a wise mother, good housewife or efficient business-woman'. The motto 'Not for our own advantage' was adopted to emphasise the high aspirations of the new foundation.

Evidently the uniform was chosen by the school. A green and grey scheme lost the day to the brown and gold which had been worn till September 2003. most girls were proud of this distinctive dress and none questioned the strict observance of the rules which enforced it. The brown box-pleated gym tunic had to be well pressed and the hem had to measure exactly 4" from the floor when a girl knelt down. The square necked blouse was made of golden yellow tobralco and so was the first summer dress, although this was relieved by a white collar. Thick brown lisle stockings lasted for a year. Blazers were so popular that old girls bought them in daffodil yellow. The velour hats were supposed to be worn straight on the head 'like Groucho Marx' but were usually adapted to current fashion by a pleat. The blue and gold of the original hat band were derived from the colours of the Mayor's chain and the Tudor rose badge from his badge of office. Miss Bradley designed the jockey cap for the safety of cyclists.

Modern parents will smile wryly at the cost of uniform in the 1930's: the largest leather house shoes were 6/11 a pair, pullovers 9/11 each and tunics 22/6d. Miss Germain in the High Street was the sole stockist.

The official opening or Foundation Ceremony did not take place until January 30 th 1930. The Countess of Warwick, Mayor of the borough, presided and was presented with a golden key by Miss Bradley. The deputy Chairman of the Education Committee, Alderman R.W Swinnerton, entrusted the school to the governing body represented by its Councillor T.W. Lawrence. This was the first occasion on which all girls appeared in uniform. They marched out of the Hall while the platform party watched; a custom which lasted for over thirty years.

The institution was known as Sutton Coldfield High School until 1962, when changes in Warwickshire policy introduced the name " Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls." Old local residents prefer the original choice which is carved over the main entrance.

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