Heritage

Oldham Grammar School opened. A one-room school, at that time Oldham was little more than a small Pennine village.

Due to the rapid rise of industry in Oldham it was deemed the school was in an unsuitable part of town, and it eventually closed in 1867

The Hulme Trust was given permission to support local educational projects, and the Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools were founded

The first pupils entered the new school buildings on 1st May, with the official opening being done by Earl Spencer on the 30th

Many of the school’s pupils, both boys and girls, volunteered their services to World War I. 71 students and 1 staff member were recorded to have lost their lives, with the majority being killed in action at the Somme

The school was flourishing with numbers growing, so a large three storey extension was constructed and the Girls’ School was opened

In June, 10,000 evacuees from Guernsey arrived in England, with many being welcomed into the homes of Oldham, with a number continuing their education at Hulme. They became known as The Guernsey Boys, and would not return home for 5 years

The school rapidly expanded: the Estcourt building was opened for use by the Girls’ Junior School; followed by a dedicated science building in 1959; and in 1969 Thornycroft building, a space for Sixth Form students and art departments

The Centenary Library was opened, and was built to reflect the changing needs of pupils, complementing the advances made throughout the school to equip pupils for the challenges of higher education and employment and to prepare them to become adult citizens in the new millennium

The Boys’ and Girls’ Schools were merged, bringing them under the leadership of one Principal, with Nursery and Sixth Form being co-educational

January – A new Principal, Tony Oulton, was appointed, with an exciting vision for the future of the school
September – OHGS becomes Hulme Grammar School. HGS welcomes the first cohort of co-education Year 7s