Leeds Modern School

Leeds Modern School was a school in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

History

Leeds Modern School was founded on 14 July 1845 in Rossington Street as the Mathematical and Commercial School. This building in the centre of Leeds became council offices after the school moved to a site at Lawnswood in 1931.

During the 1960s, pupils over 16 years of age were allowed to travel to school on motor-cycles and scooters and, with special permission, by car.

The School merged with the girls' grammar school, Lawnswood High School for Girls in 1972 to form the present Lawnswood School. In 1973 the now Lawnswood School became a comprehensive. The school buildings were demolished by Leeds City Council, and replaced with modern buildings in 2003.

School site

The school site was shared with a separate but identical sister school, Lawnswood High School for Girls. Boys attended Leeds Modern, Girls, Lawnswood High. The schools were separated by a joint school's swimming pool and separate dining hall building. Mixing of boys and girls was strictly prohibited.

The school buildings were mainly red brick with stone features and large windows, with internal corridors of brickwork walls and oak parquet flooring. The main hall had a stage at one end, used for assembly, and was lined with scholarship boards. Classrooms accommodated about 32 pupils.

School facilities included about 20 permanent classrooms, chemistry, physics and biology laboratories, lecture rooms, library, gymnasium, and rooms for metal and woodworking, art and music.

Curriculum

Leeds Modern School taught science, arts and humanities, including the principles of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism.

Notable former pupils

• Bernard Atha, Chairman from 1974-2007 of Leeds Playhouse
• Author and playwright Alan Bennett
• Prof John Birkinshaw, Professor of Biochemistry from 1956-62 at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
• Prof David Blackbourn, Professor of History since 1992 at Harvard University
• Robert Blackburn, founder of Blackburn Aircraft
• Wing Commander Sir Eric Bullus, Conservative MP from 1950-74 for Wembley North
• Donald Burton MBE, Professor of Leather Industries from 1951-9 at the University of Leeds, and President from 1942-5 of the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists
• Michael Butterfield, Chief Executive from 1975-86 of the National Association of Youth Clubs
• Henry Carr, painter
• John Cobb CBE, Livesey Professor of Coal Gas and Fuel Industries from 1912-38 at the University of Leeds
• TV presenter and journalist John Craven
• Henry Drysdale Dakin, biochemist, known for Dakin oxidation and the Dakin–West reaction
• Prof Peter Davies, Chair of Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Pennsylvania
• Harry Dawson, Professor of Physical Chemistry from 1919-39 at the University of Leeds
• Prof Michael Depledge, Professor of Environment and Human Health since 2007 at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
• Gordon Hainsworth, Chief Education Officer from 1983-8 for Manchester
• Prof Andrew Harvey, Professor of Econometrics since 1996 at the University of Cambridge
• Martin Kettle, journalist
• Prof Philip Levy, Professor of Psychology from 1972-94 at the University of Lancaster, President from 1978-9 of the British Psychological Society, and Editor from 1975-80 of the British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology
• Prof Douglas McCandlish, Professor of Leather Industries from 1919-49 at the University of Leeds
• James Milner, 1st Baron Milner of Leeds, Labour MP from 1929-51 for Leeds South East
• Ronald Peacock, Professor of German from 1962-75 at Bedford College (London)
• Bob Peck, actor
• Sir Gordon Radley CBE, Director-General from 1955-60 of the GPO
• Peter Ridsdale, former chairman of Leeds United.
• Prof Wallace Robson, Masson Professor of English Literature from 1972-90 at the University of Edinburgh
• Guy Schofield, Editor from 1950-55 of the Daily Mail
• Dr John Seddon, aerodynamicist
• Sir Douglas Smith KCB, Chairman of Acas from 1987–92
• Gordon Stowell, Editor from 1941-44 of the Radio Times
• Stanley Tiffany CBE, Labour MP from 1945-50 for Peterborough, and Leader of Wakefield Borough Council from 1952–67
• Herbert Hall Turner, astronomer and Savilian Professor of Astronomy from 1893-1930 at the University of Oxford
• Brian Woledge, Fielden Professor of French from 1939-71 at University College London
• John Musgrave-Wood, Emmwood cartoonist from 1969-75 for the Daily Mail (prior to Mac - Stanley McMurtry)
• Prof Arthur Wormall, Professor of Biochemistry from 1936-63 at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College

Notable teachers

• John Gunnell taught at the school from 1959 to 1962. He was the Leader of West Yorkshire County Council from 1981 to 1986, and Labour MP for Morley and Leeds South from 1992 to 1997, and Morley and Rothwell from 1997 to 2001.
• Robert Shaw (poet), was head of English, 1964-8. In addition to his teaching at Leeds Modern, during those years, he was also Visiting Fellow in English and Education at the University of York and part-time tutor in Twentieth Century English Literature at the University of Leeds. He later lectured at the University of Southampton from 1968 to 1972, resigning to become a full-time poet, critic (including TV and radio) and jazz saxophonist - he was a pioneer of Poetry and Jazz fusion.

References

External links

• History of Leeds Modern School
• Lawnswood School website