Ryhope Grammar School

Ryhope Grammar School, also known as Robert Richardson Grammar School, was a grammar school which existed in Ryhope, County Durham, from 1911 until 1969.^[1] It amalgamated with Ryhope Modern School to become a comprehensive school in 1969 and closed in 1988. ^[2] Notable alumni include opera singer Thomas Allen and television producer Chris Cowey.^[3] Past pupils are called Old Ryhopeans.

History

Ryhope Grammar School was built by Durham County Council in 1910 and opened on September 16, 1911. It was named Robert Richardson Grammar School in honour of local councillor Robert Richardson, who fought a campaign to have a grammar school built in Ryhope.

Former Ryhope Public Elementary School pupil Ralph Williams was appointed as headmaster, welcoming a first intake of 74 boys and 81 girls. Built on a four-acre site on the outskirts of Ryhope, the new school offered "every convenience, an excellent playing field and electricity throughout." A charge of £1 10 shillings per term was made to each pupil to cover tuition costs, use of apparatus, books and paper.

Ryhope Grammar School proved an immediate success. Within a year it was over-subscribed. "The school is well-disciplined and efficiently organised. Pupils are of good behaviour and staff are well chosen and highly capable," a report by education inspectors stated.

Several Old Ryhopeans fought in the First World War. Among these was Norman Pigg, the school's first sports champion, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the Military Cross with two bars and three mentions in Dispatches. Fourteen Old Boys died in battle. Pigg lead a fund-raising campaign to commemorate the fallen after the war, with an organ and plaque being erected in the school hall in 1924.

Ryhope Grammar School became one of the first schools in the country to offer Advanced Courses – the fore-runner of A Levels - in 1918, allowing pupils to study until the age of 18 and move on to university degrees. In the early 1930s, when Seaham Harbour Grammar School for Girls opened, Ryhope ceased to be co-educational.

The school closed for several weeks following the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, re-opening on a part-time basis with 21-minute lessons. It became one of the first schools in the country to form an Air Training Corps unit, and hundreds of Old Ryhopeans fought in the conflict. A total of 34 died in the six years of war.

New examinations - O Levels and A Levels - were introducedafter the war and pupil numbers increased from 432 in 1947 to 586 by 1959. In 1962 the school once again opened its doors to girls and, in 1969, it amalgamated with Ryhope Modern to become a comprehensive school. The school made headlines in the 1970s, featuring on national television, with productions of the rock operas Tommy and Stardust.

Ryhope Grammar School, by now known as Ryhope School, closed in July 1988. Today modern apartments and houses stand on the site, and only the old sports field remains.^[2]

Notable alumni

Chris Cowey - TV producer (The Tube)

Thomas Allen - Opera singer^[4]^[5]

Richie Pitt - Footballer

Harry Barnes - Labour politician^[6]

Ronald Radd - Broadway and TV actor

John Jennings - Conservative politician

Douglas Weatherall - Journalist and Broadcaster

References

Schools in Tyne and Wear

Primary	Academy 360 Excelsior Academy Grindon Hall Christian School Hilton Primary Academy Kings Priory School

Middle	Gosforth Central Middle School Gosforth East Middle School Gosforth Junior High Academy Marden Bridge Middle School Valley Gardens Middle School Wellfield Middle School

Secondary	Academy 360 Benfield School Biddick Academy Boldon School Burnside Business and Enterprise College Cardinal Hume RC School Castle View Enterprise Academy Churchill Community College Emmanuel College Excelsior Academy Farringdon Community Academy George Stephenson High School Gosforth Academy Grindon Hall Christian School Harton Technology College Heaton Manor School Hebburn Comprehensive School Hetton School Heworth Grange Comprehensive School Jarrow School John Spence Community High School Joseph Swan Academy Kenton School Kepier School Kings Priory School Kingsmeadow Community School Longbenton Community College Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy Marden High School Monkseaton High School Monkwearmouth Academy Mortimer Community College Norham High School Oxclose Community Academy Red House Academy Sacred Heart RC High School St Aidan's RC Academy St Anthony's Girls' RC Academy St Cuthbert's High School St Joseph's RC Academy St Mary's RC Comprehensive School St Robert of Newminster RC School St Thomas More School, Blaydon St Thomas More Academy, North Shields St Wilfrid's RC College Sandhill View Academy Seaton Burn College South Shields Community School Southmoor Academy Studio West Thomas Hepburn Community Academy Thornhill School Thorp Academy Venerable Bede CE Academy Walbottle Campus Walker Technology College Washington School Whickham School Whitburn CE Academy Whitley Bay High School

Independent	Argyle House School Dame Allan's School Newcastle High School for Girls Newcastle School for Boys Royal Grammar School Sunderland High School Westfield School

Further Education	Dilston College ESPA College Gateshead College Gateshead Jewish Academy for Girls Newcastle College Newcastle Sixth Form College South Tyneside College Sunderland College Tyne Metropolitan College Usworth Sixth Form

Defunct	Breckenbeds Junior High School Gateshead Grammar School Heathfield Senior High School Hookergate School Hylton Red House School La Sagesse Newcastle upon Tyne Church High School Ryhope Grammar School St Mary's CE Primary School

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