The school was founded as North Kesteven Grammar School in 1961 when administered by the County of Lincoln - Parts of Kesteven Education Committee, based in Sleaford. In October 1960, at a meeting at Spitalgate, Kesteven Education Committee decided to give the new school the name North Kesteven Grammar School. In 1960 3927 children had taken the eleven-plus in Kesteven, and 510 had been chosen for grammar school education.
It moved into a new building on 5 January 1961 with 600 mixed pupils, the same day as the William Robertson School in Leadenham.[1] The first headmaster was Mr Jack Winwood. He had been headmaster of the Sir Robert Pattinson school from 1954 to 1961.[2] The grammar stream of this neighbouring school moved into the new grammar school.
£33,867 of buildings would be added to make the school a three-form entry, from two-form entry, from 1963.[3][4] By 1966 there was 675 at the school. The deputy head from 1961 was Mr Keith Straw[5]
In October 1967, meetings with parents about comprehensive education took place.[6]
Comprehensive
The school became a comprehensive school in 1970, at which time it contained 1200 pupils.[7]
From April 1974, it was administered by Lincolnshire, not Kesteven County Council. It became grant-maintained in April 1992 and a foundation school in September 1999.
A new Maths building was constructed from 1995.[8] A sixth form complex opened in 1999, shared as the North Hykeham Joint Sixth Form.[citation needed]
The school was designated a specialist Arts College in performing arts in September 2000, and opened a new Arts Complex in September 2002, which included the 250-seat Terry O'Toole Theatre. The school was awarded academy status in 2010.[citation needed]
School site
The school is adjacent to Robert Pattinson School on the west side of Moor Lane. Adjacent, on the same site to the west,[9] is North Kesteven Leisure Centre[10] and the Terry O'Toole Theatre.
Sports centre
The sports centre is used by the school as a gym during school hours.[citation needed]
The possibility of a sports centre on the site was first discussed on 19 June 1970. The sports centre was built from 1972.[11] The sports centre was planned to open in June 1974, then planned to open in September 1974, and to be opened by Roger Bannister. It was built by Ashby & Horner of Grimsby. 60% of the cost was paid for by district council, and 40% by the county council.[12] It cost £472,000.
The swimming pool would open first, with the lounge bar and cafeteria on 23 September 1974, followed by the two squash courts on 30 September. The director was Bill Ellingworth.[13][14][15][16]
The sports hall opened in early October 1974. The centre had fourteen full-time staff.[17]Roger Bannister, chairman of the Sports Council, officially opened the centre on 18 October 1974.[18][19][20][21]
Curriculum
The school has approximately 1400 pupils aged 11 to 18, and teaches towards GCSE, A Level and BTEC certificates in the fields of Technologies, Arts, History, Geography, Business Studies and Modern Foreign Languages.[citation needed]
Headteachers
Jack Winwood 1961 -
Keith Straw took over in May 1973, who retired in July 1985[22][23]
Terence O’Toole from September 1985, and throughout the 1990s
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