# Queen's Park High School

Queen's Park High School or QPHS is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form located in Queens Park, Chester, England. The school symbol is the heraldic lion, and the school uniform consists of a blue blazer with a small white lion on the left hand side, and black or blue trousers.

## History

Queen's Park High School although only coming under its current name in 1971 is the oldest non-public school in Chester.

### Boys' School

Chester City Grammar School for Boys developed out of a technical day school, which opened at the Grosvenor Museum in 1892. Following the Education Act, 1902, it was decided to adapt the day technical school to meet the requirements of the Act, and its name was changed to City and County School for Boys in June 1907. It was transferred to Chester Corporation in August 1908, but remained at the Grosvenor Museum, with its own Board of Governors (some of them being appointed by Chester Corporation), until 1912. The school then moved to new buildings in Queen's Park. In 1938 its name was changed to Chester City Grammar School for Boys, and in 1941 new premises were opened in Queen's Park. As the 1970s dawned the school came under the scheme for the reorganisation of schools in Chester, and Chester City Grammar School for Boys combined with Chester City High School for Girls, with the name of Queen's Park High School. The Headmaster of the combined school was appointed in 1970, and complete amalgamation of the boys' and girls' schools took effect from September 1971.

### Girls' School

Chester City High School for Girls was established following the Education Act, 1902, which made provision for secondary education. It began in temporary premises, the Race Stands on the Roodee, on 23 January 1905. On 25 March 1912 new premises were opened in Queen's Park. Originally known as the City and County School for Girls, because the County Education Authority maintained a certain number of the places available to students, the name of the school was changed in 1938 to Chester City High School for Girls. Under the scheme for the reorganisation of schools in Chester, prepared by the City Education Officer in 1968, the City High School for Girls and City Grammar School for Boys combined to form a mixed High School. The headmaster of the combined school was appointed in 1970, but the headmistress of the City High School remained as associate headmistress until July 1971. From that date the City High School for Girls ceased to exist as a separate school.

## Extracurriculars
### Musicals and theatrical productions

QPHS has a long history of annual school performances which usually run for a week in the spring term.

### Other musical events

Each year QPHS stages a Summer Concert and Candle Lit Christmas Evening. There is an active school orchestra. In February the school has an X Factor like event called The V Factor showcasing the talents of the school's pupils. There is an annual Battle of the Bands contest open to students from all local secondary schools.

### School magazine

* The Inkwell - from 1923 to 1959
* Cestria - from 1959 to 1970
* Queen's Park High School Magazine - Special issue in 1970
* Newsletter - from 1971 to present

## Headmasters

* 1893 to 1911, J.A. MacMichael
* 1912 to 1937, J.K. Wilkins
* 1938 to 1942, Eric Ayres
* 1942 to 1948, R.P. Challacombe
* 1949 to 1970, C. Race
* 1971 to 1989, Ken.D. Munden
* 1989 to 2009, A.D. Firman
* 2009 to 2015, S.J. Casey
* 2015 to 2021, L Watterson
* 2021 to present T Kearns

## Notable former pupils
### Chester City Grammar School

* Russ Abbot, Comedian
* Sir Charles Bell CBE, Chairman of Coats Paton Ltd from 1967 to 1975
* Stephen Byers, Labour MP for North Tyneside since 1997 and for Wallsend from 1992 to 1997
* Sir John Enderby CBE
* Prof Clifford Formston, Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College from 1943 to 1974
* John Golding, Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1969 to 1986
* Professor Paul Gough, Vice-Chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth, and Chair of UKADIA
* Keith Harris - Ventriloquist with Orville the Duck
* Jon Lloyd, Chief Executive since 2008 of UK Coal
* Bob Mills, Comedian/Writer - 1968–1972
* John G. Robinson, railway engineer
* Prof James Scudamore CB, Chief Veterinary Officer from 1997 to 2004

### City & County School Chester for Girls

* Mary Whitehouse