Stopfordian 2010–2011 - Stockport Grammar School

The Stopfordian 2010–2011
appointment of Mrs Muscutt as the co-curricular co-ordinator
from September, which I am certain will ensure that every
child has the opportunity for such activity. The sport, music
and drama are of the highest standard and as always I enjoyed
the Carol Service, Junior School presentations and Music
Festival amongst others and I know that my colleagues on the
Board enjoyed the concert at the Royal Northern College of
Music. Sporting results have been outstanding and some
terrific school trips have taken place, including a successful
cricket tour Down Under. I should like to congratulate all the
pupils on their achievements and to thank the teaching and
associate staff for devoting their skill and time to these
important activities.
I mentioned last year that the 1000 th pupil had achieved the
Duke of Edinburgh award and the follow-up to that was a visit
by Prince Edward to School in November 2010, when I am
sure he was impressed by all the achievements of all the D of
E pupils. A month later my wife and I were honoured to
attend the Gold Awards ceremony at St James’s Palace, where
I was lucky enough to be introduced again to the Prince and
where I met the four Stopfordians proudly receiving their
Gold Awards.
The Governors have, as usual, been busy on many school
matters during the year. I should particularly like to thank
Governors Roger Yates and Keith Lansdale, who together with
Bursar Chris Watson and our architects Taylor Young, have
devoted much skill, patience and time in designing and
planning the new Woodsmoor teaching facilities; as soon as
planning permission was eventually received, the contract was
finalised with Globe, who built the Library/Physics Building six
years ago, and construction started in the early summer. At
the time of writing in the autumn, progress on the
construction is proceeding to plan and we expect that the
building will be brought into use in September 2012.
Although we have built up significant funds to finance the
building, we have agreed loans of £1.9 million from National
Westminster Bank to provide additional finance and I am
grateful to Governor Andrew Booth for his skilful negotiations
with the bank.
Turning to other members of the Governing body, I should like
to thank all my fellow governors for their dedicated and
voluntary service to the school. Peter Giblin took over from
Carol Condliffe last October as the staff nominee governor as
well as continuing to carry out timetabling duties; Peter has a
deep knowledge of the school which is proving very useful to
the Board. In April John Mott’s term of office as the Old
Stopfordians’ nominee governor came to an end and I thank
John for his contribution to the Board. David Withington,
who has taken over as the OS nominee governor, has been a
valuable member of the OS Association for many years,
having been a stalwart of the lacrosse club as a player, referee
and match secretary; he is also currently Treasurer of the OSA.
Tony Bloxham resigned in December as a result of other
commitments and I should like to thank him for his
contribution to the Board, particularly in the field of Human
Relations. In June the Board appointed Paul Milner, recently
retired HR Director of PZ Cussons, as a Governor. Harvey
Locke has just completed a successful year as the President of
the British Veterinary Association. To all the other governors I
also give my thanks, in particular the two Vice Chairmen, Ron
Astles and Philip Cuddy, for their staunch support to me.
One sad piece of news this year was the death on 12 th June
of Alan Kershaw, Chairman of Governors for 19 years to 1996
and altogether a Governor for 24 years. WAK, as he was
affectionately known, oversaw the transition of School to
independent status after the abolition of direct grant status by
the Government and in 1980 instigated the move to coeducation
and the doubling of pupil numbers in the School
over the next few years. He also started the Stopfordian Trust
in 1976, the main objective of which is the application of
funds to ensure that pupils are not forced to abandon or
curtail their educational programme through the unexpected
death, illness or financial misfortune of their parents or
guardians; Alan remained a trustee until his death. He asked
me to become a trustee of the Trust in 1987 and then asked
me to join the governing body in 1992. He was an
inspirational leader of both the Board and the Trust and
always had the wellbeing of School in his heart.
As I state in my report every year, it is essential that we
continue to improve academic and pastoral provision and that
all our staff continue to develop their skills. Teachers are the
most important asset we have; without their enthusiasm and
high standards of teaching, the outstanding academic results
would not be achieved and the variety of extra-curricular
activities would not be enjoyed. The support staff, excellently
led by our very able and committed Bursar, also play a vitally
important role in running and developing School. I
congratulate the whole of the staff on their contribution to
School life. I should like to pay tribute again to the
Headmaster for his outstanding leadership.
Next year sees the 525 th anniversary of the foundation of
School and on a personal basis the 50 th anniversary of my
leaving school and becoming an Old Stop, my 20 th year as a
Governor and 10 th and final year as Chairman. I am
delighted to note that the Governors have agreed to appoint
Vice Chairman Ron Astles to take over as Chairman at the end
of the 2012 summer term.
R. L. E. Rimmington
(Chairman of Governors)
6 The Year’s News