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The Stopfordian 2011–2012
and although last year’s Inspection Report described the
provision for extra-curricular involvement as ‘outstanding’, we
seek to improve and extend it even further.
The range and variety of our drama was evident in
productions of David Howson’s City United, which enabled
many younger pupils to participate in drama for the first time,
and the Sixth Form classical production of The Persians which
was performed to equally enthusiastic audiences. Oliver!,
directed by Alison Moffatt and Michael Dow, was a
memorable and striking demonstration of the talents of our
pupils and the vision and skill of members of staff. The
musical brought together nearly 200 pupils from across the
school and each performance reflected the dedication of
pupils and staff throughout the months of rehearsals and
preparation. The Music Department has also been very
active, staging an extensive programme of recitals and
concerts with the highlight of the 525 th Anniversary Gala
Concert, held at the Royal Northern College being a fine
performance of The Nelson Mass. We are also represented in
the ranks of the National Youth Orchestra and the National
Youth Choir.
In this Olympic Year our sports teams have enjoyed very
successful campaigns. At national level James Flynn and
Martha Watson have been selected for the England U18
Rugby and U18 Hockey squads respectively whilst Jamie
Simpson fenced in the Junior Commonwealth Games in
February. Record numbers of pupils have been chosen for
county and regional representative teams. Our Under 15
rugby team reached the last 16 (of 400 schools) in the
prestigious Daily Mail Cup Competition whilst their senior
counterparts went one round further to the quarter-finals of
the Vase. In hockey the 1st XI reached the North Final of the
National Schools, where they were unlucky to lose on
penalties. The Under 13 team advanced to the National
Finals of their tournament where they were placed third in the
country. Our netball teams have been successful at county
and regional levels and our reputation as a strong football
school continues to strengthen. Sport in the Summer Term is,
of course, inevitably affected by the pressures of public
examinations; nevertheless there has been much to celebrate.
Tennis has been particularly successful, whilst our athletes
continue to dominate the local track leagues and both boys’
and girls’ squads have progressed in the English Schools’
Athletics Championships. Despite the challenging weather, all
our cricket teams built strong records with each of the junior
sides advancing to the latter stages of their respective Cheshire
Cup competitions. In the light of such sporting success, it was
fitting that in June the Olympic Flame passed the front gates
of Stockport Grammar School. Claudia Thomas, a pupil in the
Third Year, had the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch
during the Stockport leg of the relay with Old Stopfordian
Richard Howarth also selected to participate in the Torch’s
journey through the North West.
Our pupils did not, however, wait passively for the flame to
arrive in Stockport. Over the Easter holiday, our classicists
travelled to Olympia, site of the first Games held in 776BC;
and Delphi, the magical place of prophecy as part of a tour of
Athens and the Peloponnese. Pupils in the Second Year
participated in a successful and innovative Olympic Study
Day. Our mathematicians and scientists have distinguished
themselves in academic Olympiads and the search for The
Young Scientist of the Year, whilst competition in events such
as ‘Masterchef’ and the Sixth Form’s charity version of ‘Strictly
Come Dancing’ has been intense in the extreme. As part of
the extensive lecture programme of distinguished academics
and authors organized by the Library, we were privileged to
welcome Old Stopfordian John Amaechi OBE, a director for
Stockport Grammar School Senior Prefects