Reference
SDDunsG
Title
Records of Dunstable Grammar School and Manshead Upper School
Admin/biog history
Dunstable Grammar School was founded in 1888. It was financed by the Ashton charity under a scheme approved in the High Court in 1884 and 1885 under which the charity became known as the Ashoton Schools and Almshouses Foundation. The foundation stone of the new grammar school was laid on the 24 June 1887. It was to be suitable for 100 pupils and to include room for twenty boarders. Further alterations to the charity scheme were made at various times throughout the 20th century.
In 1945 the governors of the Ashton Foundation proposed to relinquish direct grant status for Dunstable Grammar School and to make application for the school to become wholly maintained by the Local Education Authority. This was achieived in April 1946 when the school was granted voluntary controlled status.
The boarding house closed in 1955 when the number of boarders had dropped to only 14.
In 1971, as part of a move to a three tier comprehensive system, the grammar school closed and the teachers and pupils moved to the newly built school called Manshead Upper School. The old grammar school premises were taken over by Ashton Middle School.
Manshead Upper School continued educating pupils aged 13-18 until September 2014 when it became a full secondary school accepting pupils at the age of 11. In May 2017 the school converted to a sponsored academy with the Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust.
Reference
Level of description
fonds