Description

Admin History:

The Grammar School in Hull was founded in 1486 by John Alcock, Lord Chancellor and bishop of Worcester (and later Ely) the son of a town burgess. The administration of the school was shared between what would become the Municipal Charity Trustees and the Corporation of Hull itself. This sharing of responsibility would lead to some considerable difficulties for the school throughout it's history until the mid 20th century.

With the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act in 1836 and the formation of a new corporation to run the town, one of the first committees to be formed was a Grammar School Committee in August 1837. Initially the Charity Trustees were seeking to appoint a new headmaster, and sought the advice of the council. From here, a committee was established to report back on the school building and also on the condition of the master's house as well. In the November of the same year, the committee was reappointed, becoming one the councils standing committees. This was to last until November 1842 when the decision was made to discontinue it.

Instead, the council decided to set up the Grammar School Visitors Committee. The Mayor and his 3 predecessors in that post would visit the School and report upon its state and condition, and the management by the Master. The last visitors report presented to the council appears to be 1874.

However, the role of Visitors Committee could also be extended when specific issues arose. For example, in 1861 when the University of Cambridge decided to abolish the Metcalf Scholarship (which funded a boy from Hull to attend Clare College), the committee was authorised order to deal with the matter. In October 1864 it was decided to again set up a special committee, the Grammar School Tuition Committee, to consider the management, revenues, exhibitions and advantages of the school and to report back to the full council. Having reported back, the council decided to retain a Grammar School Committee as a standing committee. 1866 and 1870 saw the committee specially tasked to consider the Town Clerk's reports on the school.

By 1876-1877 the powers of the committee had been more clearly defined. It was to:-

1) Take into consideration and to propose any scheme they may think fit for the management and regulation of the school. It could consider the due application of its funds or property and submit such considerations to the Town Council.

2) Superintend science and art classes in connection with the Science and Art Department, South Kensington. In 1906 these powers transferred to the Education Committee.

3) Superintend the Library in the Town Hall, and recommend to the Council what books they consider should be purchased therefore. From 1885-1886 this would become a separate Library Committee

On 4 October 1883, another special committee was established to work with the trustees of the school, and was known as the Grammar School (Joint) Committee. This was to look at funding and to consider if money from the Lister's Hospital Fund could be used to fund the school instead. Reporting back quite quickly, it had been wound up by the end of the same month.

By 1905-1906 the duties and powers of Grammar School Committee were more specific in that it was to have the management, regulation and control of the Grammar School, under the scheme for the administration of the School, dated the 8th February, 1896, and any Amending Scheme. The committee was terminated in October 1945 when its powers were transferred to the Education Committee.

Description:

Committee records including minutes, correspondence, applications, reports and plans