Science Blocks

To date the school has had three purpose built science blocks.

First Science Block

The school's first science block photographed in the 1990s

The school's first science block was in about 1903. It led to a broadening of the school curriculum, and the appointment in January 1904 of John Harold Parkinson, a highly qualified master with BA and BSc degrees from London University, BSc from the University of Wales, and MA and PhD degrees from the university of Marburg in Germany.

The science block contained a "physical" and a "chemical" laboratory and a lecture room. By 1909 only one laboratory was needed, so the physical laboratory was used as a classroom by the headmaster, John William Dyson, who took two or three forms simultaneously in it, although the HM Inspectors didn't consider the furniture suitable for this purpose.. Adequate heating had been introduced into the block, but the chemical laboratory was "insufficiently lighted by the present gas jets".

By the late 1970s the block was being used for the teaching of biology with some of the rooms only occasionally used. Biology master, [[Patrick John Huston], commented in the 1980s that he considered the stonework over the main door to be in danger of collapse.

Second Science Block

The school's second science block photographed in the 1990s

In November 1948 a decision was made to seek the ministry's views on the likelihood of permission being granted to proceed immediately with the building of a gymnasium and changing rooms but it was over seven years before permission was given for the erection of a new science block and a combined hall-gymnasium.

Work began in December 1956 on the major new extension, designed by a former pupil, Frederick Ralph Bozeat, a member of the drawing office staff of Holland's county architect, who was quoted as saying:

They had not attempted to duplicate the appearance of the old school buildings, but, on the other hand, they had tried to preserve the dignified tone of the existing buildings, in keeping with the status of the school.

On 16 May 1957, W L Alexander, chairman of the governors, laid the foundation stone, declaring it was "not just a foundation stone, but a milestone... in the school's history". He inspected the Army and Navy sections of the school's CCF, accompanied by the mayor, Councillor Mrs Bertha Row, and was thanked by head prefect Robert M Sheehan. The new buildings were officially opened on 30 October 1958 by Sir Oswald Giles, who received a presentation from the head prefect Frederick J Allday (1951-1959), and was thanked by William John Ricketts, the headmaster, who said Sir Oswald had:

turned another page in our long history, a page which has taken a long time to write. 1958 will be written in figures as large as 1567 and 1926, for these two buildings occupy an area about three-quarters the size of the existing school, and and are almost as large as the 1926 extension which houses the main classroom block...

The old laboratories, two in number, now very good classrooms, were small and lacking in space, so that we were unable to buy much needed equipment...

In the past, boys laboured under great difficulties in their practical science, and yet we have built up an enviable record of scientific achievement. The now HMI remarked that his predecessor had told him that the standard of science teaching was high, and as evidence we can point to the large flow of boys who go to the science faculties in the universities - thirty in the four years I have been here, and among our comparatively young old boys we can boast two doctors of science, many PhDs, open scholars of Oxford and Cambridge, and State Scholars...

It appears that Sir Oswald Giles was the third choice to perform the opening ceremony, the Marquess of Exeter and Marshall of RAF Lord Tedder having previously been invited and unable to accept.

After a meeting of the governors on 21 May 1959, in the unavoidable absence of Sir Oswald, Mr Alexander unveiled a plaque in the new hall commemorating its opening and that of the science buildings.

The science block consisted of four laboratories, each with a preparation room, and accommodated four classes, each of about thirty pupils. With its completion the old science block was adapted to provide three classrooms, two of which were later converted into biology laboratories.

This science block was demolished following completion of the third science block.

Third Science Block

The third science block was built in 2002 on the site of the old Fives Court in the school's yard. It replaced the second science block, which was soon demolished, despite being one of the school's younger buildings.