Larne Grammar School - History

History

Larne Grammar School was founded in 1886 by Sir Edward Coey and Mr. John Crawford. The trustees of the school were granted permission to site a school, beside the Rectory in 1885, at an annual rent of one shilling per year for ten thousand years. On Tuesday 10 April 1888, with the appointment of the school's first headmaster, Mr R.M. Jones M.A., the school opened its doors to the first pupils. However, for the following fifteen to twenty years the school struggled and was threatened with closure on many occasions.

By 1923 the Preparatory Department had opened and although the Grammar School had become an important aspect of Larne life, the school had made little progress, with few successes. Up to September 1935, Larne Grammar School had always been a boys' fee paying and boarding school. There had originally been two girls' schools in the town, but this was reduced to one and in 1935 Larne Grammar School amalgamated with the girls' Larne Intermediate School.

During the 1980s, under the leadership of the Headmaster, Mr. D.J. Thompson, the voluntary grammar school was virtually rebuilt and the remaining old buildings completely refurbished.

In 2011, a new astro-turf pitch was constructed adjacent to the current hockey and rugby pitches, as well as four new tennis courts to celebrate the schools 125th anniversary.

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