Schools GAZ Kendal

The major pre-19th century schools were the Free Grammar School, founded 1525; rebuilt on Aynam Road, 1889; the Bluecoat school, part of Sandes Hospital charity, established c.1670 (which closed and amalgamated with the Grammar School in 1880s); and the Friends School, Stramongate, first established 1698 (moved to larger premises built 1792; closed 1932).

Expansion of elementary education during the 19th century saw National Schools at the top of Allhallows Lane (founded 1818; a girls school opened 1824 and infants in 1874; became Central Primary CE School, closing in 1985); attached to St Thomas’ church (1842) and to St George’s church (1854) and in Kirkland (a girls’ school, 1861).  British schools were founded in Castle Street (1835) and Kendal Green (1873).  The Roman Catholic community had St Mary’s & St Joseph’s schools, New Road, in the former Catholic church building.  In 1885, as well as these schools, there were 10 private academies.  A new Catholic primary school, the Dean Gibson School, Gillingate, was built in 1898.  In the 20th century new county primary schools were established at Stramongate and at Ghyllside.

Secondary education expanded with the opening of Kendal High School for Girls in 1890; it closed in 1980 when it merged with the boys’ Grammar School. Stramongate Boys’ School, opened in 1937.  The post-war growth of secondary schooling saw Longlands Secondary Modern schools, opened 1959 and 1960, and St Mary’s Roman Catholic secondary modern school, Hawesmead Avenue, opened in 1971 (its site was taken over by Dean Gibson RC Primary School in 1977).  Re-organisation in 1983 resulted in two comprehensive schools, for the northern and southern areas of the town respectively, at Longlands (now Queen Katharine School) and the former Grammar School site (now Kirkbie Kendal School).

Vocational education was provided by the James Allen Technical Institute, Beezon Road, built 1912, the forerunner of Kendal Technical College (now Kendal College), built on Milnthorpe Road in 1971.