Technical High School (GOSH plaque)

The 1944 Education Act, known widely as the Butler Act, enabled and encouraged local education authorities to organise secondary education on a tripartite system of grammar, technical high and secondary modern schools. This was significant in giving equality of recognition to technical education and the established strand of more classical grammar school education: a very significant step for Britain’s post-war regeneration.

Great Yarmouth County Borough’s Education Department was at the forefront of this development, indeed many Education Authorities never did establish technical high schools. A senior technical high was established in the former Edward Worlledge Senior School in September 1945 and the age of admission was lowered from 13 years to 11 years in 1946 to align it with the 11 plus examination.

In 1947, the Technical High School became the first co-educational school in the Borough and a female member of staff was appointed as the Senior Mistress.

Planning for a new purpose built Technical High School commenced in 1950; but a national shortage of steel delayed progress during 1952 and 1953.

On 2nd December 1954, The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the school; the first purpose built technical high school in England. The new school admitted boys and girls and promoted a very vocational skills orientated syllabus such as carpentry, metal working, building skills and business and commercial studies.

The Technical High School was renamed in 1997 and became Oriel Grammar School.

Les Cockrill

Duke of Edinburgh opens the school