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Our rich history
Founded in the 1630s
1639 Hitchin Boys’ School was founded by John Mattocke
In 1639 John Mattocke bought nine acres of land and signed a deed-poll declaring that the rent and profit from the land must go for the maintenance of an able and learned school master for instructing the children of the inhabitants of Hitchin in good literature and virtuous education for the avoiding of idleness, the mother of all vice.
1876 School temporarily closed
Over the next 237 years Hitchin Free School had 15 Headmasters, however due to insufficient funding for renovation, refurbishment and re-building the school temporarily closed. Over the next 13 years the Trustees never abandoned hope that John Mattocke’s dream would once again become reality to benefit the education of the children of Hitchin.
Hitchin Grammar School
In 1889 Frederick Seebohm, who was a rich and influential Quaker, bought a large mansion and its accompanying land and set up the Hitchin Grammar School on the same site we are on today. Hence on the 1st May 1889 Hitchin Grammar School opened its doors.
1890
Compulsory education was still in its infancy and Hitchin was still a very small market town that saw manual work as a better alternative to written education. Parents frequently removed students if discipline was implemented or homework set and initially attendance was very poor with only 35 pupils on school roll.
1892 School Photo
The staff and pupils c.1892 showing Mr Little, Mr Lewthwaite and Mr English in gown and mortar-board and Sgt. Short in uniform.
1925 Start of Inter House competitions
The House system is inaugurated, with all boys being placed in one of four houses: Mattocke, Skynner, Radcliffe or Pierson. These houses were named after the four key benefactors of the school. At the end of the academic year the winning house is awarded the Times Shield.
1932 Start of Founders' Day tradition
The first Founders' Day took place on 25th July 1932 . Founders' Day service is celebrated on the last Friday in June to mark the end of compulsory education of Year 11 and 13 students
1959 Cricket Pavilion
The Memorial Pavilion was completed and dedicated to those Old Boys that had lost their lives in World War II
1974
Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School changed to a non selective comprehensive school in 1974
1992 Malcolm Hunt Memorial All Weather Pitch
Sunday 5 April 1992 saw the official opening of the all weather Hockey pitch in memory of Malcolm Hunt, a dedicated and highly successful captain at BlueHarts Hockey Club and a former HBS student.
1998 Sports Centre
To further advance the sports provision of the school, Hitchin Boys’ School Sports Centre opened in 1998 and became the local community hub for both Table Tennis and Badminton.
2004 Granted Technology College Status
In 2004 the school gained Technology College status, which helped to provide 500 laptops for departments, digital projectors in all classrooms and interactive whiteboards in many.
2005 Sixth Form Centre
To create more space for an ever increasing Sixth Form, in 2005 a new Sixth Form Centre was opened (previously the Sixth Form had been forced to establish a base in the former School stables).
2009 Language Specialist College
The school was designated as a Languages Specialist College in 2009 and with it came a compulsory option for all pupils to study a modern foreign language up to their GCSEs.
Converted to Academy status
Hitchin Boys’ School converted to Academy status in 2013 and started to receive funding directly from central government.
Performing Arts Block
The Performing Arts Centre opened in 2019 with a 200-seated auditorium and drama studio, two purpose-built music rooms and 10 additional classrooms to house the Humanities departments. It also accommodates a designated sports spectator area and shower and changing facilities.