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Portsmouth Grammar School

The Portsmouth Grammar School
Portsmouth Grammar School (crest).tiff
Motto Praemia Virtutis Honores
Established 1732
Type Independent school
Headmaster Mr. James Priory
Chairman of the Governors Mr. Brian Larkman
Founder Dr. William Smith MA
Location High Street
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO1 2JN
England
Coordinates: 50°47′30″N 1°05′59″W / 50.791784°N 1.0998°W / 50.791784; -1.0998
Staff 172
Gender Mixed
Ages 2–18
Houses 4
Colours      Red
     Gold
     Black
Publication The Portmuthian
School hymn All My Hope on God is Founded
Former pupils Old Portmuthians
School blog Portsmouth Point
Website www.pgs.org.uk

The Portsmouth Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Portsmouth, England, located in the historic part of the city. Founded in 1732 as a boys' school, it has become one of the top independent schools in the UK consistently ranking highly in national reviews of teaching quality and examination results. It is widely regarded as the best school in the area and is known for its consistent 100% GCSE pass rate.

In 1732, William Smith, a former Mayor of Portsmouth and previously the garrison physician, died and left his estate to Christ Church, Oxford. His will contained instructions to build a new school in Portsmouth and thus, The Portsmouth Grammar School (PGS) was founded. The will of the founder is reflected to this day in that two Governors continue to be nominated by Christ Church. The school also retains its naval links, with The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command nominating one further Governor.

Since then it has undergone a series of changes - including slight alterations to its location, some of which were due to bombing in World War II, its conversion to co-education, and the abolition of boarding.

As of 2010 the Upper Junior School (Years 5-6) is situated in a Victorian building (which once contained the whole Grammar School) close to part of the University of Portsmouth. The Nursery, Lower Junior School (Reception to Year 4), Middle School and Upper School are located across the road on the High Street. The majority of that area used to be the Cambridge Barracks: a building used by the army which was ravaged by fire after bombing by the Luftwaffe.

The school colours are red, black and gold, and the school motto is Praemia Virtutis Honores (English: Honours are the rewards of virtue). The current Headmaster is Mr James Priory. The school recently spent £6 million on a new Science building.

The school is academically strong, with an average AS/A level point score of 939.1 in 2009, which is almost 50% over the national average.

Over 90% of pupils achieve a place at their first choice university and most go on to study at Russell Group universities; up to 20% go on to Oxbridge.

Portsmouth Grammar School consists of three sections: Nursery (ages 2–4), Junior School (Reception to Year 6) and Senior School (Year 7 to Sixth Form).


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