About Boston High School

Boston High School is an 11-18 Grammar School for girls situated on the outskirts of Boston on a very attractive and well-appointed site. The number on roll is 761 with a four form entry. 

Boston is a pleasant market town with a population of about 50,000 and is one of the least expensive areas in the country for housing. The coast and the Wolds are within easy reach, as are Peterborough, Nottingham and Lincoln. The town’s amenities include an Arts Centre and Theatre, Music Centre and Sports complex

The High School was built in 1938, since when there have been considerable extensions to the teaching and recreational provisions. Teaching opportunities and possibilities are exceptionally good, not least because of the supportive staff and the aspirations and motivation of many of the girls. 

The school is certainly a congenial place in which to work, with men and women fairly equally represented on the staff. It offers a wide variety of well supported activities outside the classroom, especially in music, drama, sport and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Headteachers

1921 – 1924Miss F M Knipe B.A. (Oxon)1924 – 1927

Miss E M Ridley M.A. (Cantab)1927 – 1946

Miss E S Henry M.A. (Cantab)1946 – 1968

Miss E D Thomas B.A. (Gen)1968 – 1995

Miss J M Webb M.B.E. B.A. (Hon)1995 – 2004

Mr B D Searles B.A. M.A.2005 – 2010

Mrs H A McEvoy B.S.c. M.A. (Ed)2011 - 2013

Dr J G Howard B.A. (Hons) PhD NPQH

2014 -Mr A J Fulbrook B.Ed. (Hons), M.Sc., NPQH

History

Boston High School was opened on January 19th 1921 at Allan House on Carlton Road. The original school had 112 girls on roll, and was led by the headmistress, Miss Knipe supported by 7 other members of staff.

In 1922, the number of girls on roll had expanded, and as a result of this additional classrooms arrived in the form of ‘huts’. In this year, three student houses were established – Conway, Ingelow and Allan.

Boston High School moved to its current location, on Spilsby Road, during the autumn term of 1938. The school was officially opened during 1939, by Alderman Kitwood – who would later have a house named after him. There were three open days held for parents in 1939, the first being in June. Below, you can see an article which was published in the Boston Standard on May 13th 1939 - detailing the opening of the new school.

Also in 1939, World War II started, and  during the war, the school was home to girls from Hull, who were evacuated from their own town due to the expected German bombing raids.

School Houses

Allan

Believed to be named after the old school house on Carlton Road, Allan house was where the school was originally based as of the 19th January 1921. At the time the school had just 112 girls on the school roll and Miss Knipe was the Headmistress along with 7 other members of staff. In 1922 the number of girls enrolled grew vastly and therefore ‘huts’ formed the new classrooms for the school, it was in this year where 3 school houses were established Conway, Ingelow and Allan.

The school moved in 1938 to the current Spilsby Road campus but this new building was only announced open a year later in 1939 by Alderman Kitwood. The old school was demolished and we believe used to stand where the current Carlton Road primary school is. The house logo pays tribute to the building through the mermaid as this is a recognised symbol for the school and ties the old house to the school we know today.

Conway

Believed to be named after the former Boston School on Tunnard Street, the Conway school formerly known as the Boston Middle Girl’s School at George Street. The school was established in 1851 by Martha and Mary Gee and was intended for female children whose parents are in the rank next above the actual poor. The move from its original site on George Street came at a cost of £800 to Tunnard Street.

The school became known as The Conway School in 1905 and began to establish a good local reputation. The school eventually became co-educational and continued its high standards even gaining a 100% pass rate for the 11+ in 2000 for the 3rd year running.

We believe that our school named a house after The Conway School as a vast majority of our students would have come from The Conway School. The house logo pays tribute to The Conway School and the role it played with the education of girls from Boston. The two open books represent education and the ties we can establish between the two schools.

Ingelow

Believed to be named after the famous English poet and novelist, Jean Ingelow who was born in Boston on March 17th 1820. Jean Ingelow came to fame due to her publication of Poems in 1863 and she quickly became a very popular poet. Her fame only grew over in America where her poems were said to have sold 200,000 copies.

In 1867 she edited the Story of Doom and multiple others poems which became a highly accredited collection of poetry for children. Unfortunately a lot of her works were uncredited by the writing community and there has also been a number of parodies based on her works. Despite this Jean Ingelow remains a prominent figure in Boston’s history. We pay tribute through the house logo which represents two writing quills to represent her works in literature.

Kitwood

Named after the Boston Education Committee chairman Alderman. Thomas Kitwood who announced the current site on Spilsby Road offically open during 1939. Thomas Kitwood was twice the mayor of Boston and spent 51 years on the Holland Council and sat on the bench with his wife Elizabeth Aspland Slater. He was educated at Kirton Grammar School and even had the Kitwood Senior schools named after him which is now the Haven High School.

He achieved a lot within his lifetime such as becoming the chairman of Holland County Council and president of the Boston Conservative Association. Thomas Kitwood died on the 11th November 1946 aged 85 he left his wife Elizabeth and 3 children Lyndis, Peter and Rex.

The house logo is taken from the school logo as the 3 crowns are known to represent the 3 charters. It pays tribute to Thomas Kitwood’s involvement with Bostons’ businesses, councils and governing.

Lindis

Believed to be named after the daughter of Alderman. Thomas Kitwood when he announced the new school building open during 1939. Gerald Walker formerly Lyndis Margaret Elizabeth Kitwood was the only daughter of Thomas Kitwood and Elizabeth Aspland Slater. Thomas Kitwood went on to name a number of things around Boston after his daughter including a lodge at the Freemans site of Boston and a pilot boat in memory of him gained the name Lyndis Kitwood.

After marrying Dr. Gerald Walker, Lyndis went on to pursue a career as a magistrate and on the 7th October 1943 she was named the new magistrate on the North Holland Bench then a day later at Holland Quarter. She accompanied her parents on the bench and gave birth to 2 children Frederick and Michael. Lyndis Kitwood lived an extremly successful life with achievements right across the Boston area.

The house logo pays tribute to Lyndis by representing the Lyndis Kitwood pilot boat of which she had named after her.