Belle Vue Girls'

The history of Belle Vue Girls' School is the history of educational reform in the country.

In 1877, The Girls’ Higher Grade School was opened in impressive buildings on Manningham Lane. The name Belle Vue may seem like a misnomer now but in the 1880’s, the chosen location of the school Belle Vue Place, commanded extensive and uninterrupted views on every side. By the time the school was built, many of these views had been obscured by roads and streets such as Walmer, Mornington, Clifton and Oak. Not until the school moved to its present site in Upper Heaton could the school enjoy some fine views.

On August 13th 1877, 114 girls entered the upper room of the Wesleyan School in Carlisle Road. In the lower schoolroom were 60 infants and nearby 101 boys. The provision of education for these children was as a direct result of a ‘memorial’ petition to the Bradford School Board. Parents of boys paid 9d weekly and those of girls paid 6d (2.5p) weekly.

The first Headteacher was Miss Emily Holmes. She had two assistant teachers and one pupil teacher. Her specialist subject was physiology. Numbers rose quickly to 341 in 1878, attending school in extremely cramped conditions. In 1879, the new buildings were ready. They cost £15,229 18s. 3d. and could accommodate 1248 pupils. The new school had four departments, Infants, Junior Mixed, Girls’ Higher Grade and Boys’ Higher Grade. It was unique in its time in that a child could complete his education without leaving Belle Vue School. On August 15th 1879, the school log book reads simply, ‘the scholars assembled at Carlisle Road and were transferred to the Belle Vue School on Monday morning and gave a concert after the opening by W. Forster M.P. In 1879, Miss Elizabeth McCauley for a brief (9months) headship. In 1880, Miss Fanny Williams, the new Headteacher, recorded a rather surprising struggle with unsatisfactory attendance figures but she somehow managed to keep up the standards. After having three headteachers in seven years, 1884 saw the appointment of Miss Sarah Louise Beszant.

Miss Beszant was in her early twenties when appointed and was to remain as Headteacher for nearly forty years.

Miss Beszant played an important role in the development of schooling in Bradford. she did much to expand access to secondary education and to promote the study of science by girls. At a time when science was not considered a subject suitable for girls, in addition to Domestic Economy and Hygiene she introduced subjects such as Chemistry, and Physiology into the curriculum. She was also keen on physical education for girls. In her years as headmistress, she guided the school's advance to a Higher Grade School, and twenty years later, to a Secondary School.Sarah played an important role

Miss S Beszant