It is recorded that there were three-hundred-and-thirty-two pupils by the time the move was made to Willow Terrace in 1907, the third time it had been obliged to seek larger premises. Two years later, the school was renamed Leeds Girls' Modern School. Miss Garbutt retired in 1921. She was going blind and devoted part of her retirement to learning Braille and helping others.

Miss Bellman, an Oxford M.A. in History, took over for the next seven years and is remembered particularly for the way in which she encouraged the 6th form to enlarge their ambitions and attempt entry to the older universities.

From 1928 - 1938, Miss Willey was in charge. There is a biography of Edith A. Willey (1895-1970), entitled 'So Hateth She Derknesse', by G.E.Evans in Leeds Reference Library and I have plundered the section on her time at Lawnswood for some of these notes.

By the time she took charge, fees had been raised to six guineas a term, but accolades from many of her future pupils suggest that they got their money's worth. She taught History and was untypical of headmistresses of the time in that she adopted a short modern 'shingled' hairstyle and drove to school in her own Austin Seven.

According to her pupils, 'Bill' was a 'strict marker', could be very stern, but was also known for her kindness to pupils with problems. In 1931, she presided over the school's move to Weetwood on the outskirts of Leeds, when once again the name of the school changed, this time to Lawnswood High School. A plaque marked the occasion.

The new site, shared with the boys of Leeds Modern School, offered spacious premises, large playing fields, tennis courts and a swimming bath. In those days, the schools were on the very edge of the city with open country beyond them. The houses in the Spen Lane area and the Ireland Wood estate had not yet been built. Miss Garbutt lived to see the new buildings and presented to the school two beautiful pictures for the 6th form.

The official opening of the two schools in 1932 was performed by H.R.H Prince George, who later became the Duke of Kent. (See the original “Official Opening” programme.) He arrived, unseen by the Civic Heads who were due to welcome him and twenty minutes early, having driven himself from Harewood House where he was staying with his sister, the Princess Royal. Although somewhat taken aback when he tapped on her door, Miss Willey rose to the occasion and accompanied him, relaxed and smiling, on his tour. She later recalled that he 'had a stiff neck and seemed to need mothering'.

[For pupils’ memories of life in the early years at Lawnswood, please see “The 1930s” page. Also, click here to see the fascinating 1936 School Magazine.]

When Miss Willey left in July 1938 to take up a new post in Clapham, London, she was succeeded by Miss M. Holden M.A, who saw the school through all the upheaval of World War Two. In August 1939 the school evacuated to Ripon. (See “The Evacuation To Ripon” page).

“I was at Lawnswood in 1938 and was evacuated to Ripon with the school in 1939.” Dorothy Sclater ’38-’41

Fortunately, the evacuation did not last long and the school reassembled at Lawnswood in January 1940. As there was no provision for blackout, most extra-curricular activities were suspended, but staff and Sixth form pupils from both schools were called upon for fire watching duties. An old boy of Leeds Modern told me how delighted he and his friend were to be on duty in the girls' school as they were able to leave notes in their girlfriends' desks.

During the war years, Founder’s Day was instituted. This marked the opening of The Ladies’ Educational Institute on the 24th July 1854. On, or close to, the 24th of July each year, an Old Girl was invited to speak to the school. The Founder’s Day hymn was sung. Click here to read the words and hear the music. Click here to see a Yorkshire Post article from the 26th August 1942 which refers to the research done by staff and pupils to establish the date the school was founded.

Following the 1944 Education Act came a new era for the school. The school lost the last vestige of independence and became 'maintained'. The Kindergarten and Junior Departments were gradually phased out, fees were abolished and places were allocated on the basis of a common entrance examination for the city.

“I did my ‘11 plus’ when I was only 9 & was the youngest child in the ‘new’ grammar school.” Stephanie Dalton ’44-’57

[Click here to see the 1947 School Magazine — the first post-war edition after a six-year absence.]

A School Prospectus of the time indicated the aims of the school — “to prepare girls for specialist work at the University”. A letter dated June 1958 signed by Miss Holden invited parents of new girls to a meeting, and the West Riding Health Department warned of the dangers of smoking!

Miss Holden presided over the school's centenary celebrations in 1954. Miss Agnes Clayton, Head of Music, and Mrs Constance Dove, Senior Mistress, collaborated in writing The School Song especially for the centenary and a special souvenir booklet was produced. (Unfortunately, the copy in Leeds Reference Library has been stolen and I am much indebted to the old girl who has made her copy available, enabling me to fill in some of the gaps.)

Towards the end of her time at Lawnswood, Miss Holden had the unhappy task of comforting the classmates of Joan Wright (1C) who drowned in the school swimming bath on the first day of the summer term 1957 A stone birdbath was erected in her memory on the lawn near the tennis courts. A very dignified and popular figure, Miss Holden retired in 1960 and was replaced by Miss H. Longworth.

From the beginning, the school had provided school dinners and ‘service’ in the domestic science labs. (‘Service’ was available for those who wished to bring their own lunch. For a few pence, they were supplied with a plate, knife and a glass of water.) By the late 1950’s the Baby Boom generation was approaching secondary education and arrangements had to be made for increased numbers. A dining hall was built in the space between the Lawnswood High School and Leeds Modern School. The hall accommodated boys on one side and girls on the other. Meals were cooked in the on-site kitchens. The provision of ‘service’ was discontinued.

As the Baby Boomers progressed through school, more space was needed. In the early ’60’s, an annexe was built on the site of the tennis courts to the east of the school buildings. It was only ever meant as a temporary structure, and a cartoon from a school magazine of the time suggests it leaked right from the beginning! It was primarily used by sixth-formers.

[Click here to see the 1966 School Magazine. The girls’ concerns about a post-nuclear age are evident in their contributions.]

Towards the end of the '60's, the four 'houses' were renamed, Brontë, Darwin, Scott and Gainsborough.

In 1970 pupils undertook a 10-mile sponsored walk to raise money for Jimmy Savile’s Marathon Fund. They collected £1,090 for the kidney unit at Leeds General Infirmary. Click here to see the newspaper report of the event.

Miss Longworth was to oversee the transition period which followed Leeds Education Committee's decision to introduce a completely different school system for the city. In 1971, the eleven plus examination was replaced by a comprehensive educational system, grouped into first, middle and upper schools, entry into the last being at thirteen. Lawnswood High School and Leeds Modern School were combined into one large, mixed upper school, Lawnswood School, which operated from 1972. At the time of the merger, the houses were renamed after the Heads of House. They were Thompson, Rowe, Webber and Simpson.

In an attempt to minimise disruption for pupils already in the school, Miss Longworth ensured that integration should be phased in gradually and the first fully comprehensive intake arrived in 1974.

Click here to see a plan of Lawnswood High School and Leeds Modern School buildings and the grounds. These buildings were demolished in Autumn 2003, having been replaced by the new school.