History of the School
Wolfreton School originally opened with 400 students as Willerby County Secondary School, in Carr Lane, Willerby, on 15 September, 1959. The Upper School was opened in 1971 by HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon.
Our Golden Reunion on Friday 21 May 2010 was attended by over 300 former staff and students. A Special Edition newsletter with all the photos went on sale and copies can still be ordered by contacting the school.
As a result of the event, the school is building up an electronic archive. If you have any old pictures or documents you would like including in our archive, please contact the school.
Lower School Timeline
1957
West Block contract signed 6 May 1957. Plans drawn up between April – June 1956. Builder: Thomas Holmes & Sons Ltd. Tendered amount: £141,560 6s 9d (approx £2.5million).
1 July – West Block progress of works photo album begins. Caretaker’s and Headteacher’s houses – contract signed 5 July 1957. Builder: Scruton & Co Builders Ltd. Tendered amount: £5,800 (approx £100,000). Plans drawn up between July 1956 (Head’s) and August 1956 (Caretaker’s).
1959
15 September – School opens to students.
1960
28 April – West Block progress of works final photo taken.
11 November – Official opening by Brigadier Sir John Hunt, Kt, C.B.E, D.S.O., D.C.L, LLD, Secretary to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. The Chairman for the proceedings was Lt. Col Sir John Dunnington-Jefferson, Bt, D.S.O., J.P., D.L., LLD, Chairman of the East Riding County Council.
1962
East Block and Youth Annex – contract signed 8 February 1963. Builder: J Mather & Son Ltd. Plans drawn up Feb 1962. Tendered amount: £161,592 1s 8d (approx £2.6 million).
1963
1 August – East Block progress of works photo album begins.
1965
23 February – East Block progress of works final photo taken.
6 September – Upper School opens (latterly known as East Block) and housed the senior forms from Third Year upwards. The original building is now known as the Lower School (latterly known as West Block).
1969
8 September – The school becomes known as Wolfreton School.
1974
Laboratory extension in East Block – contract signed 5 July 1974. Plans drawn up May 1973. Builder: Anderson-Curtis Ltd. Tendered amount: £32,050 (approx £250,000).
2010
Performing Arts Centre created at the Lower School following extensive refurbishment of the original East Riding Youth Centre.
2015
February – Construction work starts on new school buildings.
Upper School Timeline
1968
27 February – Plans drawn up for installation of F.A. / class start, Television / Radio, Telephone access conduits. Main part of Upper School (originally referred to as the Senior Department) – contract signed 25 March 1968. Plans drawn up between November 1966 and August 1967. Builder: J Mather & Son Ltd. Tendered amount: £316,128 7s (approx £4.1million).
1970
Modern Languages (originally English) department, Playshed (now called Sports Hall), and extension for Maths on ground floor and History and Geography on upper floor. Languages area plans drawn up November 1966, Maths extension plans drawn up September 1969. Playshed plans drawn up November 1969. Contract signed 9 March 1970. Builder: J Mather & Son Ltd. Tendered amount: £57,568 12s 3d (approx £690,000).
11 September – Opening of the new Upper School site, South Ella Way to students.
1971
11 May – Official opening by H.R.H. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon.
5 July – School holiday granted to commemorate the official opening of the Upper School by H.R.H. Princess Margaret.
19 September – Friends of Wolfreton School first committee meeting.
27 September – Caretaker’s house contract. Plans drawn up between June 1967-June 1968. Builder: Anderson-Curtis Ltd. Tendered amount: £4,997 (approx £55,000).
1974
Sixth Form Block Phase 1 – contract signed 12 July 1974. Plans drawn up between May 1973 and January 1974 already refer to Phase 2. Builder: Evington & Miller (Builders) Ltd. Tendered amount: £98,799 2d (approx £770,000). Evington & Miller went into receivership circa 1976 and £5,777.30 (approx £31,000) was owed to the receiver for this project. Butterworth Bros (Electrical) was the sub-contractor.
1977
Sixth Form Block Phase 2 – contract signed 17 May 1977. Plans drawn up between October-December 1976. Builder: J S Young Building Contractors (Hull) Ltd. Tendered amount: £66,123.65 (approx £310,000). This provided 75 additional Sixth Form places to bring it up to the size suitable for 1955 students. (1,725 plus 230 Sixth Form).
6 July – Temporary Science accommodation contract signed. Plans drawn up between February-May 1977. Three laboratories were required for September 1977 to accommodate additional students and to reduce overcrowding in existing laboratories. Contractor: Spooners (Hull) Ltd. Tendered amount: £32,944 (approx £150,000).
1983
Renewal of roof felt for: Area 4 - housecraft rooms, offices, library. Area 5 – metalwork and woodwork rooms. Area 6 – technical drawing block. Area 7 –art area, music area, and including covered ways. Contract signed 26 February 1983. Contractor was M J Byron. Tendered amount: £68,104.96 (approx £170,000).
2005
5 December – Rushanje House officially opened.
Information courtesy of East Riding of Yorkshire Council Archive and Local Studies Section
In 2016, the new school building, designed by Ryder and built by BAM, was completed.
The project, built under the Priority Schools Building Project with additional contributions from the East Riding of Yorkshire County Council, opened its doors to students on 6 September 2016. Moving into the new school buildings provides state-of-the-art facilities for our school community.
