College History – Highfield, 1926–1993

Highfield Road (1960)
Copyright © Southampton City Council

Girls' Grammar School, Hill Lane (1936)
Scanned from School Magazine

1926: Official opening of the Highfield building, which cost £48,286.
1930–1936: The Girls' Grammar School had also outgrown its premises. By the 1930s, classes were still taking place at Argyle Road but also in the old Education offices in St Mary's Road and the New Road premises left by Taunton's in 1926. Games took place at Hill Lane.
1935: Foundation stone of new building for the Girls' Grammar School laid at Hill Lane.
1936: Official opening of Hill Lane buildings. The weather vane, still on the Hill Lane building, was designed by a VIth form pupil, Ruth Parry.
1939–1945: Both Taunton's School and the Girls' Grammar School were evacuated to Bournemouth for the duration of the war.

Evacuation to Bournemouth (1939)
Copyright © Southampton Daily Echo

Back home – Highfield (1960)
Scanned from Spooner History

1957: 50th Birthday of the Girls' Grammar School.
1960: Bicentenary of the Foundation of Taunton's School.
1967: The Girls' Grammar School was reorganised as a Sixth Form College and the name changed to Southampton College for Girls.
1969: Taunton's School was reorganised as a Sixth Form College for boys with unrestricted access from all schools in the City and the name changed to Richard Taunton College.
1974: Hampshire County Council assumed responsibility for both colleges.
1978: Girls were admitted to Richard Taunton College.
1979: Boys were admitted to the College for Girls, which changed its name to Hill College.