The original school building was built in 1932 to the designs of the architect Adrien J. Sharp in the Neo-Georgian style. It comprised a central hall, with classrooms arranged around East and West quadrangles.[1] Additions were made to the rear in the 1950s and 60s, with a new science and woodwork block and sports hall being constructed in the 1970s. The building retained many of its original 1930s architectural features, including parquet flooring throughout, wall tiling in every room, fireplaces, stair balustrades, internal wooden windows and doors, etc.
Due to overdue maintenance the 1932 building required repairs and renovation, rather than pursuing this route funding was offered for a new building and this plan was agreed in 2017, with construction beginning on a new school building on the East playing field in 2020. This new school was ready for the 2021 September start of term and staff and students moved in and vacated the old building.
Despite local opposition to demolition, the old building was completely demolished in early 2022, except for the front portico with its decorative frieze and Portsmouth crest mosaic.[2]
History
Grammar school
The school is located in the buildings of the former Portsmouth Northern Grammar School for Boys and Portsmouth Northern Grammar School for Girls, which were opened in 1932. (The boys school had begun as the Northern Secondary School in Kingston in 1921). After wartime evacuation, the two secondary schools were re-established in 1946 as a result of the 1944 Education Act. The boys' school housed approximately 550 boys in 1970 and was run by the City of Portsmouth Education Committee.
Comprehensive
In 1975 the two schools were amalgamated with Brunel School (boys) and North End Modern Girls' School to form the largest comprehensive school in Portsmouth, with approximately 1800 pupils. The roll was later reduced by the setting up of Portsmouth's Sixth Form College with the school losing its sixth form.
In 1999, the school was failing academically and was placed in "special measures" after an Ofsted inspection said it was failing to provide an acceptable standard of education.[2] With new teachers the school experienced a slight increase in academic achievement, with a 4% rise in GCSE achievement in 2004, compared with 2003.[2][3]
In 2005, 150 students of the school launched a protest against the deportation of a fellow student, Lorin Sulaiman, who had previously immigrated from Syria in 2003 after fearing for her safety.[4][5][6]
Major changes came with the arrival of new headteacher David Jeapes, who turned the school around from having a 'requiring improvement' rating in 2014 to its current 'good' Ofsted rating as of 10 November 2021. [1]
The school received a major boost in 2012 when Brian Wilkie, a former pupil of Northern Grammar School, founded the "Wilkie Scholarship' programme, by which he funds 2 Mayfield pupils each year to do their sixth-form studies at the independent Portsmouth Grammar School. In 2021, Wilkie funded the scheme in perpetuity by a large donation to PGS.
In September 2014 the school opened an infant and junior section of the school meaning that pupils can attend from the age of 4 to 16.
Performing arts
In 2007, the school received the Special Performing Arts Status after raising £50,000. The school spent the money on a new dance and drama studio.[citation needed]
House system
The school adopted a house system in 2011. The houses are Endeavour, Discovery, Intrepid and Victory, all named after historic British ships. The house system was in place prior to this with another house named Cardiff.[7]
