Leeds Modern School

History

School site

Notable former pupils

• Bernard Atha CBE, Lord Mayor of Leeds and major figure in arts and sport
• Author and playwright Alan Bennett
• Prof David Blackbourn, Professor of German and European History at Harvard University and Vanderbilt University
• Robert Blackburn, founder of Blackburn Aircraft
• Wing Commander Sir Eric Bullus, Conservative MP from 1950-74 for Wembley North
• TV presenter and journalist John Craven
• Henry Drysdale Dakin, biochemist, known for Dakin oxidation and the Dakin–West reaction
• Martin Kettle, journalist
• James Milner, 1st Baron Milner of Leeds, Labour MP from 1929-51 for Leeds South East
• Bob Peck, actor
• Peter Ridsdale, former chairman of Leeds United.
• Prof Wallace Robson, Masson Professor of English Literature from 1972–90 at the University of Edinburgh
• Guy Schofield, Editor from 1950-55 of the Daily Mail
• Sir KCB, Chairman of Acas from 1987–92
• Stanley Tiffany CBE, Labour MP from 1945-50 for Peterborough, and Leader of Wakefield Borough Council from 1952–67
• Herbert Hall Turner, astronomer and Savilian Professor of Astronomy from 1893–1930 at the University of Oxford
• Brian Woledge, Fielden Professor of French from 1939–71 at University College London

  Notable teachers

• John Gunnell taught at the school from 1959 to 1962. He was the Leader of West Yorkshire County Council from 1981 to 1986, and Labour MP for Morley and Leeds South from 1992 to 1997, and Morley and Rothwell from 1997 to 2001.
• Robert Shaw, was head of English, 1964–8. In addition to his teaching at Leeds Modern, during those years, he was also Visiting Fellow in English and Education at the University of York and part-time tutor in Twentieth Century English Literature at the University of Leeds. He later lectured at the University of Southampton from 1968 to 1972, resigning to become a full-time poet, critic and jazz saxophonist - he was a pioneer of Poetry and Jazz fusion.