December of 2022, Heckmondwike Grammar School was ranked the 2nd best school in the North of England, based on GCSE results. Headmasters 1897–1924 — R S Cahill 1924–1948 — Harold Edwards 1948–1952 — E G Bennett 1952–1956 — E J S Kyte 1956–1970 — Kenneth Ford, Quaker and Second World War conscientious objector who joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit 1970–1989 — T C Riddles 1989–1990 — J K Wilson (acting head) 1990–2010 — Mark Crellin Tweedle 2010–2016 — Mike Cook 2016–2018 — Nathan Bulley 2019–present — Peter Roberts Notable alumni John Bentley – retired English rugby union and rugby league footballer Tracy Brabin – actress, television writer, Labour Party MP for Batley and Spen 2016–2021, West Yorkshire mayor (2021–present) Luke Burgess – former professional rugby league footballer; older brother of Sam Sam Burgess – South Sydney Rabbitohs coach and former rugby league player Roger Burnley (born 1966) – businessman, former CEO of Asda Jo Cox, late Labour MP for Batley and Spen 2015–2016 John Fozard – late engineer, chief designer of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier from 1965 to 1978 Emily Freeman – retired runner, 2008 Olympic relay team member, 2009 European Team Championships team member Andrew Gale – professional cricketer, former Yorkshire County Cricket Club captain (2016–2021) Sir Basil Houldsworth, 2nd Baronet – late Liberal politician and anaesthetist Sir Hubert Houldsworth, 1st Baronet – late barrister, National Coal Board chairman, and Liberal politician Kim Leadbeater – Labour politician and Batley and Spen MP (2021–present); younger sister of Jo Cox Michael McGowan – journalist, former Labour MEP for Leeds Frederick Campion Steward – late botanist and Cornell University professor Joe Seddon – entrepreneur, founder of Zero Gravity References Grammar schools in Kirklees Academies in Kirklees Training schools in England Educational institutions established in 1898 1898 establishments in England Heckmondwike