eight to fourteen. In the 1890s, the Charity Commissioners reorganized Bentley's School by lowering the fees and bringing in commercial and science subjects, including chemistry, a modern language, and agriculture, and making it a school for boys from eight to sixteen. In 1901, it was combined with a technical institute and became the Calne County School. Girls were admitted but at first were taught in another house on the Green. In 1909 a new school building was built and classes became co-educational. By 1934 it was clear that the school suffered from being neither a higher elementary school or a grammar school, and that more up-to-date courses were needed. A new headmaster, Mr. M. S. Gotch, was able to make a better sixth form for the arts and sciences by renting extra rooms around the town for classrooms. Following the Education Act 1944, the school accepted voluntary controlled status, meaning that it had little autonomy. In 1946, the County Council bought a site at Wessington for a new school building and a boarding house, not built by 1952. In 1947 the school was renamed as the Bentley Grammar School. In 1974, Wiltshire County Council decided to close the school and establish a new comprehensive school in its place. The Wessington site is now occupied by Kingsbury Green Academy. Notable former pupils Pat Hayes (born 1944), computer scientist Julia Reid (born 1952), former Member of the European Parliament Notes External links Calne Bentley Grammar School, National Archives Defunct grammar schools in England Educational institutions disestablished in 1974 Educational institutions established in the 1660s Defunct schools in Wiltshire 1660 establishments in England 1974 disestablishments in England Calne