Independent Girls Grammar School Academy - Founded in 1905 as a co-educational school at Ashley Cross in Parkstone by William Ernest Brennand. It was an independent school until Dorset Council took it over in 1935. Two years later, the schools in Poole were reorganised, and the boys from Parkstone Grammar were transferred to Poole Grammar School, and the girls who were at Poole Grammar transferred to Parkstone Grammar. The first headmistress, Miss W. M. Allen, was in post from 1937, just before the reorganisation, until 1959, by which time the current site at Sopers Lane had been chosen. She laid the foundation stone for the new school. Miss N. L. McGuiness was headmistress from 1960, when the school opened at Sopers Lane, until 1976. The current head is Mr David Hallsworth. On 1 January 2011 the school officially gained academy status.