It was founded in 1532 by Royal Charter for the teaching of 'good manners and literature', endowed by wealthy Bristol merchants Robert Thorne and his brother Nicholas.

The Grammar Scole at Frome Gate was in the care of its first schoolmaster, Thomas Moffat, when good fortune stepped in to secure its future.

On 17 March 1532, Henry VIII issued a Charter under which the Thornes could endow the Grammar School and establish it in larger premises at St Bartholomew's Hospital near the bottom of Christmas Steps.

This exchange was carried out, and Charles Lee proceeded to enjoy his new school by greatly reducing the numbers of boys.

However, it was significantly less well endowed than Bristol's other secondary schools (Queen Elizabeth's, Red Maids' and Colston's), and its now dilapidated buildings were located in the wrong area of the city for pupils who mostly lived in Clifton and Redland.

[11] At that time, Bristol had substantial hospital endowments (second only to London and Edinburgh) but these were mostly spent on charity rather than education.

The Preparatory School began in 1900, and in 1928 moved into its own building on Elton Road, but this was destroyed on the night of 24 November 1940 by incendiary bombs.

Since then, the school has built yet more classroom accommodation and a new sports hall; Modern Languages, Classics, Geography and Art have their own Elton Road Houses, and the former playing field is now the Design and Technology Centre.

They would be expected to compete in a school team (such as Cricket, Rugby, Hockey or Football) and show continued commitment.

This was extended to include performing arts, awarding several students colours for their contribution to concerts, plays and taking House assemblies.

The school offers Ancient Greek as a subject from Year 9 onwards, and Classical Civilisation is also available now as a GCSE.

Bristol Grammar has been successful at Model United Nations for a number of years now, holding their own conference BGSMUN, in February, since 2007.

These conferences, presided over by the school's own Secretaries General, include chairing teams of BGS Sixth Form students.

[18] The school's own team has been particularly successful in recent years, winning Best Delegation at both Exeter College MUN and MUNCH.

The school has been expanding, and while it has always owned all the houses to one side of the main campus until recently only four (Barton's, Norwood's, Martin's and Garrett's) were occupied.

There is a full kitchen between the Great Hall and the Science Wing, as well as two classrooms and an office belonging to the history department.

The Big School was designed in the late Perpendicular Gothic style, by the Bristol firm of Foster and Wood.

The organ, which was built by Vowles & Son of St James' Square, was presented by William Wills, 1st Baron Winterstoke, in January 1880.

[22] The main stairs leading out of the Great Hall have been modified to fulfil fire and safety regulations and in preparation for the new library and Sixth Form building known as The Hub.

This satisfied the authorities sufficiently that they granted permission to make structural alterations to the Grade II listed building.

The Hub project however, was cancelled by the, then, new Headmaster, Roderick MacKinnon, so the planned building, which was popular among students, was discarded.

This has now been reversed; two smaller staircases lead up and merge into a larger one which doubles back to reach the Great Hall.

This meant that the wall between the two smaller staircases could be knocked through to insert a modern automated double glass door allowing pupils to reach the Great Hall with greater ease from within the campus.

The block has been extended with a new 245 seat (standard layout) theatre, and additional rehearsal/teaching space, and is named the 1532 Performing Arts Centre.