The Hollies Convent FCJ School was a girls' direct-grant Roman Catholic grammar school in south Manchester, England.
History In 1820, Marie-Madeleine d'Houët, also known as Marie Madeleine Victoire, founded the society of the Faithful Companions of Jesus in Amiens, France.
The school began at the Hollies in September 1900 on Oak Drive in Fallowfield.Manchester Evening News Friday 23 October 1953, page 16 'The Hollies' was the home of German immigrant businessman Otho Horkheimer, a director of Wrexham Lager, and in a partnership with Eugene Anselm Jacob Goldschmid until October 1894. Nearby lived Sir Edward Donner, who helped with fundraising.
Grammar school Another house 'The Acorns' was bought in 1920. 'Staneswood' was bought in 1952.
In the mid-1940s, it became a direct-grant grammar school. Éamon de Valera, aged 72, visited on Friday 18 February 1955, also visiting Hopwood Hall RC Teachers' College.Manchester Evening News Friday 18 February 1955, page 8
In October 1955, a new 15-acre site was found next to the Mersey, in Didsbury.Manchester Evening News October 1955 The new site would cost £300,000, with much of that to be funded by the local Catholic church. There were 430 girls, with 58 in the sixth form.Manchester Evening News Saturday 5 July 1958, page 3
The University of Manchester acquired the site in the late 1950s for student accommodation (Fallowfield Campus), so a new Hollies FCJ Grammar School opened on Mersey Road, Fielden Park, in West Didsbury in September 1961; a new preparatory school of 200 children was built too. 520 girls joined the new £250,000 school in Didsbury, with grounds of 16 acres. It was near the Fielden Park College of Further Education.
By 1973 there were around 720 girls.FCJ Sisters
The FCJ also ran the Sedgley Park Training College in Prestwich.Manchester Evening News Saturday 18 August 1990, page 10
In February 1963, the school choir performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.Manchester Evening News Wednesday 6 February 1963, page 6
The school had an excellent academic reputation.
Comprehensive In 1976, the school was requested to become a comprehensive, as direct grant schools were being phased out. It became a comprehensive in 1977, the Hollies RC High School.
On Sunday 14 May 1978, the Radio 4 morning service was broadcast from the school.Morning Service 1978
In 1983, RC Salford Diocese planned to amalgamate the school with the St Mark's school,Manchester Evening News Tuesday 6 December 1983, page 7 on the St Mark's site, with the Hollies site closing in August 1984. The Hollies High School closed and the new and The Barlow Roman Catholic High School in 1985.
A service of Thanksgiving took place in June 1985 at the Church of the Holy Name.Manchester Evening News Monday 17 June 1985, page 26
The 4.9-acre site was put on sale in February 1989.Manchester Evening News Tuesday 21 February 1989, page 21
Demolition The site was demolished in the late 1980s, and it is now a housing estate.
Structure The school was around a half-mile north-east of the M63 (now M60) junction 5, close to the River Mersey, near the B5167.
Alumni
Caroline Aherne, actress, known for The Fast Show; acquired nine grade A O-levels, later in 1991 she developed her character 'Sister Mary Immaculate', a saucy nun who smoked, from her time at the school, and this character largely launched her career, being first performed at Mulberry's in WithingtonManchester Evening News Friday 9 August 1996, page 32 Anne Hobbs, tennis player, didn't take her A levels, left in early 1975 to do tennisWilmslow Advertiser Thursday 28 February 1980, page 38 Dame Joan McVittie, (nee Docherty), headteacher, President from 2011 to 2012 of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Catherine Reilly, bibliographer and anthologist Paula Wilcox, actress
See also Catholic Church in England Bellerive FCJ Catholic College in Liverpool Harrytown Catholic High School (former Harrytown Convent Girls' School) Upton Hall School FCJ
References
External links School history