“Things have come full circle”: An Altrincham school is bridging the old and the new as it celebrates becoming a free school.

North Cestrian Grammar School first opened its doors 65 years ago, with founder Walter Hamblin welcoming 26 boys into a school which housed only one modest classroom in what is now Headmaster Lee Bergin’s office.

Now, with the new North Cestrian School opening as a free school for the first time, history was mirrored as Walter Hamblin’s son and daughter ushered in a new era for the school.

David Hamblin and Mary Robinson travelled from opposite ends of the country to mark the milestone occasion and greet the 125 new Year 7s who have joined the free school in its inaugural year.

Mary said: “It’s great to be invited back and to be involved in such a momentous landmark – the rebirth of North Cestrian as a free school.

“So much has changed since our father originally founded North Cestrian as a grammar school, the school itself is obviously much bigger than it was at the start.

“Coming back to see the school enter a new life, just as our father was here at the very start of North Cestrian as an institution, seem really fitting. Things have come full circle.”

Walter Hamblin founded North Cestrian Grammar School aged 67 after serving 18 years as headmaster at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.

As a result of achieving free school status, North Cestrian has become part of the Hamblin Education Trust, formalising its relationship with Altrincham Grammar School for Boys under one board of directors.

Lee Bergin, headmaster of North Cestrian School, said: “We’re absolutely honoured that Mary and David came to visit North Cestrian on such an important day in the school’s history. It’s even more pleasing that they feel the school retains the ethos their father seeded and that students not only get a good education but also become very well rounded individuals.

“Now that North Cestrian is a free school it means our supportive environment, on which we pride ourselves, is accessible to more boys and girls in the area, and we look forward to an exciting future for the students and staff.”