Tanfield School

In 1919, the school was re-christened Alderman Wood School and took on grammar school status two years later.[5] In 1945 its name was changed to Stanley Grammar School.[6]

In 1977, Tanfield Comprehensive was formed by the amalgamation of the existing school with Shield Row Secondary School. The school then had about 1,300 pupils and 76 teachers.[7]

1986 saw another change with the phasing out of the Sixth Form and the opening of the Tertiary College at Consett.[8]

11 May 1998 was 'The Great Fire of Tanfield' which led to the demolition of the Tower Block (the 1960s four-storey building used to house all the English, Maths and Science teaching areas).[9] In November 2000, Ofsted inspectors commented, "The school has had to cope with very difficult working conditions following a major fire in May 1998, which resulted in the loss of 24 classrooms, school offices, resources, equipment and pupils' coursework".[10]

• John Caine (athlete), 10,000m runner in the 1970 Commonwealth Games, later stadium manager of Gateshead International Stadium, and works for Nova International[11]
• Gordon Hindson, 1970s midfielder for Luton
• Fenwick Lawson, sculptor[12]
• Colin Milburn, Northamptonshire cricketer[13]
• Prof Ken Musgrave, Professor of Organic Chemistry from 1960 to 1983 at Durham University, expert in fluorine chemistry, and worked on the secret Tube Alloys project when at the University of Birmingham, trying to separate Uranium-235[14][15][16]
• Prof Mainwaring Pescod OBE, Professor of Environmental Control Engineering from 1976 to 1998 at Newcastle University[17]
• Yvonne Ridley, journalist, author and film-maker[18]
• John Stephenson, Academy Director for Reading Football Club, Academy Manager for Celtic Football Club, Head of Football Operations for Watford Football Club and Sheffield United Football Club 1996–2014

Elliot Dickman. U23 coach. Sunderland A.F.C.

• Carly Telford, England football goal keeper[19][20]