Is this true about QEGS Blackburn?

[lindaandrews]

Is it true that Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School Blackburn was widely considered one of the best and most prestigious schools in the country (on par with Eton) before it transitioned from being a private to a state school?

It seems to have fallen in reputation ever since.

I don't know about this school, but the north of England/Midlands has so many places that were in RELATIVE terms far more prosperous than they are today. I always find it hard to believe this, but Bradford was once one of the richest places in the world - literally. The wonderful architecture in many parts is of course testiment to this.

So I have no difficulty believing that this school may have had a past rather different to its present.

Obviously a state comprehensive school has to educate anyone who comes in the door and cannot pick and choose its pupils.

You only have to walk round textile towns - places like Bradford, Dewsbury Huddersfield and Blackburn, and look up - above the ground floor modern shop fronts, to the astonishing elaborate stonework that represents the past industry and wealth of those towns.

Do you mean before it became a grammar school in the 1800s or before it reverted back from private to state several years ago?
If the later, it was most definitely not on a par with Eton!

Oh yes, definitely.

Back in the late 19th century, when Japan belatedly opened up to the world and decided to engage in a process of modernization at breakneck speed, the Japanese government decided to send a bunch of its politicians on a tour of western countries to see how they were doing things. One of the highlights of the tour was the visit to Bradford, to marvel at the wealth of the town, and its amazing modernity; I believe that the tramways of Bradford, which were the pioneering transport technology of the day, evoked particular admiration.

Schools in places like Bradford and Blackburn today face very considerable difficulties. I believe Blackburn has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country.

I could believe that it was one of the best / the best school in the local area. But if you look up league tables for schools in North West England they have been way behind schools in the South East and London for many years now.
So I suspect that it's a local anecdote and there no real evidence for the statement.