Well Known Alumni
Alumni from High Storrs School are well known globally. From actors to politicians, and sportsmen/women to musicians we have produced graduates that may inspire you. We take a look at some notable alumni.
TOM ELLIS - 1990s
Tom is a well-known & successful television & film actor, best known in the UK for his role of Gary in Miranda. In 2014 he moved to the USA to start his television career there. He starred in the USA network series Rush, playing a Hollywood doctor, & in 2015 won the lead role in Lucifer, a highly popular television series.
He has publicly stated that it was his Drama lessons & experience of putting on shows at the Crucible theatre that inspired him to go into acting. Praise indeed! His Drama Teacher remembers: “I taught Tom A Level Theatre Studies. He was always clearly very talented, had great charisma & stage presence. It has been really satisfying to watch Tom blossom and follow his career on stage & screen.”
Nick Matthew - 1990s
Nick is a professional Squash player, & reached World Number 1 status in 2010, 2011 & 2013. He won his 3rd British Open title on 20 May 2012, becoming the first Englishman to win the title thrice in the professional era. In 2013, Nick was honoured with a place in the Sheffield ‘Walk of Fame’.
Esme Morgan – 2010s
A call-up to join the England squad for a training camp in September 2020 was Esme’s first taste of life with the senior Lionesses squad.The international scene wasn’t new to the Sheffield-born defender, who is a versatile player capable of filling roles in the centre, at right-back or even as a defensive midfielder.
Kyle Walker – 2000s
Kyle is a professional footballer who plays as right back for is currently playing for Manchester City & the English national team. He has played for Sheffield United, Northampton Town, Queens Park Rangers, Aston Villa & Tottenham.
Jessica Ransom - 1990/2000s
Jessica is a recognisable television actress. She has starred in The Armstrong & Miller Show, Doc Martin & Horrible Histories, Our Zoo & TV adverts along side Bruce Willis. She also has a stand up comedy act & performs regularly on stage.
Her Drama Teacher remembers: “I was Jessica’s form tutor & she was officially one of my ‘babies’. I taught her GCSE Expressive Arts & A Level Theatre Studies. She had a real love of Drama & played a fairy in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 1997 & Elizabeth Proctor in ‘The Crucible’ in 1998.”
Anton Phung - 2000s
Anton was a student at High Storrs in the 2000s & was taught Dance by Ms Lee. In 2002 he was inspired by the then World Champion Break Dancer ‘Lil Tim’ who put on a show at school. Anton then set out to become a break-dancer.
After leaving school, Anton studied BA Hons Dance at Manchester Met Uni & went on to do choreography as well as winning the prestigious title of World Break Dancing Champion in 2013.
Sir Andrew Cook CBE - 1968
Sir Andrew Cook CBE is an industrialist, philanthropist, historian & author. He is the owner & Chairman of William Cook, one of Europe's largest steel & engineering groups. Sir Andrew has cited his time at High Storrs Grammar School for Boys as hugely influential, particularly the rigorous Latin lessons he received at the time. He has been an strong supporter of the school's Save Classics campaign.
Andrew Hawley – 1990s
Andrew studied acting at RSAMD after leaving High Storrs & is now a successful stage, television and film actor. He got his big break in The History Boys on stage & has since appeared in film, TV & stage shows. He recently appeared in the Sky TV series Borgia. In 2015 we were thrilled when Andrew agreed to come back to school to inspire our Year 12s with a career talk about acting.
Paul Heiney – 1960s
Paul attended High Storrs Grammar School for Boys in the 1960s. Paul is a well known television & radio broadcaster who is probably best known for presenting ‘That’s Life!’ in the 1970s & his role in the film ‘In at the Deep End’. He currently presents ITV’s ‘Countrywise’ & is a much-loved presenter & writer.
Jeff Rawle – 1960s
Jeff attended High Storrs Grammar School in the 1960s. He is a well known television & film actor who has most recently starred in ‘Hollyoaks’ as Silas Blissett & ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ as Amos Diggory. He’s a well seasoned actor who first appeared on TV in the 1970s & has rarely been off our screens. Jeff first became interested in drama when he appeared in school plays.
Jack Lester - 1980/1990s
Jack is a professional footballer & currently coaching. His career started at Grimsby Town FC in 1994 & he has played for Chesterfield, Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest & Sheffield United. Ex student & previous member of staff, Richard Downs, said “I was in the same year as Jack. He was very clever at school, as well as being a real hit with the ladies! I always claimed that he learnt his footballing skills from me in our lessons together!”
Kavita Donkersley - 2000s/2010s
Kavita is a self-made highly successful businesswoman who has made a career out of blogging about fashion, beauty & modelling. Her brand, She Wears Fashion, is growing by the day with mentions in magazines & on television. Kavita is very proud of the fact she did not go to University, instead choosing to make a career out of doing what she loves & being very successful at it. In recent years, Kavita has reconnected with her old school & has been involved in two Alumni-focused projects at school.
Grace Clough – 2000s
Grace left school in 2009 & immediately took a year out to travel the world. She then studied Sociology at Leeds University. During this time she took an interest in sports in more detail & having been born with Erbs Palsy, in particular the Paralympic Games. She is now an elite athlete for the GB Rowing Team & has graduated from University with a 1st class degree. Grace only took up rowing in late 2013 but is already a Paralympic Gold medalist & double World Champion.
Annie Ashcroft - 2000s
Annie is one of 3 girls in the group M.O. They have signed with Polydor Records, & the group have been nominated for two MOBO awards. In recent years the school has been lucky enough for Annie & the group to come into school & perform for the students.
Jon Windle – 1990s
Jon is best known as the lead singer & guitarist with the Sheffield band Little Man Tate. The band made 2 very successful albums in the 2000s, as well as touring the UK. They split in 2009. Jon continues to make music & is now a solo musician releasing albums in 2010 and 2012
Matthew Barley – 1980s
World-renowned cellist, Matthew Barley, left school in the 1980s. He is also the Musical Director of BBC2 TV’s Classical Star programme, & is passionate about education, new music & pioneering community programmes. In 2014 he came in to High Storrs School to give a master-class workshop to some of our students. He has released many CDs & has undertaken huge UK tours.
Leslie Evans - 1976
Leslie Evans was appointed as Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government in 2015. In this role, Leslie is the principal policy adviser to the First Minister & Secretary to the Scottish Cabinet. She is also the Principal Accountable Officer for the Scottish Government with personal responsibility for the propriety & regularity of Government finance and for economic, efficient and effective use of all related resources. Leslie is the senior Civil Servant in Scotland and leads more than 5,000 civil servants working for the Scottish Government, supporting development, implementation & communication of government policies, in accordance with the Civil Service Code.
John Hancock OBE - 1968
John has had a fantastically successful career, most notably as the CEO of W H Smith, Howden Plc, & the Chairman of the British American Business Council. He received the OBE for Services to British business interests in North America. His advice for young people is: 'grasp opportunities when they arise - even if they may be inconvenient/uncomfortable. Staying with the status quo is going backwards.'
David France (1953-58)
David freely admits he was not one of High Storrs' success stories on leaving with just two GCE O level certificates. But he went on to enjoy successful careers, first as a police officer, then realising his earlier ambition, as a newspaper journalist working on, among other newspapers, The Sheffield Morning Telegraph.
But his working career really took off when he joined BBC Radio Sheffield in 1973. He remained with the BBC for 21 years, retiring from the Corporation as Senior Events Producer at Broadcasting House, in charge of State Events coverage & many other popular programmes.He is most proud of being the instigator & Project Director of the 1995 Royal British Legion Two Minute Silence campaign to bring about a revival of the practice of a Two Minute Silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November. For this he won the two top PR Industry Awards for that year.
