The original school at this site was called Grangehill Road School and it opened on 3 rd February 1902 in temporary buildings with a roll of 110 infant pupils. On 22 nd August 1904, the present building was opened with an infant school on the ground floor, a boys' secondary school on the first floor and a girls' secondary school on the second floor. The head of the boys' school was instrumental in renaming the school The Gordon. There was a huge rise in the numbers of pupils at the beginning of the first world war due to the influx of munitions workers who occupied the hutted housing that was erected in the area. Extra corrugated outbuildings were placed in the school playground - they are still here!