On 24 March 1923, a war memorial was dedicated by Sir Charles Fergusson, and was designed by former pupil of the school and architect W.F. Valentine. To commemorate the loss of soldiers in World War II, a library was opened in the school in 1955.

A public clock was erected at the top of the building, facing towards the town centre, with a tall 80 ft square tower which was originally used for astronomy lessons. The new building could accommodate 868 pupils over