rowley's grammar school was opened on hawes lane in september 1962. well-known former pupils include pete williams (original bass player with dexys midnight runners), and actress josie lawrence. in 1974, when comprehensive schools became universal in the new borough of sandwell, the grammar school became rowley regis sixth form college, the last intake of grammar school pupils having been inducted the previous year. in 2003 it became an annexe of dudley college, but this arrangement lasted just one year before the buildings fell into disuse. it was demolished three years later, and the site was redeveloped as the new rowley learning campus under sandwell's building schools for the future programme, comprising st michael's church of england high school, westminster special school, and whiteheath education centre, which opened in september 2011.