Upon the outbreak of World War II in 1939, most pupils were evacuated to towns outside Manchester to avoid the hazards of bombing, and Burnage boys were sent to Leek, Ashbourne and Wirksworth. Many former pupils of the school served in the forces during the war and 50 old boys were killed in action, later commemorated in a memorial plaque in the school hall. Luftwaffe bombs were dropped on Burnage during the Manchester Blitz, and Burnage school was hit by three bombs, causing severe damage to the school hall and demolishing the organ. The school's first headmaster, Mr Albert H. R. Ball, left in 1942 to take up the position of Rector of the Royal High School in Edinburgh.