University Practice Senior High School was a "brain-child" of the then Faculty of Education,University of Cape Coast. The dream became a reality when Ghana Education Service warmly accepted the idea. Initially, the then Faculty of Education wanted the school to be its Practice School, where students reading education programmes from the University of Cape Coast could do their teaching practice. However, it was to be run along the same lines as the other public Senior High Schools. The University was to provide all physical structures and equipment while the Ghana Education Service was to provide the teaching and non-teaching staff. The school was formally opened on 13th October,1976 with 70 "A" level students. In addition, 42 students were admitted for the Lower Sixth form to read General Arts and Science courses. Thus, the total number of the pioneers was 112.There were 12 classrooms and a Science Laboratory. At that time, General Arts and Science were the only elective courses offered by the school. The school also relied heavily on the facilities of the University of Cape Coast; particularly the libraries and Science laboratories.