St. Clement Danes School
Encyclopedia
St. Clement Danes School is a mixed, voluntary-aided, comprehensive school in Chorleywood
, Hertfordshire
.
The School occupies a large site to the northwest of Rickmansworth
in Chorleywood. It is about a mile (1.6 km) from Chorleywood station
but there are buses from the station and Watford. It is situated on Chenies
Road (A404
), which at that point occupies the boundary of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire for a half mile, adjacent to the north side of the school. The school is less than a mile east of junction 18 of the M25
.
Parish in Holborn
, London and opened in Houghton Street. It was funded from income from the St Clement Danes Holborn Estate, a charity founded in 1551 which owned a piece of land on the north side of Holborn.
, where it flourished as a grammar school
until 1975. The school had a well-known choir which featured in a 1975 EMI
recording (ASD 3117) of Carl Orff
's Carmina Burana
, conducted by André Previn
with the LSO
(and chorus). The site was next to Hammersmith Hospital
, and is now occupied by St Clements House, a block of flats and Woodlane High School.
On 29 June 1973, 13 year old Nicholas St Clair from Fulham
was killed on the school playing fields at Shepherd's Bush
, when he was struck in the chest by a javelin
.
, it was re-established in its new premises in Chorleywood
, as a Voluntary-Aided Mixed Comprehensive School. In April 1994 the School was incorporated as a grant-maintained school
. The Du Cane Road buildings were taken over by Burlington Danes Church of England School, sold to Hammersmith Hospital
in 2002 and demolished in 2004.
The school receives additional financial support from the St Clement Danes School Charitable Foundation, one of the beneficiaries of the historic St Clement Danes Holborn Estate.
In a storm in January 2007, a classroom roof caved in during schooltime.
kilt.
(and added in 2005)
in London to commemorate the beginning of the school. It is a large celebration, in which the orchestra and choir play a big part.
, it gets very good GCSE results. Results at A level are also impressive, being above the England average.
Mixed comprehensive in Hertfordshire:
Chorleywood
Chorleywood is a village and civil parish in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It had a population of 6,814 people at the 2001 census. The parish of Chorleywood as a whole has a population of 10,775. The town lies in the far south west of Hertfordshire, on the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
Admissions
It has specialist status for languages and science and takes students aged 11 (Year 7) through to 18 (Year 13).The School occupies a large site to the northwest of Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles west of Watford.The town has a population of around 15,000 people and lies on the Grand Union Canal and the River Colne, at the northern end of the Colne Valley regional park.Rickmansworth is a small town in...
in Chorleywood. It is about a mile (1.6 km) from Chorleywood station
Chorleywood station
Chorleywood station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Travelcard Zone 7 on the Metropolitan Line. The town of Chorleywood is located in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire about 20 miles from London. Chorleywood station is also served by Chiltern Railways, which runs...
but there are buses from the station and Watford. It is situated on Chenies
Chenies
Chenies is a village in the very eastern part of south Buckinghamshire, England, near the border with Hertfordshire. It is situated to the east of Chesham and the Chalfonts. Chenies is also a civil parish within Chiltern district....
Road (A404
A404 road
The A404 is a road in the United Kingdom that starts at Paddington in London and leads to Maidenhead in Berkshire.The road initially follows a course through London and its suburbs including Harlesden, Wembley, Harrow Pinner, and Rickmansworth...
), which at that point occupies the boundary of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire for a half mile, adjacent to the north side of the school. The school is less than a mile east of junction 18 of the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
.
History
The school was founded in 1862 by the church wardens of St Clement DanesSt Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is a church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The current building was completed in 1682 by Sir Christopher Wren and it now functions as the central church of the Royal Air Force.The church is sometimes claimed to...
Parish in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, London and opened in Houghton Street. It was funded from income from the St Clement Danes Holborn Estate, a charity founded in 1551 which owned a piece of land on the north side of Holborn.
Grammar school
The St. Clement Danes Holborn Estate Grammar School for Boys remained in Houghton Street until 1928, when it transferred to a new site on Du Cane Road in the Metropolitan Borough of HammersmithMetropolitan Borough of Hammersmith
The Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith was, between 1900 and 1965, a Metropolitan borough of the County of London. It included Hammersmith, Wormwood Scrubs, Old Oak Common and Shepherd's Bush....
, where it flourished as a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
until 1975. The school had a well-known choir which featured in a 1975 EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
recording (ASD 3117) of Carl Orff
Carl Orff
Carl Orff was a 20th-century German composer, best known for his cantata Carmina Burana . In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential method of music education for children.-Early life:...
's Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana , Latin for "Songs from Beuern" , is the name given to a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces were written principally in Medieval Latin; a few in Middle High German, and some with traces...
, conducted by André Previn
André Previn
André George Previn, KBE is an American pianist, conductor, and composer. He is considered one of the most versatile musicians in the world, and is the winner of four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings. -Early Life:Previn was born in...
with the LSO
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
(and chorus). The site was next to Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital is a major teaching hospital in West London. It is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and is associated with the Imperial College Faculty of Medicine...
, and is now occupied by St Clements House, a block of flats and Woodlane High School.
On 29 June 1973, 13 year old Nicholas St Clair from Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
was killed on the school playing fields at Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
, when he was struck in the chest by a javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
.
Comprehensive
In 1975, under an agreement between the Governing Board of the School and Hertfordshire County CouncilHertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Hertfordshire, in England, the United Kingdom. It currently consists of 77 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, which has 55 councillors, 17 Liberal Democrats, versus 3 Labour...
, it was re-established in its new premises in Chorleywood
Chorleywood
Chorleywood is a village and civil parish in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It had a population of 6,814 people at the 2001 census. The parish of Chorleywood as a whole has a population of 10,775. The town lies in the far south west of Hertfordshire, on the...
, as a Voluntary-Aided Mixed Comprehensive School. In April 1994 the School was incorporated as a grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained schools were state schools in England and Wales between 1988 and 1998 that had opted out of local government control, being funded directly by a grant from central government...
. The Du Cane Road buildings were taken over by Burlington Danes Church of England School, sold to Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital is a major teaching hospital in West London. It is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and is associated with the Imperial College Faculty of Medicine...
in 2002 and demolished in 2004.
The school receives additional financial support from the St Clement Danes School Charitable Foundation, one of the beneficiaries of the historic St Clement Danes Holborn Estate.
In a storm in January 2007, a classroom roof caved in during schooltime.
Uniform
Navy blue blazer with school crest, white shirt, green tie with house colour woven in, black trousers, or tartanTartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
kilt.
- Trainers are only to be worn in PE and games and at no other time
- No jewellery may be worn, apart from one stud earring in each ear-lobe (not in top of ear)
- Long hair must be tied back
- Make-up and nail varnish are not to be worn
- Plain white T-shirts or vests can be worn under the uniform shirt in winter months but no printing or visible sign of T-shirt is allowed
Houses
The school is subdivided into eight houses which also function as forms:- Burleigh Burgundy ‘B’
- Clement Red 'C'
- Dane Yellow 'D'
- Exeter Light blue ‘E’
- Lincoln Green 'L'
- Temple Dark Blue 'T'
(and added in 2005)
- Clare Orange 'A'
- Essex Purple 'S'
Commemoration
Every year a commemoration service is held in St Clement Danes ChurchSt Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is a church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The current building was completed in 1682 by Sir Christopher Wren and it now functions as the central church of the Royal Air Force.The church is sometimes claimed to...
in London to commemorate the beginning of the school. It is a large celebration, in which the orchestra and choir play a big part.
Academic performance
Being a partially-selective schoolPartially selective school (England)
In England, a partially selective school is one of a few dozen state-funded secondary schools that select a proportion of their intake by ability or aptitude, permitted as a continuation of arrangements that existed prior to 1997....
, it gets very good GCSE results. Results at A level are also impressive, being above the England average.
Notable alumni
Boys' grammar school in London:- Joseph Allen, publisher - especially of books on equestrian pursuitsEquestrianismEquestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
- Sir John Barbirolli, conductor & cellist
- Maj-GenMajor-General (United Kingdom)Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
Eric Barton CB MBE, Colonel CommandantColonel CommandantColonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
from 1982-7 of the Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army.... - Geoffrey Davies, developed pacemakerArtificial pacemakerA pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart...
s with Aubrey Leatham in the 1950s1950sThe 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century... - Wally DownesWally DownesWalter John "Wally" Downes is an English former football player and manager, he is currently a first team coach at West Ham UnitedHe is the nephew of former world middleweight boxing champion Terry Downes.-Playing career:...
, WimbledonWimbledon F.C.Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
football player - Frank FieldFrank Field (UK politician)Frank Ernest Field DL is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Birkenhead since 1979. From 1997 to 1998, he served as the Minister of Welfare Reform, before leaving the Government, following differences with Prime Minister Tony Blair...
, politician - Martin FitzmauriceMartin FitzmauriceMartin Fitzmaurice is an English darts master of ceremonies, caller, scorer and referee who has operated for one of the game's governing bodies the British Darts Organisation since 1985....
, darts master of ceremonies - Andy FraserAndy FraserAndy Fraser is an English songwriter and bass guitarist whose career has lasted over forty years and includes a notable period as one of the founding members, in 1968, at age 15, of the rock band Free.-Peak years :...
, guitarist and vocalist with FreeFree (band)Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
famous for "All Right Now" - John JacksonJohn Jackson (footballer)John Jackson is an English former footballer who made 656 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Ipswich Town and Hereford United.-Career:...
, Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
goalkeeper - Ben LeveneBen LeveneBen Levene, born Gerald Philip Levene on the 23rd December 1938 in London, was a British painter. He went to St. Clement Danes School. In 1956 he won a scholarship to the Slade School of Art . Later he was awarded the University of London postgraduateship in 1960-61, and then a Boise...
, artist - Hugh LindsayHugh Lindsay (footballer)Hugh Murray Lindsay is a former amateur footballer who played as an inside-forward for Great Britain in the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome, as well as making two Football League appearances for Southampton in 1961, making him the last amateur player to play for Southampton.-Football...
(born 1938), English amateur footballer who played for SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and appeared in the 1960 Summer Olympics1960 Summer OlympicsThe 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy... - Glen MatlockGlen MatlockGlen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
, guitarist with the Sex PistolsSex PistolsThe Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians... - Mikey CraigMikey CraigMikey Craig is a former DJ who became the bassist with Culture Club, one of the most popular bands of the 1980s.-Personal life:...
, bass player with Culture ClubCulture ClubCulture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss... - Prof Alvin Nienow, Professor of Biochemical Engineering from 1989-2004 at the University of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, and Director from 1989-2000 for the Centre for Biochemical Engineering - Michael OliverMichael Oliver (writer, broadcaster)Michael Oliver was a BBC broadcaster, writer and journalist on classical music. He presented BBC Radio 3's Music Weekly programme , and also was a presenter of BBC Radio 4's Kaleidoscope...
, broadcaster on Radio 3BBC Radio 3BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
and on Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Kaleidoscope - Dennis PotterDennis PotterDennis Christopher George Potter was an English dramatist, best known for The Singing Detective. His widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. He was particularly fond of using themes and images from popular culture.-Biography:Dennis Potter was born...
, television playwright, director, novelist - John SlaterJohn Slater (actor)John Slater was a British character actor usually seen as lugubrious, amiable cockney types.His father was an antiques dealer. After attending St. Clement Danes School, Slater began acting in farce at the Whitehall Theatre. He first appeared on film in 1938, remaining active in the industry up to...
, actor - David Smallman LVO, Governor from 1995-9 of Saint HelenaSaint HelenaSaint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
- David Stoddart, Baron Stoddart of SwindonDavid Stoddart, Baron Stoddart of SwindonDavid Leonard Stoddart, Baron Stoddart of Swindon is a British independent Labour politician .-Political career:...
, Labour MP from 1970-83 for SwindonSwindon (UK Parliament constituency)Swindon was a parliamentary constituency in the town of Swindon in Wiltshire, England.It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from the 1918 general election until it was abolished for the 1997 general election.It was then replaced by the... - Michael WardMichael Ward (economist)Michael Ward was a British economist and statistician who contributed significantly to the evolution of the international statistical system in the post-war period.-Education and career:...
, economist who developed international economic statistics - Alan WilderAlan WilderAlan Charles Wilder is a British musician, formerly of Depeche Mode. His current musical project is called Recoil, started as a side project to Depeche Mode. When he left the latter in 1995, it became Wilder's primary project...
, former keyboard player for Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
Mixed comprehensive in Hertfordshire:
- Katy BrandKaty BrandKaty Brand is an English actress, comedian and writer known for her ITV2 series Katy Brand's Big Ass Show and for Comedy Lab Slap on Channel 4....
, comedienne. - Dee CaffariDee CaffariDenise "Dee" Caffari MBE is a British sailor, and in 2006 became the first woman to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world "the wrong way"; westward against the prevailing winds and currents...
, record-breaking sailor. - Natasha Khan, Singer and musician from the band Bat For LashesBat for LashesNatasha Khan , also known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English musician. She sings and plays the piano, bass, guitar, harpsichord and the autoharp....
. - Tim LovejoyTim LovejoyTimothy Paul Lovejoy is a British television presenter most famous for hosting Saturday morning football programme Soccer AM alongside Helen Chamberlain for over a decade.- Career :...
, TV presenter. - Rob KiernanRob KiernanRobert Samuel Kiernan is an Irish association footballer who plays as either a centre back or central midfielder for Wigan Athletic. He previously played for Watford, and spent time on loan at Kilmarnock, Yeovil Town, Bradford City and Wycombe Wanderers...
, Professional Footballer.
Notable teachers
- Andrew DaviesAndrew Davies (writer)Andrew Wynford Davies is a British author and screenwriter. He was made a Fellow of BAFTA in 2002.-Education and early career:...
(screenwriter) taught English 1958–1961. - Bill AshtonBill Ashton (jazz musician)William Michael Allingham Ashton OBE is a British saxophonist and composer, best known for co-founding the London Schools’ Orchestra, now the National Youth Jazz Orchestra , of which he is Musical Director....
(jazz musician and founder of the National Youth Jazz OrchestraNational Youth Jazz OrchestraThe National Youth Jazz Orchestra is a British jazz orchestra founded in 1963 by Bill Ashton.Based in Westminster, London, NYJO started life as the London Schools' Jazz Orchestra and evolved into becoming the national orchestra...
) taught French 1971–1973. - Tom Duncan, physics teacher, wrote the successful GCSE Physics book (ISBN 0719586143)
- Roland MathiasRoland MathiasRoland Glyn Mathias , was a Welsh writer, known for his poetry and short stories. He was also a literary critic, and responsible with Raymond Garlick for the success of the literary magazine Dock Leaves , later from 1957 The Anglo-Welsh Review. He edited it from 1961 to 1976...
, poet - Jonathon PorrittJonathon PorrittJonathon Espie Porritt, CBE, is an English environmentalist and writer. Porritt appears frequently in the media, writing in magazines, newspapers and books, and appearing on radio and television regularly.-Early life and family background:...
(eco-politician) taught English and directed drama 1974–1977