Wanstead High School
Encyclopedia
Wanstead High School formerly Wanstead County High School, is a co-educational, non-denominational, comprehensive
high school
in Wanstead
, London
, United Kingdom
.
and has 1490 pupils aged 11 to 19. Its local education authority
is Redbridge. It is situated just west of the A12 junction with the North Circular Road (A406
).
is "Abeunt Studia in Mores" which translates literally as "studies become habits" or "practices zealously pursued pass into habits". It can be taken to mean "Studies build one's character".
Its symbol is the heron
, a bird traditionally associated with the area. Its alumni are sometimes known as "Old Heronians".
Its uniform colour is burgundy, having previously been black, and the school uniform
must be worn by all pupils except the sixth form
, Sixth form students are required to dress formally..
. It was one of the first co-educational secondary schools in England. The site had previously been a rectory
.
During the Second World War the school was evacuated to Newent
. On 15 February 1957, over 150 pupils suffered food poisoning. Until 1965 it was administered by the Essex Education Committee. In the 1960s, the school had around 800 boys and girls, with 250 in the sixth form.
The school buildings were extended in 1964 and again in 1974 when the science and humanities block was built.
in the Performing Arts with facilities, including theatre
, drama
and dance
studios and music technology suites. In addition to allowing pupils to study these areas specifically, performance elements are also being introduced into other areas of the wider curriculum. Mr Mark Whitehead is the current head of performing arts.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Wanstead
Wanstead
Wanstead is a suburban area in the London Borough of Redbridge, North-East London. The main road going through Wanstead is the A12. The name is from the Anglo-Saxon words wænn and stede, meaning "settlement on a small hill"....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Admissions
It specialises in the performing artsPerforming arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
and has 1490 pupils aged 11 to 19. Its local education authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
is Redbridge. It is situated just west of the A12 junction with the North Circular Road (A406
A406 road
The A406 or the North Circular Road is a road which crosses North London, UK, linking West and East London. It, together with the South Circular Road, forms a ring road through the inner part of Outer London...
).
Traditions
Its mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Abeunt Studia in Mores" which translates literally as "studies become habits" or "practices zealously pursued pass into habits". It can be taken to mean "Studies build one's character".
Its symbol is the heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
, a bird traditionally associated with the area. Its alumni are sometimes known as "Old Heronians".
Its uniform colour is burgundy, having previously been black, and the school uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
must be worn by all pupils except the sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
, Sixth form students are required to dress formally..
History
Wanstead Country High school was opened in 1924 as a mixed Grammar schoolGrammar 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...
. It was one of the first co-educational secondary schools in England. The site had previously been a rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
.
During the Second World War the school was evacuated to Newent
Newent
Newent is a small market town about 8 miles north west of Gloucester City, on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean, and lying within the Forest of Dean Local Authority District. Its population at the 2001 census was 5,073...
. On 15 February 1957, over 150 pupils suffered food poisoning. Until 1965 it was administered by the Essex Education Committee. In the 1960s, the school had around 800 boys and girls, with 250 in the sixth form.
The school buildings were extended in 1964 and again in 1974 when the science and humanities block was built.
Performing arts
The school is a specialist schoolSpecialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
in the Performing Arts with facilities, including theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
studios and music technology suites. In addition to allowing pupils to study these areas specifically, performance elements are also being introduced into other areas of the wider curriculum. Mr Mark Whitehead is the current head of performing arts.
Notable alumni
- Geraldine BedellGeraldine BedellGeraldine Bedell is a British novelist. She is a writer for The Observer. She is married to Charles Leadbeater and sister of Elaine Bedell....
, journalist and writer - Nick BerryNick BerryNicholas "Nick" Berry is a British television actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Wicks in the British soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 1990 and as PC Nick Rowan in the British drama television series Heartbeat from 1992 to 1998.-Career:Berry started acting at the age of...
Television actor and musician. - Sarah HollandSarah HollandSarah Holland is a writer, actress and singer best known for her 22 romantic novels for Harlequin which have been published in over 130 countries, selling millions of copies worldwide...
, writer - Gillian MerronGillian MerronGillian Joanna Merron was a British Labour Party politician, who was also the Member of Parliament for Lincoln from 1997 to 2010. From 2009 to 2010 she was Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health at the Department of Health.-Personal life:Merron was born in Ilford, Essex, and...
, Former Labour MP and Junior Minister - Ronnie O'SullivanRonnie O'SullivanRonald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
, snooker player - Matthew PorterMatthew PorterMatthew Porter became the youngest Chief Executive in the history of the Football League when, in March 2006, he was made CEO and Director of Leyton Orient F.C....
, CEO and Director of Leyton Orient Football Club. - Marian Sutton, marathon runner
- Alexander Day, Athlete and Chubba Chubbs enthusiast
- Larry DavidLarry DavidLawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
, Co-Creator of SeinfeldSeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself... - Carly Cole, wife of footballer Joe ColeJoe ColeJoseph John "Joe" Cole is an English footballer who plays for Lille, on loan from Liverpool, and the England national football team as midfielder. He started his career with where he played more than 100 games during five years, until he left for Chelsea in 2003...
- Richard WiskerRichard WiskerRichard Wisker is a British actor best known for his role as Liam O'Donovan in Tracy Beaker Returns. He also is a host on Friday Download.-Career:...
, star of CBBCCBBCCBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
's hit children's comedy drama Tracy Beaker ReturnsTracy Beaker ReturnsTracy Beaker Returns is a BAFTA winning British children's television series, which premiered on 8 January 2010 on CBBC and BBC HD. Based upon the novels by Jacqueline Wilson, It is the spin-off series to The Story of Tracy Beaker...
..
Wanstead County High School
- Rt Rev Robert Ronald AtwellRobert Ronald AtwellRobert Ronald Atwell is the current Anglican Bishop of Stockport.Atwell was born in 1954 in Ilford, Essex, and educated at the St John's College, Durham and Westcott House, Cambridge. He was ordained as a priest of the Church of England in 1979...
, Bishop of StockportBishop of StockportThe Bishop of Stockport is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, in the Province of York, England. The title takes its name after the town of Stockport in Greater Manchester....
since 2008 - Gilbert Blackman CBE, the last Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board (in 1990)
- Dr Lionel Blackman, Director General from 1964-71 of the British Coal Utilisation Research AssociationBritish Coal Utilisation Research AssociationBritish Coal Utilisation Research Association was founded in 1938, with the first chairman being John G. Bennett. It is a non-profit association of industrial companies, registered as a charity. According to its website "The aim of BCURA is to promote research and other activities concerned with...
, and younger brother of Gilbert - Prof Patrick Boyde, Serena Professor of ItalianSerena Professor of ItalianThe Serena Professorship of Italian is the senior professorship in the study of the Italian language at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and University of Manchester...
from 1981-2002 at the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally... - Alexander Day, Athlete and Chubba Chubbs enthusiast
- Prof Philip Burke CBE, Professor of Mathematical Physics from 1967-98 at Queen's University Belfast
- Arthur Butler, journalist, political correspondent of the Daily ExpressDaily ExpressThe Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
from 1963-9 - (Dr.) Gerry Carr. Olympic discus thrower, (Melbourne,1956). http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/gerald-carr-2.html Author, university professor (retd) (UVic, B.C., Canada) http://communications.uvic.ca/lectures/masterminds/artists10.php
- Geoff ElliottGeoff ElliottGeoffrey Elliott is a retired male pole vaulter, shot putter and decathlete from England. He set his personal best in the pole vault on 28 August 1954 in Bern....
, Olympic pole-vaulter and decathlete (Helsinki,1952)http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/el/geoff-elliott-1.html - Keith OvendenKeith OvendenKeith Ovenden is an English novelist and biographer.Ovenden was born and raised in London; he was educated at Wanstead County High School. He went on to study for degrees at the University of Keele , University of Michigan and the University of Oxford.He started his career lecturing at the...
, writer - Dr Geoffrey PardoeGeoffrey PardoeDr Geoffrey Keith Charles Pardoe OBE FREng FRAeS FBIS was Project Manager of the Blue Streak ballistic missile programme...
OBE, aerodynamicist and rocket scientist, Director from 1993-6 of the International Academy of Science, Project Manager from 1956-60 of Blue Streak (missile), President from 1984-5 of the Royal Aeronautical SocietyRoyal Aeronautical SocietyThe Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
, and advocate of the British space programmeBritish space programmeThe British space programme is a plan by the UK government and other interested bodies to promote British participation in the international market for satellite launches, satellite construction and other space endeavours. Significantly, however, it has never been government policy to create a... - David RappaportDavid RappaportDavid Stephen Rappaport was an English actor, probably one of the best known dwarf actors in television and film...
http://www.davidrappaport.co.uk/bio.htm, Musician, stage, screen and TV actor (Time Bandits, The Wizard). - Tony RobinsonTony RobinsonTony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
, presenter of Time TeamTime TeamTime Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
since 1994 - 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...
Michael Sexton CB OBE, Director of Military Survey from 1977–80 - Group CaptainGroup CaptainGroup captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Tony Trumble, OBE Battle of Britain pilot, Stalag Luft III POW. - Prof Maurice TuckerMaurice TuckerMaurice Edwin Tucker is a leading British sedimentologist, specialising in the field of carbonate sedimentology, more commonly known as limestones...
, Professor of Geological Sciences since 1993 at Durham UniversityDurham UniversityThe University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
and Master since 1998 of University College, DurhamUniversity College, DurhamUniversity College, commonly known as Castle, is a college of the University of Durham in England. Centred around Durham Castle on Palace Green, it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham's colleges. As with all of Durham's colleges, it is, independently of the University, a listed body... - Prof Peter Vanezis OBE, Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine, GlasgowRegius Professor of Forensic Medicine, GlasgowThe Regius Chair of Forensic Medicine at the University of Glasgow was founded in 1839 by Queen Victoria.The Chair was occupied for over one hundred years by the same family, when John Glaister Jnr. succeeded his father as Regius Professor...
from 1993–2003, Chief Forensic Medical Officer from 2003-6 at the Forensic Science ServiceForensic Science ServiceThe Forensic Science Service is a government-owned company in the United Kingdom which provides forensic science services to the police forces and government agencies of England and Wales, as well as other countries.-History:...
, and President from 1996-7 of the British Academy of Forensic Science and from 2001-3 of the British Association For Human Identification - Angela WatkinsonAngela WatkinsonAngela Eileen Watkinson is a politician in the United Kingdom. She is Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Hornchurch and Upminster, and was first elected in 2001 to the earlier seat of Upminster, beating Keith Darvill who had taken the seat from the Conservatives in 1997...
, Conservative MP since 2001 for UpminsterUpminster (UK Parliament constituency)Upminster was a constituency of the House of Commons in east London, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system... - Sir John WiltonJohn Wilton (British diplomat)Sir Arthur John Wilton KCMG KCVO MC , known as John Wilton, was a British diplomat who was Ambassador to Kuwait and to Saudi Arabia ....
KCVO KCMG MC, Major (Royal Ulster Rifles), Ambassador to Kuwait from 1970-4, and to Saudi Arabia from 1976-9
Former teachers
- Ron PickeringRon PickeringRonald James Pickering , was an athletics coach and BBC sports commentator. Born in Barking, Essex, he coached several Olympic athletes, including Lynn Davies, a Welsh Olympic Games gold medallist long jumper. He was also the first host of the BBC1 children's sports programme We Are the...
(left in 1961 when he became athletics coach for Wales and the West of England)