Holland Park School

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Holland Park School
Contact Information Phone: +44-20-7908-1000
Fax: +44-20-7908-1098
Established 1958
Type Comprehensive Secondary
Head Teacher Colin Hall
Location Airlie Gardens
South Kensington,
London
UK
Enrollment approx. 1500 students
Ages 11 to 18
Publication Andarkoll
Website Holland Park School

Holland Park School was opened in London, UK, in 1958 and was the first purpose built comprehensive school. It became the flagship for comprehensive education, in its heyday served over 2000 students per annum, and became known as the "socialist Eton." A number of high-profile socialists sent their children to Holland Park School, adding to its infamy as a liberal institution. In this regard, Tony and Caroline Benn notably sent two of their children to Holland Park School.

Contents

[edit] Education at Holland Park

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Holland Park School philosophy was to ensure large student numbers (over 2000) with the idea that the resulting size would enable more subject choices for the students.

In the early 1960s, each school year was divided into A,B,C,D, and E streams up until the 3rd year. Because the groups were so large, they were again divided, typically into 3. Later the "A" "B" etc grading was considered to be bad for children's self-esteem, so "A" "B" and "C" were replaced by "H" "P" and "S" (Holland Park School). In the 1970s streaming was totally scrapped in favour of total egalitarianism. Another aspect of the egalitarian regime was that many school traditions were scrapped and in the 1970s there were no school awards for achievement, so as not to outcast the low achievers.

The theory was that poor achieving students would perform better if not segregated, but rather immersed in an equal learning environment. However, reality showed that education dropped to the lowest common denominator and in the 1990s and beyond the school began to revert to more traditional teaching practices. The students of the 1960s and 1970s were pioneers in a great experiment that simply did not work.

[edit] School Organization

The school was divided into eight "houses" that were colour coded and each pupil wore a strip of the appropriate colour across the top of the pocket of the school blazer, thus:

  • Newton: Dark Blue
  • Fox: Green
  • Norman: Light Blue
  • Hunter: Red
  • Macaulay: Yellow
  • Maine: Purple
  • Addison: White
  • Wilberforce: Brown, later Pink

Notice that the houses were named after famous social reformers and abolitionists: William Wilberforce (1759-1833), Charles James Fox (1749-1806), Zachary Macaulay (1768–1838), John Newton (1725-1807). Joseph Addison (1672-1719) wrote the famous play Cato about freedom and liberty.

Some Houses had special additional badges for optional private purchase. Maine had a large circular badge with a background of the House colour and the Scales of Justice. Each house was also subdivided into Tutor Sets.

There was no daily routine of Morning Assembly. Only two days a week did the entire school go into Assembly. Wednesday was House assembly under the Head of House. The other two days were for Tutor Groups in the House setting.

[edit] School Publication

In the 1970's the school magazine was called Andarkoll. This name is an anagram of 'Holland Park' with the first letters 'H' and 'P' missing.

[edit] School Building and Land History

In 1808 William Phillimore (1748-1814), signed an agreement for the development of over 19 acres of land, which now is roughly occupied by Holland Park School and Queen Elizabeth College, north of Duchess of Bedford Walk. This contained seven particularly grand houses with large gardens. They were completed in 1817 after Phillimore died. Throughout the nineteenth century, and until the Second World War, they had a series of notable occupants. At one time in the nineteenth century the approach road was thought to be known as Dukes' Row, because two of the houses were occupied by Dukes: Argyll and Bedford and another, by the Earl of Airlie. The original intention was to create high-rise public housing, but subsequently after much local opposition, plans were advanced for what became Holland Park School which opened in 1958. Of the seven great houses on this part of the Estate only Thorpe Lodge (the home from 1904 until his death in 1950 of Montagu Norman, for many years Governor of the Bank of England) survives as the library of Holland Park School.

The school adjoins the famous Holland Park gardens in London. Prior to the building of the school a beautiful old mansion stood on the site complete with gate house. The gate house, Thorpe Lodge, is still standing at the entrance from Campden Hill Rd and became an exclusive area for sixth form students in the 1970s. The original property also had its own apple orchard. Demolition began around 1957 and the first comprehensive school opened in 1958. It is currently planned to redevelop the entire school site and provide a modern building for September 2010. Planning permission for the new school is due to be decided in April 2007.

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] Notable Teachers

  • Mike Walling, English teacher, was a winner on the TV show New Faces in the late 1970s. He had a comedy double act called "Walling and Lyle." His comedy career was set back after his partner Lyle died of a heart attack. He then built up his comedy career on his own. As well as a number of parts in TV commercials he has starred in the British television sitcoms Brush Strokes and The Smoking Room.
  • Lord Scantlebury, Geography teacher
  • Terry Furlong, English teacher[14]
  • Bertram Pockney, Russian scholar[15]

[edit] Holland Park Trivia

  • In 1973, the school snubbed the wedding of Princess Anne by working through the national holiday given to schools and giving children the day off later.
  • In 1970, journalist George Gale, then editor of The Spectator, claimed that Holland Park girls were running a vice ring at the school.
  • In 1978, the Slits, an all-female punk rock group, performed at the school featuring on-stage masturbation as part of their act.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Abbott biography
  2. ^ Abramsky biography
  3. ^ The Sunday Times (May 2006)
  4. ^ Information on Nobody's Hero
  5. ^ Memoirs of Robbie Fields
  6. ^ Memoirs of Robbie Fields
  7. ^ Memoirs of Robbie Fields
  8. ^ The Times (Nov 2004)
  9. ^ The Sunday Times (Feb 2006)
  10. ^ BBC Report on Koneva murder
  11. ^ Sunday Times profile on Alan Parker
  12. ^ Freak Genius website
  13. ^ Andy McKay biography
  14. ^ Obituary of Terry Furlong (Head of English)
  15. ^ The Times (Aug 2004)

[edit] External links

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