Wanstead High School

Wanstead High School

Motto	"Abeunt Studia in Mores"
Established	1924[1]
Type	Community school
Headteacher	Mr Christiaan Van Bussel[2]
Specialism	Arts
Location	Redbridge Lane West Wanstead Greater London E11 2JZ England Coordinates: 51°34′32″N 0°02′10″E / 51.5756°N 0.0360°E / 51.5756; 0.0360
Local authority	Redbridge
DfE number	???/4021
DfE URN	102851 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Students	1532
Ages	15–19
Website	www.wansteadhigh.co.uk

Wanstead High School (WHS), formerly Wanstead County High School, is a co-educational, non-denominational, comprehensive high school in Wanstead, London, United Kingdom.

Admissions

It specialises in the performing arts and has 1490 pupils aged 11 to 19. Its local education authority is Redbridge.^[3][4][5] It is situated just west of the A12 junction with the North Circular Road (A406).

Traditions

Its motto is "Abeunt Studia in Mores" which translates literally as "studies become habits"^[6] or "practices zealously pursued pass into habits".^[7] It can be taken to mean "Studies build one's character".^[8]

Its symbol is the heron, a bird traditionally associated with the area.^[9] Its alumni are sometimes known as "Old Heronians".^[10]

Its uniform colour is burgundy, having previously been black,^[11] and the school uniform must be worn by all pupils except the sixth form, Sixth form students are required to dress formally.^[12]

History

Wanstead Country High school was opened in 1924 as a mixed Grammar school. It was one of the first co-educational secondary schools in England.^[13] The site had previously been a rectory.^[14]

During the Second World War the school was evacuated to Newent.^[1] 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^[1] and again in 1974 when the science and humanities block was built.^[11]

Facilities

Performing arts

The school is a specialist school 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 Ian Sweet and Mr Mark Whitehead are the current heads of performing arts at the school.

Notable alumni

• Geraldine Bedell, journalist and writer
• Nick Berry^[11] Television actor and musician.
• Sarah Holland, writer
• Gillian Merron, Former Labour MP and Junior Minister
• Ronnie O'Sullivan, snooker player
• Matthew Porter, CEO and Director of Leyton Orient Football Club.
• Carly Cole, wife of footballer Joe Cole
• Richard Wisker, star of CBBC's hit children's comedy drama Tracy Beaker Returns.^[15]

Wanstead County High School

• Rt Rev Robert Ronald Atwell, Bishop of Stockport 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 Association, and younger brother of Gilbert
• Prof Patrick Boyde, Serena Professor of Italian from 1981-2002 at the University of Cambridge
• Prof Philip Burke CBE, Professor of Mathematical Physics from 1967-98 at Queen's University Belfast
• Arthur Butler, journalist, political correspondent of the Daily Express from 1963-9
• (Dr.) Gerry Carr. Olympic discus thrower, (Melbourne,1956). Author, university professor (retd) (UVic, B.C., Canada)
• Geoff Elliott,^[11] Olympic pole-vaulter and decathlete (Helsinki,1952)
• Keith Ovenden, writer
• Dr Geoffrey Pardoe 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 Society, and advocate of the British space programme
• David Rappaport , Musician, stage, screen and TV actor (Time Bandits, The Wizard).
• Tony Robinson, presenter of Time Team since 1994
• Maj-Gen Michael Sexton CB OBE, Director of Military Survey from 1977–80
• Michael J Smith. 1948-c1956. Organist, Llandaff Cathedral 1974-2000. Asst. Organist, Salisbury Cathedral, 1967-1974.
• Group Captain Tony Trumble, OBE Battle of Britain pilot, Stalag Luft III POW.
• Prof Maurice Tucker, Professor of Geological Sciences since 1993 at Durham University and Master since 1998 of University College, Durham
• Prof Peter Vanezis OBE, Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine, Glasgow from 1993–2003, Chief Forensic Medical Officer from 2003-6 at the Forensic Science Service, and President from 1996-7 of the British Academy of Forensic Science and from 2001-3 of the British Association For Human Identification
• Angela Watkinson, Conservative MP since 2001 for Upminster
• Sir John Wilton KCVO KCMG MC, Major (Royal Ulster Rifles),^[16] Ambassador to Kuwait from 1970-4, and to Saudi Arabia from 1976-9

Former teachers

• Ron Pickering (left in 1961 when he became athletics coach for Wales and the West of England)

The Inclusion Department

The Inclusion Department (Known as Learning Zone) is a department at WHS that helps children with learning difficulties learn and cope with school. The Inclusion Department has a specialist dyslexia teacher to support dyslexic students at WHS. Website for the inclusion department: Inclusion@Wanstead High

See also

• List of schools in the London Borough of Redbridge

References

• The Times, 12 January 1996

External links

• EduBase