St. Nicholas Grammar School

St. Nicholas Boys' Grammar School
Established 1955
Closed 1977
Type State Grammar School
Headmasters RFE Watson (1955); LE Shearn (1976)
Location Wiltshire Lane
Northwood Hills
Greater London
HA5 2LX
England England Coordinates: 51°35′41″N 0°24′49″W / 51.594794°N 0.413698°W
Local authority Hillingdon
Staff 40-45 (full-time)
Students 650 students
Gender Male
Ages 11–18
Houses Abbotts, Kevere, Bec, Kings
Colours Purple and Gold          
Publication St.Nicholas School Magazine (annually)

St. Nicholas Grammar School was a grammar school, located in Northwood Hills, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, Middlesex. In 1977, it joined with the neighbouring St Mary's Grammar School for Girls to form Haydon School.

History

Approval to begin construction of St. Nicholas Grammar School was granted on 11 May 1953, and the work was undertaken by construction firm of Holland, Hannen & Cubitts.

In 1954 two forms were established at Bourne Secondary Modern to become the nucleus of pupils, forming 2a and 2b at the new building in 1955.

The grammar school opened in 1955, and ran for 22 years. Its crest was a bishop's mitre surrounded by three money bags. The first headmaster was Robert Francis Edward Watson (8 March 1910 - 16 July 2004), who assembled the teaching staff during the late winter and early spring of 1955. He held the position until retiring at the end of term 1975.

Robert Watson was succeeded by Leslie Shearn who guided the school through amalgamation with the adjacent girl's school. In 1978, Haydon School changed the crest to a stylized stag's head.

Houses

There were four houses each with its own staff:

A House Assembly was held once per week, on Friday. Each house had its own colours. There were many inter-house competitions throughout the school year, the emphasis being on field sports, though there were also drama, chess and art competitions.

Facilities

There was a language laboratory, senior and junior science laboratories for chemistry and physics, a school orchestra, a library, workshops for metalwork and woodwork and several pitches for games. The playing field was shared with St.Mary's Grammar School For Girls.

Notable alumni

References