Highgate Wood Secondary School
Encyclopedia
Highgate Wood School Arts College is a secondary school located in Crouch End
in the North London
borough of Haringey
. It accommodates pupils aged 11–16, providing secondary education to 1368 pupils. The school also has a sixth form
(ages 16–18). It has partnerships with Sport England, the Haymarket Theatre and the British Council through the International Schools Award scheme. The school has recently introduced a uniform.
Most pupils come from South Haringey School, Rokesly Primary School, Ashmount School, Campsbourne School, Weston Park Primary School and Coleridge Primary School.
in 1967. It replaced Bishopswood and Priory Vale secondary modern schools. Bishopswood school opened in 1961 and Priory Vale was formed in 1962 from a merger of North Harringay and Crouch End secondary modern schools
Until 1987 the school was located on two sites - a lower school for pupils in year 7 and year 8, and an upper school for years 9 to 11 and the sixth form. The lower school was situated in the former Crouch End secondary modern school buildings, at the corner of Wolsley Road and Park Road, with the Home Economics and CDT wing facing onto Park Road. Some of the original buildings still stand today, converted into modern flats above shops. The upper school (located in the former Bishopswood secondary modern school buildings) now houses the whole school - including sixth form, computer centre, tennis courts, and sports hall.
Former Headteachers: 1967-1979 Eurof Walters
1997-2006 Pauline Ashbee
inspection of Highgate Wood School in 2005 commented on its 'improving' sixth form results. Since then sixth form students have demonstrated their abilities by improving results further year on year.
Highgate Wood School now sends over 80 students each year to university or higher education. The sixth form has a limit of 230 students. The sixth form remains committed to teaching students in small groups.
Highgate Wood also has huge success within sport in Haringey. This year's year 11 boys football team, were runners up in the Haringey Cup and lost out in the semi final of the Middlesex Cup. In 2009 the year 11 won the Haringey Cup
Novelist Romesh Gunesekera
is writer-in-residence at Highgate Wood School.
Publications arising from his residency include Crumbs on a Page (2009), and Pages Held With Words (2011).
Crouch End
Crouch End is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Haringey.- Location :Crouch End is in a valley between Harringay to the east, Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green to the north, Finsbury Park and Archway to the south and Highgate to the west...
in the North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
borough of Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
. It accommodates pupils aged 11–16, providing secondary education to 1368 pupils. The school also has a 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,...
(ages 16–18). It has partnerships with Sport England, the Haymarket Theatre and the British Council through the International Schools Award scheme. The school has recently introduced a uniform.
Most pupils come from South Haringey School, Rokesly Primary School, Ashmount School, Campsbourne School, Weston Park Primary School and Coleridge Primary School.
History
Highgate Wood School was founded as a comprehensive schoolComprehensive 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...
in 1967. It replaced Bishopswood and Priory Vale secondary modern schools. Bishopswood school opened in 1961 and Priory Vale was formed in 1962 from a merger of North Harringay and Crouch End secondary modern schools
Until 1987 the school was located on two sites - a lower school for pupils in year 7 and year 8, and an upper school for years 9 to 11 and the sixth form. The lower school was situated in the former Crouch End secondary modern school buildings, at the corner of Wolsley Road and Park Road, with the Home Economics and CDT wing facing onto Park Road. Some of the original buildings still stand today, converted into modern flats above shops. The upper school (located in the former Bishopswood secondary modern school buildings) now houses the whole school - including sixth form, computer centre, tennis courts, and sports hall.
Former Headteachers: 1967-1979 Eurof Walters
1997-2006 Pauline Ashbee
Sixth form
The sixth form unit was twinned with that of Hornsey School for Girls in 1987, a union that was dissolved in 2009. The most recent OfstedOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
inspection of Highgate Wood School in 2005 commented on its 'improving' sixth form results. Since then sixth form students have demonstrated their abilities by improving results further year on year.
Highgate Wood School now sends over 80 students each year to university or higher education. The sixth form has a limit of 230 students. The sixth form remains committed to teaching students in small groups.
Achievements
Highgate Wood School's Arts college redesignation builds upon its success in the performing arts, whilst highlighting its visual arts credentials. The award recognises the high standard of work produced by Highgate Wood students, guided by highly motivated and passionate staff. Ambitious recent drama productions include 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller and 'Yerma' by Federico Garcia Lorca. The school's Music department has a well-deserved reputation, both for the standard of its concert performances and for the large number of students who benefit from individual instrumental tuition. Exhibitions of GCSE and A-level art demonstrate the talent and creativity of Highgate Wood students. Arts college status is helping the school to extend its activities further into the community, building on an already active programme which includes art classes for local people, music lessons and a well established community choir. Creativity and innovation are also encouraged across the broader curriculum of the school.Highgate Wood also has huge success within sport in Haringey. This year's year 11 boys football team, were runners up in the Haringey Cup and lost out in the semi final of the Middlesex Cup. In 2009 the year 11 won the Haringey Cup
Novelist Romesh Gunesekera
Romesh Gunesekera
Romesh Gunesekera FRSL is a British author with a Sri Lankan background.-Life and work:Born in Colombo in 1954, Romesh Gunesekera explores aspects of his native island.He grew up in Sri Lanka and the Philippines, moving to England in 1971...
is writer-in-residence at Highgate Wood School.
Publications arising from his residency include Crumbs on a Page (2009), and Pages Held With Words (2011).
OFSTED inspections
From the last OFSTED report, students believe 'they are all of equal worth' and can achieve their potential regardless of their starting point at HWS (Highgate Wood School). "Consequently, standards have risen each year since the last inspection and are in line with the national average, with good achievement.Good quality teaching is leading to most students achieving well. However, the challenge for the more able pupils, African, Caribbean, Turkish and those with learning difficulties is not yet consistent. The quality of care, guidance and support is excellent with good provision for personal development; but a small minority of disaffected pupils remain unsettled. Learning is greatly assisted by an effective curriculum. The school has successfully used its performing arts status to extend pupils' personal development and achievements in the arts.Parents support the school and all that it offers but a few are concerned about the truculent behaviour of a minority of pupils. The school has successfully tackled the areas for improvement from the last inspection. It provides good value for money and is very well placed to improve further in all respects." - From the report. The overall grade for the inspection was satisfactory, with elements of good.Notable Alumni
- Robert AndersonRobert Anderson-Arts and entertainment:*Robert Anderson , Scottish literary scholar and editor*Robert Rowand Anderson , Scottish architect*Robert Alexander Anderson , American composer...
- dancer/artist - Tiana BenjaminTiana BenjaminTiana Opium Benjamin is a British actress best known for playing Chelsea Fox in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders.Benjamin trained at The Anna Scher Theatre School in London....
- actress in TV theater "Eastenders" (attended from 1995 to 2000) - Chris Bone - helicopter pilot (Australia)
- ChipmunkChipmunkChipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
- Musical artist - Laurie Cunningham (d.1989) - footballer, played for England
- Sway DaSafoSway DaSafoDerek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:...
- Internationally acclaimed musical artist / performer / producer (attended from 1994 to 1999 - Scarlett JohnsonScarlett JohnsonScarlett Johnson also known as Scarlett Alice Johnson is a British actress.Johnson attended Highgate Wood School and Performing Arts College where she was spotted by an agent in a production of Guys and Dolls in which she played the lead.The role of Vicki Fowler on the BBC's flagship soap opera...
- actress in TV theater "EastEnders" (played role of "Vicky Fowler") (attended from 1997 to 2002) - Judge JulesJudge JulesJudge Jules is a British dance music DJ and producer, known for his DJ activities and popular radio show which achieved global success.-Education:...
- radio DJ / musical recording artist (attended from 1978 to 1983) - Mikele LeigertwoodMikele LeigertwoodMikele Benjamin Leigertwood is an English-born Antiguan footballer who plays for Reading in the Football League Championship. He also plays for the Antigua and Barbuda national football team.- Club career :...
- professional footballer (Crystal Palace FC) - Jobi McAnuffJobi McAnuffJoel Joshua Frederick Dave "Jobi" McAnuff is a professional footballer who plays for and captains Reading F.C.. He is a midfielder and has played for Jamaica.-Early career:...
- professional footballer (Crystal Palace FC) - Gary McKinnonGary McKinnonGary McKinnon is a Scottish systems administrator and hacker who has been accused of what one U.S. prosecutor claims is the "biggest military computer hack of all time," although McKinnon himself states that he was merely looking for evidence of free energy suppression and a cover-up of UFO...
- allegedly "the biggest military computer hack of all time." (further citation / permission needed for this claim.) (attended from 1977 to 1982) - Tony Panayiotou - Director of Diversity at the Arts Council
- Robert PestonRobert PestonRobert Peston is a British journalist. Since February 2006, he has been the Business Editor for BBC News. He became known to a wider public with his reporting of the late-2000s financial crisis, especially with his scoop on the Northern Rock crisis.-Early life and education:Peston is the son of...
- journalist and BBC Business Editor (attended from 1971 to 1978) - Sonique - musical artist / performer / producer (attended from 1979 to 1984)
- David Tims - musician / campaigner against poverty in South Africa
- Lindsay Wesker - music editor at MTV
- Mat ZoMat ZoMatan "Mat Zo" Zohar is a British progressive dance music producer, composer and DJ.-Life and career:Matan Zohar was born in London, England in 1990. He was raised by his mother who was a professional violinist, who allegedly possessed staunch musical ethos...
- British progressive dance music producer, composer and DJ.