Prendergast School
Encyclopedia
Prendergast Hilly Fields College is a Comprehensive
girls' secondary school, located on Hilly Fields, Brockley
, in the London Borough of Lewisham
. It has an independent board of governors. It was awarded specialist status in Music and Languages, and has recently received further such status in Maths and ICT. The Headteacher since 1998 is Erica Pienaar, BA, MBA, FRSA. The school motto is from Chaucer's
Prologue to The Canterbury Tales: "Trouthe and Honour, Fredom and Curteisye". (In Middle English
and in this context, "fredom" is generosity, not liberty.)
in 1890 under the will of the late Dr. Joseph Prendergast, DD
(Cantab
), 1791-1875, Headmaster of Colfe's School
1831-1857. His endowment was supplemented from several quarters, including some ancient charities associated with the parish of Lewisham
.
In the first half of C20th the school accepted an increasing number of scholarship girls from LCC
Elementary schools
. Following the Education Act 1944
, the school became a maintained grammar school with voluntary aided status.
In the 1970s, with the abolition of the grammar school system in the inner London
area (i.e., under ILEA
), the school became Comprehensive. In 1995, for reasons of space, the school moved to its present site following extensive refurbishment. The site had previously been occupied by the West Kent Grammar School, which closed in 1905 and the building was bought by the London County Council for the Brockley County Grammar School which opened in 1907.http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lewisham/brockley/brockley-school.htm
in music and modern foreign languages, up to 10% of its intake can be determined by aptitude in these subjects. In recent years, official KS2-KS4 value-added indicators http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/group_06.pl?Mode=Z&Type=LA&No=209&Base=e&Phase=1&F=1&L=50&Year=06 have consistently put the school in the top 10%-15% of maintained schools. The Ofsted
report of March 2003 noted, however, that attainment on entry to the school was higher than the national average. In the subsequent Ofsted report of March 2007, the school was awarded Grade 1 (outstanding) in overall effectiveness.
The school is very closely linked with the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
, a City Livery Company, which gives occasional financial support, mainly for capital projects. It also awards three bursaries each year to leavers who are going on to university. Four members of the Company are foundation governors. Although secular, the school also has historical links with the parish of Lewisham
.
In 2008, there was a proposal http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/BuildingSchoolsForTheFuture/NewSchoolFaqs.htm, subject to consultation, to involve the school in a federation with Crofton School and a new 3-16 school in Lewisham.
As of September 2009, Prendergast school became Prendergast - Hilly Fields College, having become part of a Federation with Crofton School - now called: 'Prendergast - Ladywell Fields College'.
The lower site on Adelaide Avenue contains an assemblage of post war buildings comprising science laboratories, a sports hall, a modern languages block, an examination hall (The Leathersellers' Centre), art studios and facilities for design and technology.
The sports ground is located in Bellingham
, about 3km to its south.
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...
girls' secondary school, located on Hilly Fields, Brockley
Brockley
Brockley is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross.It is covered by the London postcode districts SE4 and SE14.-History:...
, in the London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
. It has an independent board of governors. It was awarded specialist status in Music and Languages, and has recently received further such status in Maths and ICT. The Headteacher since 1998 is Erica Pienaar, BA, MBA, FRSA. The school motto is from Chaucer's
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
Prologue to The Canterbury Tales: "Trouthe and Honour, Fredom and Curteisye". (In Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
and in this context, "fredom" is generosity, not liberty.)
History
Prendergast Grammar School was founded as a fee-paying grammar school in Rushey Green, CatfordCatford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
in 1890 under the will of the late Dr. Joseph Prendergast, DD
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(Cantab
Cantab
Cantab may refer to:*Cantabrigian, a member of the University of Cambridge or a resident of Cambridge*"Cantab", a common shortened form of Cantabrian, a term used for people from Canterbury, New Zealand...
), 1791-1875, Headmaster of Colfe's School
Colfe's School
Colfe's is a co-educational independent day school in Horn Park in the London Borough of Greenwich. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The official Visitor to the school is HRH Prince Michael of Kent.-History:...
1831-1857. His endowment was supplemented from several quarters, including some ancient charities associated with the parish of Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
.
In the first half of C20th the school accepted an increasing number of scholarship girls from LCC
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
Elementary schools
Elementary Education Act 1870
The Elementary Education Act 1870, commonly known as Forster's Education Act, set the framework for schooling of all children between ages 5 and 12 in England and Wales...
. Following the Education Act 1944
Education Act 1944
The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary schools in England and Wales. This Act, commonly named after the Conservative politician R.A...
, the school became a maintained grammar school with voluntary aided status.
In the 1970s, with the abolition of the grammar school system in the inner 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...
area (i.e., under ILEA
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
), the school became Comprehensive. In 1995, for reasons of space, the school moved to its present site following extensive refurbishment. The site had previously been occupied by the West Kent Grammar School, which closed in 1905 and the building was bought by the London County Council for the Brockley County Grammar School which opened in 1907.http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lewisham/brockley/brockley-school.htm
The School today
Prendergast Hilly Fields College is a voluntary aided, non-denominational Comprehensive school of about 770 girls in the 11-18 age range (Year 7 to Year 13), including 180 in the sixth form (Year 12 and Year 13). In the 2007/2008 academic school year, there was a small intake of boys into the sixth form. In Year 7 it accepts applicants of all abilities and the admissions policy is largely based on proximity, but, as 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 music and modern foreign languages, up to 10% of its intake can be determined by aptitude in these subjects. In recent years, official KS2-KS4 value-added indicators http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/group_06.pl?Mode=Z&Type=LA&No=209&Base=e&Phase=1&F=1&L=50&Year=06 have consistently put the school in the top 10%-15% of maintained schools. The Ofsted
Ofsted
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 ....
report of March 2003 noted, however, that attainment on entry to the school was higher than the national average. In the subsequent Ofsted report of March 2007, the school was awarded Grade 1 (outstanding) in overall effectiveness.
The school is very closely linked with the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation originated in the latter part of the fourteenth century and received a Royal Charter in 1444...
, a City Livery Company, which gives occasional financial support, mainly for capital projects. It also awards three bursaries each year to leavers who are going on to university. Four members of the Company are foundation governors. Although secular, the school also has historical links with the parish of Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
.
In 2008, there was a proposal http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/BuildingSchoolsForTheFuture/NewSchoolFaqs.htm, subject to consultation, to involve the school in a federation with Crofton School and a new 3-16 school in Lewisham.
As of September 2009, Prendergast school became Prendergast - Hilly Fields College, having become part of a Federation with Crofton School - now called: 'Prendergast - Ladywell Fields College'.
Site and buildings
The school is split over two sites spaced about two hundred metres apart. The upper site (originally the home of the West Kent Grammar School) was built in the 1880s and commands fine views over London, Kent and Surrey. It is a Grade II listed building and the main hall contains some attractive, early C20th murals, together with stained glass panels, salvaged from the Catford site. It also houses most of the classrooms and administrative offices. Adjacent to this, a new music block was neatly incorporated into the southern perimeter wall in 2005.The lower site on Adelaide Avenue contains an assemblage of post war buildings comprising science laboratories, a sports hall, a modern languages block, an examination hall (The Leathersellers' Centre), art studios and facilities for design and technology.
The sports ground is located in Bellingham
Bellingham, London
Bellingham is a neighbourhood and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham, and consists mainly of social/council housing built in the 1920s on what was then farm land. Many houses have been bought by the tenants under the Right to Buy Scheme. However, the majority are still rented out to...
, about 3km to its south.