Richmond County School for Girls
Encyclopedia
Richmond County School for Girls (sometimes referred to as Richmond Grammar School for Girls) was a school in what is now the London Borough of Richmond
, once noted for the fact that its female pupils played cricket, and from which a number of female cricketers emerged some of whom went on to play for England
.
(although now in London
. In 1865 the school moved to Matson House in the Marshgate area of Richmond and thus became Matson College. Matson College was referred to as a college For Gentlemen's Daughters..
In 1886 the Church Schools' Company
became the owners and the school became Richmond High School for Girls. After the 1902 Education Act
, the responsibility for the school passed to Surrey County Council
in conjunction with Richmond Borough Council
, Richmond still being in Surrey
at that point in time. A new school building was then constructed on a road named Parkshot in Richmond and this was opened in 1909 as Richmond County School for Girls.
When the United Kingdom
Government passed the Education Act 1944
a Tripartite System
was established dividing Secondary schools into three categories, Grammar schools, Technical schools
and Modern Schools
. The grammar school was deemed the place of education for the academically gifted (as determined by the eleven plus
exam) and Richmond County School for Girls became a grammar school. This led to the colloquial name of Richmond Grammar School for Girls.
In the early 1970s, the Borough of Richmond reorganised its education with the setting up of a number of comprehensive schools and, as a result, Richmond County School for Girls was closed in 1974., the remainder of the school joining with similarly placed Shene Grammar at the Shene site.
. Amongst its facilities are the Queen Charlotte Hall and Studio Theatre. The Richmond Business School is also within the grounds of the site. The site is therefore still true to its educational heritage.
, each house being named after an animal that had some connection with Richmond, be that its heraldry or its history:
as the school sport for the girls. A number of girls went on to play at a senior level and some played for their country including Shirley Driscoll
and Doreen Cole who both played cricket for England
. The school was also visited by the legendary Rachael Heyhoe-Flint
.
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
, once noted for the fact that its female pupils played cricket, and from which a number of female cricketers emerged some of whom went on to play for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The school had its origins in the Ladies' Establishment established in 1861 on Kew Foot Road in Richmond, SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
(although now in 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...
. In 1865 the school moved to Matson House in the Marshgate area of Richmond and thus became Matson College. Matson College was referred to as a college For Gentlemen's Daughters..
In 1886 the Church Schools' Company
United Church Schools Trust
The United Church Schools Trust is a large education charity in the United Kingdom which owns and operates a group of 11 independent schools.-History:...
became the owners and the school became Richmond High School for Girls. After the 1902 Education Act
Education Act 1902
The Education Act 1902 , also known as Balfour's Act, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom affecting education in England and Wales. At the time of passage of the Act, the Conservative Party was in power...
, the responsibility for the school passed to Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Surrey in England. The council is composed of 80 elected councillors.The council is controlled by the Conservative party.The leader of the council is David Hodge....
in conjunction with Richmond Borough Council
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
, Richmond still being in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
at that point in time. A new school building was then constructed on a road named Parkshot in Richmond and this was opened in 1909 as Richmond County School for Girls.
When the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Government passed 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...
a Tripartite System
Tripartite System
The Tripartite System was the arrangement of state funded secondary education between 1944 and the 1970s in England and Wales, and from 1947 to 2009 in Northern Ireland....
was established dividing Secondary schools into three categories, Grammar schools, Technical schools
Secondary Technical School
A Secondary Technical School was a type of secondary school in the United Kingdom that existed in the mid-20th century under the Tripartite System of education. For various reasons few were ever built, and their main interest is on a theoretical level....
and Modern Schools
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
. The grammar school was deemed the place of education for the academically gifted (as determined by the eleven plus
Eleven plus
In the United Kingdom, the 11-plus or Eleven plus is an examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education, governing admission to various types of secondary school. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years...
exam) and Richmond County School for Girls became a grammar school. This led to the colloquial name of Richmond Grammar School for Girls.
In the early 1970s, the Borough of Richmond reorganised its education with the setting up of a number of comprehensive schools and, as a result, Richmond County School for Girls was closed in 1974., the remainder of the school joining with similarly placed Shene Grammar at the Shene site.
Buildings
The buildings were used almost immediately by lending and reference service. In January 1978, the building was closed for just over 3 months following a severe outbreak of dry rot. The Parkshot site is now occupied by Richmond Adult Community CollegeRichmond Adult Community College
Richmond Adult Community College is a further education college located in the Richmond area of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in South London, England.-History:The college traces its roots to the nineteenth century as a Technical Institute...
. Amongst its facilities are the Queen Charlotte Hall and Studio Theatre. The Richmond Business School is also within the grounds of the site. The site is therefore still true to its educational heritage.
Houses
All girls were members of one of four day housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
, each house being named after an animal that had some connection with Richmond, be that its heraldry or its history:
| House | Colours | |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Red | |
| Hinde | Yellow | |
| Swan | Blue | |
| Heron | Green | |
Sport
The school was unusual in its promotion of cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
as the school sport for the girls. A number of girls went on to play at a senior level and some played for their country including Shirley Driscoll
Shirley Driscoll
Shirley Driscoll played seven test matches for the England women's cricket team between 1957/58 and 1963 ....
and Doreen Cole who both played cricket for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The school was also visited by the legendary Rachael Heyhoe-Flint
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint
Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Baroness Heyhoe-Flint, OBE, DL is probably the best known female cricketer in England. She was a member of the English women's cricket team from 1960 to 1982. She was captain of England from 1966 to 1978, and was unbeaten in six Test series...
.
Notable Alumnae
- Doreen Cole - played cricket for EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- Shirley DriscollShirley DriscollShirley Driscoll played seven test matches for the England women's cricket team between 1957/58 and 1963 ....
- played cricket for EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... - Janet EllisJanet EllisJanet Ellis is a British television presenter and actress, who appeared on BBC children's television in the 1980s, including a four year period as a presenter on Blue Peter, a role she won after hosting the award-winning children's programme Jigsaw.- Early life :Ellis's father was a soldier,...
- Television presenter (presented Blue PeterBlue PeterBlue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
), and mother of Sophie Ellis-BextorSophie Ellis-BextorSophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is an English singer, songwriter, model and occasional DJ. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s, as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded, Ellis-Bextor went solo, achieving widespread success in the early 2000s... - Patricia Hornsby-SmithPatricia Hornsby-SmithMargaret Patricia Hornsby-Smith, Baroness Hornsby-Smith, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.-Early life and education:...
- Conservative politician