Selhurst High School
Encyclopedia
Selhurst High School for Boys is a name that has been given to two separate schools in England that existed at different times, but occupied the same site. The former school had been a grammar school that closed in 1988, the latter was the relaunch of a former comprehensive school, Ingram, under a different name in a different location. Thus, the current Selhurst High School for Boys is not simply an extension of the old school but rather has a more complex heritage. The school, located in the north of Croydon, is currently referred to as Selhurst Mathematics and Computing Specialist School. The school is notable not only in the eminent alumni that feature among its forerunners' former pupils, but also because of the dramatic contrasts in its academic fortunes over time.
in Edward Heath
's Conservative government. As a comprehensive, it became known as Selhurst High School for Boys. By 1977, a study of the school's population of 650 14-18 year old boys, showed that the school was the most ethnically diverse in the UK, with an overall mix of 51% non-white grandparents. The school's legacy as a grammar school permeated its culture and structure even into its comprehensive era. Masters continued to wear mortar boards and it retained a two-tier prefect system, the cane, and a public school 4 house system - alpha (red) - beta (green) - gamma (blue) - delta (yellow).
The school's proximity to Selhurst High School for Girls led to regular interaction between the two schools with regular drama productions involving both schools, and a mixed gender sixth form block and 'playground', although lessons were still attended separately.
Due to falling student numbers the school closed in 1988, as did the girls' school. The Boys school buildings went on to house Selhurst College, a tertiary sixth form college. This closed in the late 1990s and when in September 1999 Ingram School buildings were closed, this separate comprehensive was moved to the old Selhurst site and renamed as Selhurst High School for Boys.
.
After the Butler Act of 1944, Ingram was attributed Secondary Modern status and the school was divided into two schools for either sex, becoming Ingram County Secondary School for Boys (or Ingram School for Boys) and Ingram County Secondary Girls' School.
and closed.
The difficulty is that fewer and fewer parents have chosen Selhurst for their sons and because of low numbers the school is no longer viable. School budgets are dependent on the number of pupils in the school and Selhurst with such low numbers would not be able to deliver an appropriate curriculum. Pupils currently in Year 9 at Selhurst will begin moving to new schools at the end of May and it is expected that the great majority will have transferred by the end of term. They will all be in their new schools for the beginning of term in September so that they can start their GCSE courses. This transfer process will be repeated for the current Year 7 and Year 8 at this point next year.
Clearly some staff will be leaving the school at the end of this term and others will stay until the last pupils leave in July 2008.
, close to Selhurst Park
. It is a red brick building, once covered in ivy. It has a semi-circular front and boasted a large main hall, extensive playing fields, two gyms and a library. The school also had its own sports ground at the foot of South Norwood Hill at Norwood Lakes in Cypress Road, and use of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
.
Interestingly, even though Selhurst High School is a relaunch of Ingram High School, the boys of Ingram High School are not covered by the Old Croydonians association.
The original Selhurst High School for Boys
In 1904 two schools were opened under the name Croydon Borough School, one of which was for boys, the other for girls. The Borough (renamed Selhurst in 1921) Grammar School for Boys was opened in September 1904 at the Scarbrook Road premises occupied in the evenings by Croydon Polytechnic. The school moved into its premises in the Crescent in September 1913 but returned to Scarbrook Road in 1915 for the remainder of the First World War. In this period, the Crescent was used as a hospital. The school enjoyed a good reputation as a grammar school and remained a grammar school until it was taken into the State system in 1970 by Chris Chataway, the Education SecretaryEducation Secretary
Education Secretary may refer to:* Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Scotland* Secretary for Education * Secretary of Public Education, Mexico* Secretary of State for Education, United Kingdom...
in Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
's Conservative government. As a comprehensive, it became known as Selhurst High School for Boys. By 1977, a study of the school's population of 650 14-18 year old boys, showed that the school was the most ethnically diverse in the UK, with an overall mix of 51% non-white grandparents. The school's legacy as a grammar school permeated its culture and structure even into its comprehensive era. Masters continued to wear mortar boards and it retained a two-tier prefect system, the cane, and a public school 4 house system - alpha (red) - beta (green) - gamma (blue) - delta (yellow).
The school's proximity to Selhurst High School for Girls led to regular interaction between the two schools with regular drama productions involving both schools, and a mixed gender sixth form block and 'playground', although lessons were still attended separately.
Due to falling student numbers the school closed in 1988, as did the girls' school. The Boys school buildings went on to house Selhurst College, a tertiary sixth form college. This closed in the late 1990s and when in September 1999 Ingram School buildings were closed, this separate comprehensive was moved to the old Selhurst site and renamed as Selhurst High School for Boys.
Headmasters of the Boys' School
- Arthur Hillyer BA - Previously for 11 years, Head of Elementary School in Leicester and then, for 15, Head of Croydon's Pupil-Teacher Centre) 1 September 1904-31 August 1920 when retired
- Walter Henry Bentley MA - Member of staff from 1905 (latterly 2nd Science Master, a Housemaster and, from 1 Sept-31 Dec 1920, Acting Headmaster) 1 January 1921-31 August 1939 when retired
- Frederick W. Turner MA MSc - Headmaster, Morley Grammar School, Yorkshire 1 September 1939-31 August 1945 when he took up an administrative post in Wolverhampton
- Frederick T.B. Wheeler MA - Member of staff from 1906, latterly Senior History Master and then Second Master 1937-45 1 September 1945-31 August 1950 when retired
- A.H.J. Barlow (Acting) - Earlier a pupil at the school 1 September-31 December 1950
- C.F.R. Ackland -1 January 1951-30 March 1969
- Ronald A. Smith MA - 17 April 1969-31 August 1988 when retired and the school closed
Selhurst Grammar School for Girls
The Borough (renamed Selhurst in 1921) Grammar School for Girls was opened in September 1904. It was housed in the premises of South Norwood branch of Croydon Polytechnic until January 1910 when it moved to its new building on "The Crescent" which had been designed by the architect Carter Pegg in the Crescent. During World War I it moved to the Croydon Polytechnic buildings in order that The Crescent premises should be used as a hospital. Following WWI it returned to The Crescent. During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Hove and in 1940 moved inland to Virginia Water and Egham and later to "The Beeches", at Guildford, again to return after the conclusion of hostilities. Mirroring the Boys' school, in 1971 the school became a Comprehensive for girls aged 14 and above. Like its male counterpart, it was closed in 1988 on account of falling numbers and secondary reorganisation. The buildings went on to house the BRIT SchoolBRIT School
The London School for Performing Arts & Technology is a British school located in Selhurst, Croydon, in London, England, with a mandate to provide education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and the technologies that make performance possible...
.
Heads of the Girls' School
- Jane E. Holden - 1 Sept 1904-31 Aug 1906
- Edith Wohlmann B.A. - (later Anglicised to Wellman) - 1st Assistant Mistress Queen Mary's School, Walsall (b. 1873), 1 Sept 1906-31 Aug 1931
- Miss Hannah Lister MA - 1 Sept 1931-25 Apr 1960
- Miss M.J. Harley-Mason - 26 Apr 1960-31 Aug 1969 when appointed Head of Guildford Cof E High School
- Mrs B.E. Green - 1 Sept 1969-31 Aug 1982 when retired on account of ill health
- Miss M Freeman BA (Acting) - 1 Sept 1982-31 Dec 1983
- Dr David Dibbs, - (Deputy Head Teacher, Richmond High School, Halesowen) 1 Jan 1984-31 Aug 1987 when appointed Head of Riddlesdown High School.
- Miss M Freeman BA (Acting) - (Deputy Head Teacher) 1 Sept 1987-31 Aug 1988 when she retired and school closed.
Beginnings
Ingram Road Council School, a public elementary school, was established in 1905 on Ingram Road in Thornton Heath, Surrey. It was a mixed school in its beginnings and remained a mixed school after its name was changed in 1922 to Ingram Council School (or just Ingram School, as the Council was often left out of the title).After the Butler Act of 1944, Ingram was attributed Secondary Modern status and the school was divided into two schools for either sex, becoming Ingram County Secondary School for Boys (or Ingram School for Boys) and Ingram County Secondary Girls' School.
Ingram County Secondary Girls' School
The girls' school, also known as Ingram High for Girls, continued until 1958. After this date the girls school moved to new premises less than a mile away to become Westwood High School from 1958. This school is still in operation today.Ingram High School for Boys
Like the girls' school, Ingram for Boys was also known as Ingram High and became a comprehensive school in the 1970s. It maintained a steady record of moderate academic achievement until the early 1990s. Its fortunes then declined spectacularly, and in 1995 it was named by the government as one of the 18 worst schools in Britain; it was placed in Special MeasuresSpecial measures
Special measures is a status applied by Ofsted and Estyn, the schools inspection agencies, to schools in England and Wales, respectively, when it considers that they fail to supply an acceptable level of education and appear to lack the leadership capacity necessary to secure improvements...
and closed.
Ingram Infants
When Ingram Road School was opened in 1905, an infants school was also established, named Ingram Rd Infants School. Like its larger counterpart, the Infants' School also changed its name by dropping the 'Road' in 1922, to become Ingram Infants School. It preserved this name until 1961 when it was renamed David Livingstone Primary School.The new Selhurst High School for Boys - Ingram re-launched
Selhurst was formed from the re-launch of Ingram High School which had been placed in Special Measures in 1995. The school was moved to its present site in 1997 and re-named Selhurst High School for Boys. A new Headteacher was appointed in 1999 and Special Measures were removed in 2000. Subsequent inspections by Ofsted in 2002 and 2006 were satisfactory.2008 closure
At the meeting of the Croydon Council School Organisation Committee at the end of March 2007 the decision was taken to close Selhurst Maths and Computing School in August 2008. Many people will remember that Selhurst, as Ingram High School, was in Special Measures for a number of years and was highly underperforming. Under the current Headteacher the school has grown from strength to strength and the 2006 examination results are the best it has ever achieved. Selhurst also had a very positive Ofsted inspection last October which recognised the school’s significant strengths.The difficulty is that fewer and fewer parents have chosen Selhurst for their sons and because of low numbers the school is no longer viable. School budgets are dependent on the number of pupils in the school and Selhurst with such low numbers would not be able to deliver an appropriate curriculum. Pupils currently in Year 9 at Selhurst will begin moving to new schools at the end of May and it is expected that the great majority will have transferred by the end of term. They will all be in their new schools for the beginning of term in September so that they can start their GCSE courses. This transfer process will be repeated for the current Year 7 and Year 8 at this point next year.
Clearly some staff will be leaving the school at the end of this term and others will stay until the last pupils leave in July 2008.
Selhurst
The school was set in the Crescent, CroydonCroydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, close to Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
. It is a red brick building, once covered in ivy. It has a semi-circular front and boasted a large main hall, extensive playing fields, two gyms and a library. The school also had its own sports ground at the foot of South Norwood Hill at Norwood Lakes in Cypress Road, and use of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
.
Ingram Building
The buildings of the site of Ingram on Springfield Road have been identified as being of Architectural or Historic InterestThe Old Croydonians
The Old Croydonians Association represents past pupils of the schools that have occupied the Crescent site in Selhurst. For this reason they represent:- Selhurst Grammar School for Boys (The Original Selhurst High School for Boys)
- Selhurst Grammar School for Girls
- Selhurst High School for Boys
- The B.R.I.T. School
Interestingly, even though Selhurst High School is a relaunch of Ingram High School, the boys of Ingram High School are not covered by the Old Croydonians association.
Of Selhurst Grammar School for Boys/Original Selhurst High School for Boys
- Anthony Valentine - actor
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- writer - Russell FloydRussell FloydRussell Floyd is a British actor. He played Michael Rose in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1996 to 1999, and DC Ken Drummond in the ITV police drama, The Bill, from 2002 to 2005...
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- Edward WoodwardEdward WoodwardEdward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE was an English stage and screen actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , Woodward began his career on stage, and throughout his career he appeared in productions in both the West End in London and on Broadway in New York...
- actor
- Edward Woodward
Of Ingram Boy's School
- Mickey FinnMickey Finn (musician)Mickey Finn or occasionally Micky Finn , was the percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in his band Tyrannosaurus Rex , and later, the 1970s glam rock group, T.Rex...
- musician (T-Rex) - Jamie MoraleeJamie MoraleeJamie Moralee is an English former football playerHis business interests include co-ownership of the company New Era Overseas, which looks to help footballers with financial investment. He is married to Lisa, with a son, Frankie, born in 2005...
- footballer (Crystal Palace and Millwall) - David McKenzieDavid McKenzie (athlete)David McKenzie is a British athlete who won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1994 Commonwealth Games held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, along with teammates, Peter Crampton, Adrian Patrick, and Du'aine Ladejo.-Early life:McKenzie attended Ingram High School in Croydon,...
- athlete (won Gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games1994 Commonwealth GamesThe 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
in the 4x400m relay) - Alan NelmesAlan NelmesAlan Victor Nelmes is a retired English footballer who played as a central defender for Chelsea and Brentford.Nelmes was born in Hackney but moved to south London where he attended Ingram High School near Selhurst Park...
- footballer (Brentford) - Micky NuttonMicky NuttonMichael William Nutton is a retired English footballer who played as a defender for Chelsea and Millwall....
- footballer (Chelsea and Millwall)
Of Selhurst Grammar School for Girls/Original Selhurst High School for Girls
- Sylvia SymsSylvia SymsSylvia M. L. Syms OBE is a British actress. She is probably best known for her roles in the films Woman in a Dressing Gown , Ice-Cold in Alex , No Trees in the Street , Victim and The Tamarind Seed...
- actress - Sandra PayneSandra PayneSandra Payne is an English actress best known for her roles as Christine Harris in the British television series Triangle and as Marion Ballard in Waiting for God....
- actress - Linda Goodman (British TV presenter) - TV presenter
- Shirley CawleyShirley CawleyShirley Cawley is a British athlete who won the bronze medal in the long jump at the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland.-References:...
- athlete (long-jump)
Teachers
- Arthur W. McLeod - Best friend of D H Lawrence and Headteacher of Ingram High School for Boys between 1 September 1919 and 31 October 1922.
- Wilfred BennettoWilfred BennettoWilfred Melville Bennetto was a Cornish poet and novelist.He was elected a member of Gorseth Kernow under the Bardic name of Abransek in 1968....
, Bard of the Cornish Gorseth, taught English here.
External links
Further reading
- John Gent and Isabel McLeod, The Selhurst Schools, 1904 to 2004 Publisher: Old Croydonians' Association