South Hampstead High School Explained

South Hampstead High School is a private day school in Hampstead, north-west London, England, which was founded by the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). It is for girls aged 4–18 with selective entry at ages 4+, 7+, 11+ and 16+ (Sixth Form).

History

The school was founded in 1876, the ninth school established by the GDST (previously known at the Girls' Public Day School Trust), with 27 pupils. Until 1886, the school was led by Rita/Rebecca Allen Olney; she left to found another school nearby with her sister Sarah Allen Olney who had been an assistant head at this school.^[1] The cross-dressing Mary Benton returned as headmistress when morale was low. The "Brigadier-General" built up the school until in the 1920s it was claimed that half of the school's students then at university were studying scientific subjects.

From 1946 until the late 1970s, it was a girls' direct grant grammar school, with around half the intake paid for by the local council.^[2]

In January 2015, alumna Helena Bonham Carter, opened a new 7-storey building for the Senior School, designed by Hopkins Architects.^[3] In January 2020, the school unveiled a new state-of-the-art performance space, Waterlow Hall.^[4]

Staff

Head teachers

• Anna Paul (2023-present)
• Victoria Bingham (2017–2023)
• Helen Pike (2013–2016)
• Jenny Stephen (2005–2013)
• Vivien Ainley (2001–2004)
• Jean Scott (1993–2001)
• Averil Burgess (1975–1993)
• Sheila Wiltshire (1969–1974)
• Prunella Bodington (1954–1969)
• Muriel Potter (1927–1953)
• Dorothy Walker (1918–1926) (Miss McGonigle 1926 one term)
• Mary Benton (1886–1918)^[5]
• Miss Allen-Olney (1876–1886)

Former teachers

• Edith Allen, mother of food writer Raymond Postgate and Dame Margaret Cole (who married G. D. H. Cole), and wife of classicist John Percival Postgate
• Rosalind Goodfellow, who taught history^[6]
• Marianne Lutz, Headmistress from 1959–83 of Sheffield High School for Girls taught history from 1947–59.
• Margaret Nevinson, suffragette, and mother of the painter C. R. W. Nevinson (taught classics in the 1880s)
• Marie Orliac, who taught French in 1907–1910, founder of the University des Lettres Francaises (1910, Marble Arch, West London) that would become in 1913 the Institut Francais du Royaume-Uni.

Academic results

In 2019, South Hampstead High School was ranked 13th in the country for A Level results, based on data collated by the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

Typically around one fifth of the student body goes on to study at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.^[7]

School motto

• "Mehr Licht" – More Light (German)—the reputed last words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Notable former pupils

• Katya Adler, journalist^[8]
• Ella Bright, actress^[9]
• Helena Bonham Carter, actress
• Janet Neel Cohen, Baroness Cohen of Pimlico, author and former BBC governor
• Lilah Fear, figure skater
• Lynne Featherstone, Baroness Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP from 2005 to 2015 for Hornsey and Wood Green
• Naomi Ishiguro, author
• Glynis Johns, actress
• Diana Kennedy, writer on Mexican food
• Dame Angela Lansbury, actress and author
• Joanna MacGregor, pianist
• Sarah Patterson, actress.^[10]
• Aries Moross, graphic designer
• Sophie Newton, entrepreneur
• Julia Neuberger, rabbi
• Margaret Quass, educationalist
• Devika Rani, Indian actress^[11]
• Netta Rheinberg MBE, cricketer
• Jordan Scott, photographer, daughter of Ridley Scott
• Rachel Sylvester, columnist at The Times
• Fay Weldon, author
• Olivia Williams, actress

See also

• List of direct grant grammar schools

Notes and References

1. Olney, Sarah Allen (1842–1915), headmistress. 2020-08-01. 2004. en. 10.1093/ref:odnb/52261.
2. House of Commons . 423 . 233 . 236 . Mr. K. Lindsay . Miss Wilkinson . Grammar Schools (Direct grant status) . 31 May 1946 . 26 January 2011 .
3. Web site: Belsize Park actress Helena Bonham Carter reminisces about Hampstead schooldays. Blake. Imogen. Hampstead Highgate Express. 30 January 2015. en. 2020-04-01.
4. Web site: Royal guests: Crown stars Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Colman open South Hampstead school's arts hall. Boniface. Michael. Hampstead Highgate Express. 29 January 2020. en. 2020-04-01.
5. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . 2004-09-23 . ref:odnb/48672 . Matthew . H. C. G. . Oxford . 10.1093/ref:odnb/48672 . 2023-02-25 . Harrison . B..
6. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/rosalind-goodfellow-first-woman-moderator-of-the-general-assembly-of-the-united-reformed-church-964175.html Rosalind Goodfellow
7. Web site: Leavers' destinations. South Hampstead High School. en. 2020-04-01.
8. Web site: Culture List for Lockdown. 19 May 2020.
9. Web site: GDST student stars in Malory Towers . GDST Girls' Day School Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20220504212333/https://www.gdst.net/news/gdst-student-stars-in-malory-towers/ . 20 August 2024. 4 May 2022 .
10. Web site: Sarah Patterson . Famous Fix.
11. Book: Bose . Mihir . Bollywood – A History . 2006 . Tempus Publishing . Stroud . 0-7524-2835-7 . 106.