Elliott School (London)
| Elliott School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| London, United Kingdom | |
| Information | |
| Type | Co-educational Comprehensive School |
| Motto | Aspire to Excellence |
| Ofsted number | 101060 |
| Headteacher | Mark Phillips |
| Head of 6th Form | Jonathan Taylor |
| Number of students | 1004 |
| Website | http://www.elliott-school.org.uk |
Elliott School is a co-educational foundation school and sixth form college in Pullman Gardens, Putney, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It has Language College specialist status through which it gained a European Award for Languages in 2004, the International School Award from the British Council and an Artsmark Award which reflects the school's strong tradition in the visual and performing arts. The school boasts a purpose-built theatre (proscenium type) as well as extensive art studios and design technology workshops. The school's Main Assembly Hall is well known as the location for the Christmas pageant in Richard Curtis' 2003 film Love Actually.
There have been a number of locations for the Elliott School. It was initially known as Southfields School when it first opened in temporary buildings at Merton Road in 1904. The school was given central school status in 1910 before changing its name to Elliott School in 1911 after Sir Charles Elliot, a governor and the first Chairman of Managers, the school's Elephant Badge reflecting his service in India. The school's leaving age was raised to 14 in 1918, and the Elliott (Mixed) School was reorganised into separate Boys’ and Girls’ Schools in 1925. During World War Two, the two schools were evacuated separately to different locations in 1939. An Emergency School opened in Merton Road in 1940, which merged with the two Elliott Schools in 1945 when they returned to Merton Road at the end of the war.
In 1956 the two Elliott Schools and Huntingfield Secondary Modern School, amalgamated on a new site in Pullman Gardens, to become Elliott Comprehensive School, officially opened in 1957 by the Rt Hon Hugh Gaitskell. The first Head of the new school was Maurice Holmes (1956–1967). He was succeeded by Tom Davies (1968–1974), Guardino Rospigliosi (1974–1982), Victor Burgess (1982–2002), Tony Willis (2002–2005), Sharon Ferrell (2005–2009) and Margaret Peacock (2009–2010).
Since 1956 Elliott has evolved from 'Flagship Comprehensive' to Language College and survived as a Mixed Comprehensive while local Mayfield Girls' and Wandsworth Boys' closed. In 1992, Elliott School, Pullman Gardens, was made a Grade II Listed Building and given Grant Maintained Status and in 1999 this was replaced by Foundation School Status.
In 2000 Andy Lambert, an ex-pupil, created a website for former Pupils and Teachers, and an e-group was formed the following year. The interest and activity generated by the website and e-group caused the School to win the Friends Reunited award for Britain’s Friendliest School in 2004. Since the website has been formed, there have been three major reunions of former staff and alumni at the school, the most recent in September 2008.
In the 2002 New Year Honours, former headmaster Victor Burgess was awarded the OBE for services to education.
In March 2009, despite the sixth form provision being praised as "Good", an Ofsted inspection judged the main school provision "Inadequate" and the school was placed on 'Special measures' and its board of governors replaced with an interim executive board. Mrs Margaret Peacock, Head of Chestnut Grove School in Balham, assumed the role of interim Headteacher in June 2009 before handing over the reins to Mark Phillips (formerly head of de Stafford School in Caterham, Surrey) in April 2010.
After a successful Ofsted inspection in November 2010, the school was removed from the "Special Measures" category.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Dan Armstrong 1990s - Pianist
- Joe Armstrong 1993-1997 - Actor
- Geoff Arnold 1955-1959? - England Bowler
- William Bevan 1990-1995 - Musician (see 'Burial', below)
- Pierce Brosnan 1964-1969 - Actor
- Peter Green 1958-1962 - Musician
- Joe Goddard 1991-1998 - Musician
- Brian Gwaspari 1961-1966 - Actor
- Kieran Hebden 1994-1997? - Musician (See 'Four Tet', below)
- Adem Ilhan 1994-1997? - Musician
- Mawuli Kulego - 1997-2004 Musician
- Herman Li 1986-1992 - Guitarist with Dragonforce
- Gary McDonald 1973-1978 - Actor, Composer
- Gypsy Re Bethe 1963-1967 -Musician Guitarist and Composer
- Max Middleton 1958-1963 - Musician and Composer
- Jeff Mills 1960-1964 - Missionary
- Matt Monro 1942-1944? - Musician and Singer[1]
- Delyth Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin 1974-1979 - Former MP, now Baroness
- Martin Newell 1967-1968 - Musician, Poet, Writer and Broadcaster
- John Nunn 1965-1970? - Chess Grand Master
- Chai Patel 1968-1974? - Mental Health and Education Services
- Maxwell Reed Pre 1938 - Actor
- Colin Petersen 1957-58 - Actor and Musician
- Emma Smith 1991-1998 - Violinist
- John Spencer 1953-1959 - Musician
- Gabriel Thompson 1998-2005 - Actor
- Robert Watson 1963-1970 - Musician, Songwriter and Producer.
- Henry Gatehouse 2005-2010 - Reality TV Personality
Bands
- Hot Chip[2] - Electropop band members
- Fridge - Post rock band
- The Maccabees band members
- Burial[2] - Electronic musician
- Four Tet[2] - Experimental musician
- The xx[2] - Dream pop entire band
[edit] References
The Elliottonian Web Site
