Haberdashers' Hatcham College

Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College was formally a Grammar school, then a comprehensive City Technology College, now an Academy operating between two sites near New Cross Gate in South-East London. In 2005 The Federation of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy (formerly Malory School located in Downham) was formed by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in order to increase the availability of an Askes’ education to more students and make a wider use of the strengths that Aske’s have to offer. Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College now has academy status specialising in music. It also has the distinction of being the most over subscribed state school in the country.

Pepys Road Site

History

After a bequest made by the Merchant Robert Aske to the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers on his death in 1689, a school and almshouses were built at Hoxton near the city of London. When, in 1874, the almshouses were closed, the school was enlarged and split into two parts, one north of the river and one south. The northern section was established in Hampstead, eventually becoming Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School, while for the southern section, land was purchased at Hatcham, now better known as New Cross Gate, for the foundation of boys' and girls' schools on what is now known as Telegraph Hill. The north London school became generally known as "Haberdashers'", while the south London schools became generally known as "Aske's", though their official titles were parallel. Former pupils of the Hatcham schools are called "Old Askeans".

Two schools were complete on the site now on Pepys Road by late 1875, and in 1889 the site now on Jerningham Road was purchased and the girls' school relocated to the new site.

Under the Education Act 1944 the two schools became Grammar Schools, and in 1979 became Comprehensive schools.

Current organization

In 1995 the two schools were combined under a single headteacher (Dr Elizabeth Sidwell - formerly girls school headteacher), and the name Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College. Teaching continues to be largely single-sex except for the co-educational sixth form, and the boys and girls were generally taught on their traditional separate sites until 2002 when the boys' and girls' sites were re-organised as lower-school and upper-school sites. Years 7.8 and 9 are based at the Jerningham Road site with years 10,11 and sixth form based at the Pepys Road site. The school sports field is located close by on St. Asaph Road in Nunhead.

The forms in each year belong to one of four houses. These are named after significant figures in the college's history and are identified by colours. The students belong to the same house for their school life and belong to either Connolly (Green), Dyson (Red), Goddard (Blue) or Soper (Yellow) (all named after previous headmasters or headmistresses with the exception of the last in honour of distinguished Old Askean Donald Soper). The students wear a school tie in their house colour. The school badge is the coat of arms of the Haberdashers company.

Old Askeans

• Ben Addison and Scott Addison musicians Corduroy and Addison Industries
• Fiona Bruce, newsreader and television presenter
• Melvyn Gale, former cellist with the Electric Light Orchestra
• Sid Green, comedy script writer (to Morecambe and Wise amongst others)
• Steve Harley, singer ('Cockney Rebel')
• Rowland Hilder, painter
• Clive Jackson, lead singer Dr & The Medics
• Fr Roger Jupp, Bishop of Popondota, Papua New Guinea
• Chris Lambert, sprinter. Member of UK Olympic team - Athens 2004
• Lee McDermott, gymnast
• Scott Parker, footballer (Charlton Athletic F.C., Chelsea F.C., Newcastle United F.C.; England under-21s and England squad)
• Harry Price Ghost Hunter and psychic research pioneer
• Rosie Reid sold her virginity on eBay
• Vaughn Savage newsreader
• The Rev'd the Lord Soper (Donald Soper), Methodist minister and campaigner, former president of the Methodist Conference, and life peer.
• Rafe Spall, actor
• Sir Barnes Wallis, inventor of the 'Bouncing Bomb'
• Shaun Wright-Phillips, footballer (Manchester City F.C., Chelsea F.C.; England)
• Bradley Wright-Phillips, footballer (Manchester City F.C., Southampton F.C.)

The Urban Legend of Minnie M. Skues.

Apparently there is a belltower which is supposed to be haunted. A girl, named Minnie M Skues, was supposed raped by the caretaker and hung herself to escape further tormentation. The walls are red and legend has it that girl hit the wall while hanging herself and since the blood could not be scrubbed away, it was decided it should all be painted red. The name Minnie M Skues appears 7 times on the honours boards in the Jerningham site main hall. Her earliest honour was gained in 1896 and her last in 1907, this would be impossible. It is said that the school was so ashamed of her death that they invented a fake "life" for her and put her honours on the boards in subjects she excelled in. Entry to the belltower is strictly forbidden, but there is an office accessible through there. The belltower is on the jerningham road site and can be seen from the street. The story of the girl hanging herself was just a urban myth, the real reason why access is forbidden is the area is too dangerous to support much weight.

The Bell Tower was the site of an audacious leavers prank in the summer of 2004. After spending the night sleeping on the roof a small group of 6th formers fearlessly scaled the 100 ft tower and mounted a large jolly-roger pirate flag upon it during the early hours of the morning. The act was condemned by the college, a former head of sixth form saying; "Whoever climbed up there was risking their life". The culprits were never caught.

Bell Tower Pirate Flag at the Jerningham Road Site

External links

• College Website
• Old Askeans Yahoo Forum