Westminster City School
Westminster City School is a Christian foundation secondary school for boys, with a mixed sixth form, in Westminster, London. In 2019, the School introduced its largest cohort, with over 800 pupils and students, with links to more than 100 different cultures joining. The School offers places at Year 7 entry, each year, to boys of Christian faith, other world faiths, and those of no faith. The current Headteacher is Peter Broughton, while the current Deputy Headteachers are Jen Lockyer and Carly Moran.
The School became an academy in 2012. In February 2017, Ofsted rated it "good".
History
Today
In August 2019, Westminster City School's GCSE results saw a string of excellent outcomes for individuals, with the cohort achieving record results in key subjects and across a range of academic measures. Results in English, Mathematics and Science were above national averages, and significantly above national averages for boys.2019 GCSE results included:
- 85% securing grade 4 or above in English
- 24% of all Mathematics grades being top marks of 7 to 9
- 67% gaining grade 4 or above in English and Mathematics
- 70% securing grade 4 or above in at least two of Science qualifications
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Combined Science results being around 10% above national averages
Foundation
The charters and foundations of several historic charity schools were by Act of Parliament in 1873 incorporated into the Grey Coat Hospital Foundation and United Westminster Schools Foundation. UWS comprised the Westminster City School and Emanuel School, Wandsworth; The Grey Coat Hospital Foundation comprised the Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster and Queen Anne's School, Caversham. In 1910 The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers transferred the Sutton Valence School in Kent into UWS.Westminster City School is amalgamation of the former Brown Coat, Green Coat and Black Coat schools. Key dates in its history are:
- 1590: Lady Dacre petitions Queen Elizabeth I for a Royal Charter for a Hospital in "this City of Westminster" and to provide “instruction of certain boys and girls".
- 1601: Queen Elizabeth grants Order of Incorporation for Emmanuel Hospital.
- 1624: Green Coat School Westminster opened.
- 1633: Charter of King Charles I for St Margaret's Hospital.
- 1654: A hospital, along with almshouses and a school, is founded by Rev. James Palmer in Westminster.
- 1671: Following a period of closure, Palmer's School is reopened as The Black Coat School.
- 1677: Bequest of benefactor Emery Hill to the Brown Coat School.
- 1688: Blue Coat School founded.
- 1698: Grey Coat Hospital founded.
- 1706: Queen Anne granted a Royal Charter to Grey Coat Hospital.
- 1728: Accommodation for children added at St. Margaret's Hospital.
- 1736: Brown Coat School formally opened.
- 1847: Brown Coat school numbers increased to 60.
- 1870: Elementary education for all provided by an Act of Parliament.
- 1873: Following a vote in Parliament, Queen Victoria approved amalgamation under United Westminster Schools.
- 1874: The School was formally opened.
- 1874: Mr Goffin appointed head of amalgamated schools.
- 1876: The ‘Foundation stone’ was laid in Palace Street by Sir Sydney Waterlow.
- 1877: The new School building was opened by the Dean of Westminster, Dean Stanley.
- 1890: School officially named Westminster City School.
- 1900: London County Council placed a statue of Sir Sydney in Waterlow Park.
- 1901: The sculptor Frank Taubman placed a copy of the statue of Sir Sydney in front of the School.
- 1906: First issue of School Magazine.
- 1908: Creation of house system, along with prefects.
- 1908: Old Westminster Citizen's Association and Football Club launched.
- 1909: New Assembly Hall opened along with other improved accommodation.
- 1910: Governors obtain lease of playing fields in Turney Road, Dulwich.
- 1914–18: School life continued, although there were many fatalities amongst Old Boys.
- 1918: Education Act gives Westminster City ‘Grammar' school status.
- 1922: Memorial to Old Boys killed in the War opened in the vestibule.
- 1924: Grand Pageant organised to celebrate the Jubilee of the Foundation, St. Margaret's Hospital tercentenary and the anniversary of Lady Dacre's bequest.
- 1931: School Orchestra filmed by Pathe News and shown in cinemas across the country.
- 1934: Mitcham pavilion opened and sports activities moved from Dulwich.
- 1934: Number of school houses reduced from eight to four.
- 1936: School gym opened.
- 1937: Seven boys chosen for the Westminster Abbey choir at the Coronation of King George VI.
- 1939: Outbreak of the Second World War with School evacuated to Tonbridge, Kent area, amalgamating with the Judd School.
- 1940: Westminster City School badly damaged in an air raid. The School suffered bomb damage to its building in Palace Street during the Blitz.
- 1944: School moved from Tonbridge to Exmouth.
- 1945: With the end of the Second World War, School re-assembles in Westminster with numbers now down to 350.
- 1949: Inspectors praised academic achievements but were disturbed by the condition of the bomb battered building.
- 1951: Appointment of Mr. R Fern as Headmaster and GCE Ordinary Levels and GCE Advanced Levels introduced.
- 1953: School Choir were well represented at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
- 1957: Work commences on new laboratories over the School Hall.
- 1958: Golden Jubilee Year of the Old Westminster Citizens’ Association and School used as a location for the film Inn of the Sixth Happiness starring Ingrid Bergman.
- 1963: 330th anniversary of the Charles I Charter celebrated with a service at St. Margaret's Church, attended by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who visited the School after the service.
- 1965: University places gained reach high of 48.
- 1973: Centenary of United Westminster Schools celebrated with a world premiére of "Westminster Psalms" by Carl Bontoft.
- 1975: John White appointed Headmaster.
- 1977: Westminster City School celebrates 100 years at Palace Street and becomes a four form entry mixed ability comprehensive school.
- 1980: New squash courts get go ahead.
- 1981: Building fund appeal launched at First School Association science evening.
- 1983: Westminster City School and its Origins, by R.Carrington, is published.
- 1985: School play Sergeant Musgrove's Dance transfers to the Edinburgh Festival.
- 1991: School financial pressures cause widespread redundancies and cuts.
- 1997: School placed in special measures.
- 1999: School released from special measures.
- 2001: New science block completed.
- 2002: School presents acclaimed play on the life of Edward the Confessor at Westminster Abbey.
- 2002: David Maloney appointed Headteacher.
- 2004: A teacher was raped by a pupil after class. The pupil involved was sent to prison and the teacher eventually won compensatory damages and legal costs from the School.
- 2008: The Trouble With You Boy Is You Don’t Like Latin! A Century of History and Memories, written and compiled by Chris Hare, is published.
- 2008: Work commences on transformation of Westminster City School, following the 'Building Schools for the Future' bid by Westminster City Council.
- 2009: School buildings are refurbished and new modern buildings are completed with School becoming a Specialist Science College.
- 2012: Secretary of State for Education approved academy converters application.
- 2014: James Wilson appointed Headteacher.
- 2018: Peter Broughton takes up post as Headteacher.
- 2018: £6million state-of-the-art Jack Pouchot Building officially opened by the Duke of Kent. It improves music, art and drama spaces for pupils and is named after Jack Pouchot, a former pupil and the youngest man to be decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal in battle during the First World War.
- 2019: Over 20 Westminster City School pupils attend an historic service at Westminster Abbey, to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the church, in the presence of the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall.
School houses and pastoral support
- Dacre's: Commemorating the foundation of Lady Anne Dacre, who died in 1595 and whose executors established Emanuel Hospital, incorporated by Queen Elizabeth I in 1601.
- Hill: Retaining the name of the school established in 1647 by Mr Emery Hill, a churchwarden in the parish of St Margaret's, Westminster.
- Kings: In 1633, Charles I granted a Charter of Incorporation for the education of poor boys and girls in Westminster which was aided annually by King Charles II.
- Palmer's: Continuing the tradition of the school provided in 1645 by Revd James Palmer of the parish of St Margaret's Westminster.
- St Margaret's: Arising from the St Margaret's Hospital, established by the churchwardens of St Margaret's in 1624.
- Waterlow: Commemorating Sir Sydney Waterlow, the Lord Mayor of London, who was elected the first chairman of governors in 1873 and filled his post with enthusiasm and distinction for over a quarter of a century.
Pastoral support
Headteachers
- Mr REH Goffin 1874 – 1906
- Dr Stevens 1906 – 1930
- Mr JC Dent 1930 – 1950
- Mr RJ Fearn 1951 – 1954
- Dr GR Shutt 1955 – 1966
- Mr S Allder 1966 – 1972
- Mr JH White 1973 – 1983
- Mr D Garvie 1983 – 1988
- Mr J Noakes 1988 – 1992
- Mr M Billingham 1992 – 1995
- Mr J Harding 1995 – 1998
- Mr R Tanton 1998 – 2002
- Mr D Maloney 2002 – 2013
- Mr J Wilson 2014 – 2017
- Ms S Solani 2017
- Mr P Broughton 2018 – present
The Old Westminster Citizens' Association
Notable former pupils
- Gary Alexander is an English footballer.
- John Boyega is a British-Nigerian actor, known for the lead role in 2011 film Attack the Block and his main role in and .
- Terry Marsh is a former professional boxer who was an undefeated world champion.
- Wes Streeting is the Labour Member of Parliament for Ilford North, and a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Other notable pupils (from Westminster City Grammar School days)
- John Walter Baxter CBE was a British civil engineer.
- Sir Martin Broughton is a British businessman who is the current chairman of British Airways.
- Sir James Dale Cassels was a British judge, journalist and Conservative politician.
- Stuart Davies CBE was an aeronautical engineer, president from 1971 to 1972 of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and assistant chief designer for Avro during World War Two, contributing to the Lancaster, and Avro York, becoming chief designer from 1945 to 1955.
- Peter Galloway is an Anglican priest and historian.
- Andy Hamilton is a British comedian, game show panellist, television director, comedy screenwriter, and radio dramatist.
- Sir Cyril Hinshelwood was an English physical chemist and winner of the Nobel Prize in 1956.
- Anatole Kaletsky has been an economics journalist for The Economist magazine and the Financial Times and The Times newspapers.
- Percy Edgar Lambert, was the first person to drive an automobile a hundred miles in an hour.
- John Auguste Pouchot was the youngest man to be decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal in battle during the First World War.
- Sir Walter Thomas Layton 1st Baron Layton, CH, CBE, was a British economist, editor and newspaper proprietor.
- Brian Lightman, was general secretary from 2010 to 2016 of the Association of School and College Leaders.
- Roger Livesey, British film actor, perhaps best known for the feature film A Matter of Life and Death.
- Andy Mackay musician, best known as a founding member of the art-rock group Roxy Music.
- Edgar Mountain competed in over 800m distance at the Olympic Games in both 1920 and 1924.
- Alan Francis Bright Rogers was an Anglican Bishop who held three different posts in an ecclesiastical career spanning over half a century.
- Sir Denis Eric Rooke OM, CBE, FRS, FREng was a British industrialist and engineer.
- Sir Norman Rosenthal is an independent curator and art historian.
- Arnold Spencer Smith was a British clergyman and amateur photographer who joined Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–17.
- John Edward Tomlinson, Baron Tomlinson is a British Labour Co-operative politician. He is currently a life peer in the House of Lords.
- Christopher Warren-Green is a British violinist and conductor.