The chemistry security policy recognises the head casing worn by many female Muslim students.[2]
The college serves large groups of students from minority ethnic backgrounds, estimated at 75 per cent as of 1995.[3]
History
Leyton County High School for Boys
Leyton County High School for Boys was formed in 1916 by amalgamation of Leyton and Leytonstone high schools. The school occupied temporary premises at Connaught Road until 1929, when it moved to new buildings in Essex Road.[4] The opening was performed by the Prince of Wales.[5] It was a selective grammar school for boys aged 11 to 18. The counterpart of this school was the Leyton County High School for Girls on Colworth Road. Head Master for the school in the 1940-1949 period was Dr Couch, a cousin of Dr Quiller-Couch. He presided over the school while it housed first-year pupils at Ruckholt Road annex, a building partly damaged in the World War 2 air raids on the nearby Temple Mills marshalling yard. The site is now a car sales outlet. No doubt there was an influx of pupils at the end of the war that could not be accommodated in other Grammar Schools that had been damaged in that area of South West Essex.
In 1992, Paul Estcourt (who attended during the period 1957-64) published a book entitled "L.C.H.S. at its Peak". This book not only described his recollections but also the academic and sporting achievements under the leadership of John Cummings, who succeeded Dr Couch as Headmaster.
Sixth form college
In 1968, Waltham Forest adopted the comprehensive system and in its new guise it catered for mixed-ability 14- to 18-year-old boys as Leyton Senior High School for Boys before a borough-wide re-organisation in 1985 led a change of role as a co-educational sixth form college.[3]
Building programme
The college's 40 million pounds building project has been finished. The new theatre has become the venue for drama and musical performances. The college's purpose built television studio has been established.
The street that now links all institution buildings has put on events as varied as a World Food Day and the annual Higher Education fair taking place in it.[6]
A new gymnasium, fitness suite, locker rooms and ablution areas for Muslims, have seen a large rise in student and staff participation in sport as well as providing facilities for local schools and especially for Muslims, where either males and females can pray Jumu'ah.[7]
The final stage of the scheme was a spacious extension to the existing Meridian House, and the complete refurbishment of the original college building. The Prime Meridian passes through this, which is Hooke’s 10-foot Mural Quadrant.[8] The enlargement now accommodates the Business and Travel departments as well as providing extraordinary new infrastructures for Art and Design.
The reconstructing building has provided an egregious[clarification needed] new library and an extensive drop-in computer centre, named the Hub and rebuilt Maths and science sectors.
In April 2013, when Leyton Sixth Form College won the British Colleges Sport’s annual award, it was nominated to be the best college in London for sport.[13]