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Wanstead High School
Wanstead High School
Address
	Redbridge Lane West; Wanstead, Greater London, E11 2JZ; England
Coordinates	51°34′32″N 0°02′10″E / 51.5756°N 0.0360°E
Information
Type	Community school
Motto	"Abeunt Studia in Mores"
Established	1924
Local authority	Redbridge
Department for Education URN	102851 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Head teacher	Emma Hillman
Age	11 to 19
Enrolment	1532
Website	http://www.wansteadhigh.co.uk/

Wanstead High School (WHS), formerly Wanstead County High School, is a co-educational, non-denominational, comprehensive secondary school in Wanstead, London, United Kingdom.

Admissions

It specialises in the performing arts and has 1532 pupils aged 11 to 19. Its local education authority is Redbridge.^[3]^[4]^[5] It is situated just west of the A12 junction with the North Circular Road (A406).

Traditions

Its motto is "Abeunt Studia in Mores" which translates literally as "studies become habits"^[6] or "practices zealously pursued pass into habits".^[7] It can be taken to mean "Studies build one's character".^[8]

Its symbol is the heron, a bird traditionally associated with the area.^[9] Its alumni are known as "Old Heronians".^[10]

Its uniform colour is burgundy, having previously been black,^[11] and the school uniform must be worn by all pupils except the sixth form, where students are required to dress formally.^[12]

History

Wanstead County High school opened in 1924 as a mixed Grammar school. It was one of the first co-educational secondary schools in England.^[13] The site had previously been a rectory.^[14]

During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Newent.^[1] On 15 February 1957, over 150 pupils suffered food poisoning. Until 1965 it was administered by the Essex Education Committee. In the 1960s, the school had around 800 boys and girls, with 250 in the sixth form.

The school buildings were extended in 1964^[1] and again in 1974 when the science and humanities block was built.^[11]

In 2013, the school received a "Requires Improvement" rating from Ofsted.^[15] The report stated that 'Achievement is not yet good. Students are not making good enough progress in a number of subjects including modern foreign languages, business studies and geography.'^[16]

Performing arts facilities

Performing arts facilities at the school include a theatre, drama and dance studios and music technology suites. In addition to allowing pupils to study these areas specifically, performance elements are also being introduced into other areas of the wider curriculum. Ian Sweet and Rebecca Grace are the current heads of performing arts at the school.^[17]

Notable former pupils

Geraldine Bedell, journalist and writer
Nick Berry, television actor and musician^[11]
Dennis Cirkin, footballer
Adrian Cohen, Senior Vice-President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews
Carly Cole (née Zucker), wife of footballer Joe Cole
Jonathan Fortune, footballer
Sarah Holland, writer
Gillian Merron, former Labour MP and junior minister
Leanne Mohamad, public speaker and activist
Ronnie O'Sullivan, snooker player
Kayne Ramsay, footballer
Frances Ruffelle, actress
Richard Wisker, star of CBBC's children's comedy drama Tracy Beaker Returns.^[18]
Bilal Zafar, comedian

Wanstead County High School

Robert Atwell, Anglican Bishop of Exeter
Michael Coren, journalist
Rupert Davies, film, TV, and stage actor, best known as Maigret in the 1960s TV series^{[dubious – discuss]}
Geoff Elliott,^[11] Olympic pole-vaulter and decathlete (Helsinki, 1952)^[19]
Brian Moll, actor
Keith Ovenden, writer
Geoffrey Pardoe, aerodynamicist and rocket scientist, Director from 1993 to 1996 of the International Academy of Science, Project Manager from 1956 to 1960 of Blue Streak, President from 1984 to 1985 of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and advocate of the British space programme
David Rappaport, musician, stage, screen and TV actor (Time Bandits, The Wizard).
Liz Robertson, actress
Tony Robinson, actor, comedian, author, television presenter and political activist
Maurice Tucker, professor of geological sciences since 1993 at Durham University and previous Master of University College, Durham
Angela Watkinson, Conservative MP since 2001 for Upminster
John Wilton, major (Royal Ulster Rifles),^[20] ambassador to Kuwait from 1970 to 1974, and to Saudi Arabia from 1976 to 1979
Donna-Maria Maynard (née Bradshaw), Professor of Psychology since 2019 at the University of the West Indies

Notable former teachers

Wilf Paish (physical education teacher in the 60s. Coach of many athletes, including Olympic gold medal winner Tessa Sanderson)
Ron Pickering (left in 1961 when he became athletics coach for Wales and the West of England)