Northwood College - History

History

There are currently approximately 750 girls in the college. The school was originally located in Regent Square in 1870, although little is known about this era. In 1878 the school moved to Endsleigh Gardens in Eaton Square, and its Headmistress was Miss Buchan-Smith. At this time the school had between 20-30 boarders and a few day girls and boys in the nursury. Although the priorities of education in the later nineteenth differed to the ambitions that exist today, there were some similarities, with Miss Buchan-Smith wanting her girls to be well educated with interests beyond the classroom.

In 1892 the school moved out of central London to Northwood. The station had opened 5 years earlier and the area was being developed, but many of the roads in the area are named after the family of Mr Carew, the owner of the land, this includes Maxwell Road. In 1871 the area that is now Northwood was described as "a destitute district near Moor Park". But the arrival of the railway now made Northwood a desirable area, and central London could be reached in about 25 minutes. When the area was developed the aim was to attract wealthy residents, with houses selling in Maxwell Road for £750 to £1,300, making it one of the wealthiest in the neighborhood.

In 1893 the School reopened in Northwood with 20 boarders and 2 day girls; The Briary was also acquired for little boys. Over the next 15 years further land was acquired which included the playing fields. In 1899 the school built a gymnasium, which was also used as an Assembly Hall. Whilst in 1907 with more accommodation needed the Briary boys moved to Duck Hill and their building was extended and became a Junior School House. In 1911 the Dining Hall was built and the founder of the School, Miss Buchan-Smith Retired.

Miss Hay became Headmistress, but only for two years, and in 1913 Miss Agnes White became Headmistress, remaining in this post for 17 years. Miss White oversaw a period of growth in the School, with pupil numbers increasing from 71 students in 1914 to 147 students in 1922. There was also a shift with the number of day girls exceeding the number of boarders.

Miss White was succeeded by Miss Potts, who was Headmistress from 1930-38. But the next stage of growth for the school was overseen by Miss Worger, who was Headmistress for 28 years. Miss Worger aimed to increase student numbers to 500, and to enable this to happen 10 new classrooms were needed immediately, as well as a new hall, science labs and art and craft rooms. The building of the Manor started in 1962; this meant the school was able to accommodate 400 students by 1963.

The Upper School building was originally constructed in 1979 as the Junior School, only changing its function in 1996. The pavilion that contains the Textiles and Home economic rooms are also a recent addition being constructed in 1999.

Sports facilities have altered beyond recognition with the sports hall and pool being developed in 1991, on the site of an outdoor pool, which had been built in 1949. The original gymnasium is now the Centenary Library. Music and Performing arts facilities have been in recent years moving from Wray Lodge (now used by administrative staff) to the newly built Performing Arts Centre in 2005. Lastly in 2009 the new Early Years Centre (now called Bluebelle House) was built and opened.