History
The school stands on the site of Eastcombe House, a former home of the Duchess of Buckingham. During the late 19th century, there was very little to interrupt the view from the house to the river in the north. The Eastcombe Estate was offered for sale in 1883, and the house was demolished in the early part of the 20th century. Highcombe House, the adjoining property, can still be seen today next to Our Lady of Grace school and church on Charlton Road.
Sherington Primary School originally opened in 1907, as a temporary school for boys, with the main school opening in 1922 as a mixed infants and elementary school catering for children up to the age of 14. After the Second World War, the lower buildings became separate secondary schools for girls and boys, while the top building (now the main school) housed the junior department.
In 1971, following the opening of nearby secondary schools, Sherington became a junior mixed school and was at one time the largest junior school in London with nearly 700 pupils. In 1995, following a review of school provision in the Charlton area, Sherington started its transition into a full primary school opening its doors to infant and nursery children for the first time.
The school continues to change and develop, with a focus on raising educational standards and building strong community links. The nursery still occupies the lower building, which is shared by the after school play-club and a thriving breakfast club, while the remainder of the school occupies the re-furbished upper building. The Lower building also houses the Greenwich Music Service, and As of 2003 there are plans to further develop the use of this building in conjunction with the Charlton 'Sure Start' project. In 2005, Sherington Primary School was named as the most improved school in the country by the Department for Education and Skills.
The Sherington Primary School logo is based on the "bell" tower which can still be seen on the Lower building. There was also one on the roof of the Middle building. When this building was demolished, the tower was found to be part of a ventilation system.
The school also has the distinct honour of being mentioned by former pupil Daniel Day-Lewis during his Oscar acceptance speech for his role in There Will Be Blood.
Read more about this topic: Sherington Primary School
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