History
The school opened on the 19 September 1927, in Queen's Road, Wallington, about half a mile from the present site, with a total of just 71 pupils. The original building had a single story, with a wooden extension. The first headmaster was Mr. Walter. T. Hutchins (MA Oxon), whose portrait now hangs in the school hall. Mr Hutchings was only 33 years old when he opened the school, and he was to serve as Headmaster for 32 years. The school moved to its present site in Croydon Road in 1935.
During the Second World War, the school was damaged by a V-2 bomb in the summer of 1944. All the windows were blown out and the roof of the school hall collapsed. However the school continued to function, with prefects, teachers and students working to rebuild the ruined structure, and it was "business as usual" before the war ended. Due to the lack of accommodation the first year entry boys had their morning lessons at Carew Manor, walking at lunchtime through Beddington Park to the main school. 52 old boys from the school were killed in action during the course of the war, and they are commemorated by a memorial in the school hall. A memorial plate awarded by the Mayor of Dunkirk is also on display in the school hall.
The school has been expanded beyond the original structure over the years, with the "New Block" (now called the "English" Block) completed in 1952, which provided laboratories and additional classrooms. It now houses all English and Drama classes, as well as the dining hall and the offices of several Subject Leaders. The Sixth Form block, located near the school playing fields, was completed in 1973, and now contains History, Economics, Philosophy and Physical Education classrooms, as well as the school's Learning Resource Centre, Sixth Form Common Room and Offices. The completion of this block allowed for the movement of the lower school (Years 7-9) from Carew Manor to the main site.
In 1997, an old boy of the school, Christopher Woodhead who was then HM Chief Inspector of Schools, opened a new Science block. This block contains science classrooms, laboratories and various science department administration offices. The second part of the building's development was completed in 2000. The school was awarded "science college" status in 2005 for its excellence in Science and Mathematics. This meant extra funding for the school, which helped to further improve the standard of the school's science department. More recently, the school was awarded a second specialism - Applied Learning. The most recent addition to the buildings is the sports hall, which was opened in April 2010. The development of the hall cost £1.34 million, of which £785 000 was funded by the LEA and the remainder was funded by the school's and PTFA's own fundraising efforts. The construction incorporates various cutting edge aesthetic features including a V-shaped roof and subtly undulating walls.
Girls were admitted to the sixth form for the first time in 1999.
The school gained academy status on 1 June 2011.
Read more about this topic: Wallington County Grammar School
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