User:Philipowell/sandbox/Highbury County Grammar School for Boys

Highbury County Grammar School for Boys. Islington, London N5. 1922 - 1967

This state grammar school in Islington, North London flourished briefly before being swept away like so many others during the 2nd half of the 20th century when for political reasons this kind of school was considered elitist, despite providing a level of free education to all classes, particularly those in poorer regions, that was otherwise only available at fee paying schools.

Highbury was based in the old LCC area of North London N5, mostly famous probably for being the home of Arsenal Football club. At the time, Highbury was still predominantly working class but gradually gentrifying and today is home to mainly the kind of elites this kind of school was supposedly thought to harbour. The schools origin was at the very start of the 20th Century as an outpost of the Northern Polytechnic to provide a secondary education to the more gifted lower classes who might advance through the poly to a technical career in Britain’s dynamic late-Victorian industries. On being adopted by the local council in 1922 it was moved to premises the council owned on the corner of Highbury Grove and Highbury New Park.

At the start of the war North London was considered too dangerous and the school was evacuated first to Kimbolton Huntingdonshire. This was a poor choice as the area lacked suitable accommodation and it proved impossible to carry on proper teaching. In less than a year they were re-located with more success to Midsomer Norton in Somerset. Many pupils drifted back to London as the fears subsided and eventually the school returned in 1943.

A few years after the war and with just its 3rd headmaster the school probably got into its stride. The annual intake settled on 90 boys (in 3 classes of 30) and a respectable number stayed on after 15 and into the 6th form where streams of arts and sciences produced enough results to see a steady stream go onto universities including Oxbridge from time-to-time. The school also performed reasonably at sports, drama and arts, particularly noteworthy considering the physical limitations of their facilities (an example was that Wednesday afternoon sports involved a convoy of coaches bussing almost the whole school over to the sports fields at Highams Park in Essex. When bad weather prevented the use of these fields the coaches would instead transport everyone northwards to Parliament Hill Fields for a miserable muddy cross country run)

The Buildings The building themselves, dominated by an imposing 4 story Victorian edifice fronting Highbury New Park, dated mainly from 1853; erected for the Church Missionary Society as a children’s home, then in1891 becoming a residential home for persistent truants and in 1909 the Highbury Industrial School for Child delinquents, (something the grammar school boys were always happy to acknowledge and enjoy). As a footnote, in 1938 the council approved a plan to replace the buildings at a cost of £57,815 spread over 4 years. The outbreak of the war less than a year later meant the shelving these plans and they were quietly forgotten; it's interesting to speculate over the eventual fate of the school as one of the reasons behind its merger in 1967 was the desperate need to replace buildings now over 100 years old.

By the time of its closure the school buildings were regarded as old fashioned and inappropriate and arguably were a major reason for the merger. The classrooms were just adequate and science and technical rooms barely able to cope, however the many generations of pupils came to enjoy the compact estate and surrounding playgrounds.

When Highbury Grove was to be built completely new buildings were erected in the spaces around the old school and on completion demolished, much to the old incumbents' delight as they cheered each swing of a giant iron wrecking ball. Only the old gym was retained and in fact still exists today. The Headmasters

In the schools 45 years it had just 4 headmasters, plus two acting heads, one during the wartime evacuation and another as a holding placement just before the closure.

1922-28: The first headmaster, was Mr William Spragg, who by accounts was a better teacher than head and was replaced in 1928.

1928-1953; Mr R.J.Marsh MA, a former public school teacher and strict disciplinarian. Inevitably being nicknamed “Boggy” by the boys, his reign which lasted until 1953 has been described as one of terror, with lines of boys waiting to be caned. However a more considered appreciation illustrates a dedicated and caring professional who strove hard to ensure the best education and future for his pupils, in particular taking pride in the job success they attained during periods when the economy and with it employment was struggling. As well as setting a high level of educational standards and ambition he also set about reorganising the school and it's systems, often modelled on a public school. Old boys speak well of him generally.

1953 – 1965. His replacement, Mr R.J.King MA had previously been deputy head of Holloway School (a secondary modern also in Islington that still exists and had long been regarded as the schools greatest sporting rival). Sharing Mr Marsh's ambitions and aims Mr King led the school until the mid 60's, eventually retiring when the merger and comprehensive status became inevitable. During this time he also led change and reform, often agreeing with the younger less conservative staff to usher in a platform of 'modern' teaching appropriate to the schools status and times. Arguably the schools heydays were the 12 years of Kings leadership when it provided a strong academic grounding for over 500 boys alongside considerable attainments in sports, cultural, social and artistic areas too

1966-7 (and beyond) Mr (later Dr) Rhodes Boysen Bsc. (and Later MP Phd) After King retired Boysen was appointed to become the head of both the old school and the future Comprehensive. Undoubtedly the most famous, he led the school into its new era before decamping to parliament as MP for Brent North and fame as an arch conservative, junior education minister and joint author of a 'Black paper' extolling the kind of education he tried to practice at both Highbury's, underpinning choice, strong values and careful streaming with strict discipline. Fundamentally 'Grammer-lite' and clearly not something the liberal establishment were willing to take forward. He later detailed his time at Highbury in his book 'Oversubscribed'. The title based on the new schools early success in attracting more pupil candidates than it could accommodate. Boysens Doctorate was for a Phd taken part-time while the head and culminating in the publication of his thesis 'The Arkwright Cotton Dynasty of Lancashire'

Acting Heads

During the evacuation years a very popular teacher (? Philip Howells?) acted as head for the boys evacuated until the return to London in 1943.

1965-6 Mr E S Wood. One of the longest serving teachers having joined the school soon after the war. As deputy head he was a shoe-in to replace Mr King and hold the ship steady while awaiting the appointment of the permanent replacement after which he reverted to deputy until his retirement in 1973. Because of his large cranium he was nicknamed the Mekon after an evil villain in the Eagle comics 'Dan Dare' storyline.

Notable alumni.

Rabbi Soloman Schonfield, 1912 - 1984: One of the most remarkable, yet least known of the Holocaust heroes.[1] He personally rescued many thousands of Jews from Nazi forces in Central and Eastern Europe during the years 1938-1948. He founded the Hasmonean High School [3] in 1944 and the other schools that formed the Jewish Secondary Schools Movement.

Dr Rhodes Boysen (as above and see separate entry)

Mr William (Bill) Ashton OBE. Taught French before leaving teaching to focus on his Junior Jazz orchestra which thrives today and he still leads. He is remembered fondly for his relaxed style and tendency to divert from teaching into interesting anecdotes involving characters like David Frost and Sir Frank Whittle

Micky Droy, Chelsea FC Centre Half. Micky started at Highbury in 1962 and his strong build made him a natural starter in the first team back 4. After leaving school he wasn't fast tracked into the professional game but good performances on the semi-professional circuit (notably for Slough Town) led to a dream transfer to Chelsea. This was not the Chelsea we know today, languishing between the old first and 2nd divisions but Droy enjoyed a long career there before retirement.

Ken Friar OBE. Started working at Highbury Stadium while still a 12-year-old at the school; later advanced to become the manager Director of Arsenal Football club right through to recent times.

Frank Warren, Boxing Promoter. A pupil from 1963 to 1966 Frank rose from unpromising beginnings to become one of the major mover and shakers in the sport today. Classmates recall he showed early promise in his later career by being good at getting other kids to fight each other. See separate entry.

John Hough: Established and respected film and TV producer. Films include Escape to witch Mountain, Biggles and Hell house. TV series include The Avengers, The prisoner, The saint and Dempsey and makepiece