Wanstead High School


Wanstead High School, 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 1490 pupils aged 11 to 19. Its local education authority is Redbridge. It is situated just west of the A12 junction with the North Circular Road.

Traditions

Its motto is "Abeunt Studia in Mores" which translates literally as "studies become habits" or "practices zealously pursued pass into habits". It can be taken to mean "Studies build one's character".
Its symbol is the heron, a bird traditionally associated with the area. Its alumni are known as "Old Heronians".
Its uniform colour is burgundy, having previously been black, and the school uniform must be worn by all pupils except the sixth form, where students are required to dress formally.

History

Wanstead Country High school was opened in 1924 as a mixed Grammar school. It was one of the first co-educational secondary schools in England. The site had previously been a rectory.
During the Second World War the school was evacuated to Newent. 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 and again in 1974 when the science and humanities block was built.

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. Mr Ian Sweet and Mr Mark Whitehead are the current heads of performing arts at the school. However, the current Head Teacher, Mr. Robert Hamlin, has come under fire recently for cutting the music departments budget.

The Inclusion Department

The Inclusion Department deals with children who have broken rules to the extent that they must be kept separate from classmates and the rest of the school. Incidents will include bullying, disrespect to a member of staff, general bad behaviour or not displaying Attitude for Learning or bringing inappropriate items into school. Another part of the school is Learning Support, a department at WHS that helps children with learning difficulties learn and cope with school. The department also has a specialist dyslexia teacher to support dyslexic students at WHS.

Notable former pupils