Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College

Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College is an Academy secondary school located in New Cross. The school was formerly a Grammar school, then a comprehensive City Technology College and now an Academy operating between two sites near New Cross Gate in South-East London. In 2005 the Federation of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy (formerly the failing Malory School, Downham) was formed by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers to create the Haberdashers' Aske's Academies Federation in order to increase the availability of an Askes’ education to more students and make a wider use of the strengths that Aske’s has to offer. Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College now has academy status specialising in music. It also has the distinction of being the most over-subscribed state school in the country, with on average 2,500 applications for its annual intake of approximately 200 year 7 students.

As of August 2007, Aske's GCSE results were rated the 3rd best in London and the 13th best in the country of all non-selective schools, according to the Guardian newspaper. As of 2009, Aske's GCSE results were rated 10th best in the country for all state schools and best in London

Pepys Road Site

History

After a bequest made by the merchant Robert Aske to the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers on his death in 1689, a school and almshouses were built at Hoxton near the city of London. When, in 1874, the almshouses were closed, the school was enlarged and split into two parts, one north of the river and one south. The northern section was established in Hampstead, eventually becoming Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School, while for the southern section, land was purchased at Hatcham, now better known as New Cross Gate, for the foundation of boys' and girls' schools on what is now known as Telegraph Hill. The north London school became generally known as "Haberdashers'", while the south London schools became generally known as "Aske's", though their official titles were parallel. Former pupils of the Hatcham schools are called "Old Askeans".

Two schools were complete on the site now on Pepys Road by late 1875, and in 1889 the site now on Jerningham Road was purchased and the girls' school relocated to the new site.

Under the Education Act 1944 the two schools became Grammar schools, and in 1979 became Comprehensive schools.

In a highly controversial move a failing local primary school, Monson Road, was closed, to re-open as Temple Grove Hatcham and incorporated with the college, giving all pupils preferential and automatic rights to attend secondary education at Aske's.

A girl once died in the bell tower

Current organization

In 1995 the two schools were combined under a single headteacher (Dr Elizabeth Sidwell - formerly girls' school headteacher and now the chief executive officer of the federation), and the name Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College. Teaching continues to be largely single-sex except for the co-educational sixth form. Boys and girls were generally taught on their traditional separate sites until 2002, when the boys' and girls' sites were re-organised as lower-school and upper-school sites. Years 7, 8 and 9 are based at the Jerningham Road site; years 10, 11 and the 6th Form are based at the Pepys Road site. The school sports field is located close by on St. Asaph Road in Nunhead.

The current College Principal is Mr Declan Jones, who was previously deputy Principal and replaced Mrs Michelle Adamson. Dr Elizabeth M Sidwell became the CEO of the Haberdashers' Aske's Academies Federation after holding the position of Principal until the creation of the federation.

The forms in each year belong to one of four houses. These are named after significant figures in the college's history and are identified by colours. The students belong to the same house for their school life and belong to either Connolly - Green (formerly Doigs/Lawrences), Dyson - Red (formerly Mackenzies/Jethas), Goddard - Blue (formerly Dodkins/Crockets) or Soper - Yellow (formerly Fords/Patricks); all are named after previous headmasters or headmistresses (formerly heads of houses, Mr Doig, Miss F Mackenzie, Mr Dodkins and Mrs Ford), with the exception of the last, in honour of distinguished Old Askean Donald Soper. The students wear a blue school tie with stripes in their house colour. The school badge is the coat of arms of the Haberdashers' Company, and displays the motto "Serve And Obey".

Haberdasher's Askes' Crayford Academy

This is a new all through primary and secondary phase with a sixth form which the Haberdashers Foundation are building in Crayford. The Secondary Phase will be run by Mr David Willis who was a deputy principal at Haberdashers Askes and the primary phase with by run by Mrs Susan Bush. The academy will be specialised in Technology, like Haberdashers Askes Hatcham College is specialised in music and Haberdashers Askes Knights Academy are specialised in sports.

Notable "Old Askeans"

James Aikenhead, poker player

• Fiona Bruce, Newsreader and television presenter
• Melvyn Gale, Cellist, Electric Light Orchestra
• Steve Harley ("Steve Nice"), Lead Singer,Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.
• Clive Jackson, Lead Singer, Doctor and the Medics
• Nicolai Poliakoff, aka. Coco The Clown
• Fr Roger Jupp, Former Bishop of Popondota, Papua New Guinea
• Chris Lambert, Olympic sprinter
• Roland McLeod, Actor
• James O'Dea, President of The Institute of Noetic Sciences
• Scott Parker, Football Player
• Joe Stead, Folk Singer
• Oliver Stirrup, Guitarist in folk trio Milkwood
• Peter Perrett, Lead singer & songwriter, The Only Ones
• Harry Price, Psychic research pioneer
• Ryan Purcell, Guitarist, Thee Landells
• The Rev'd the Lord Soper (Donald Soper), Methodist minister and campaigner
• Rafe Spall, Actor
• Damian Marley,Grammy award-winning reggae artist, son of reggae legend Bob Marley.
• Harry Evans,Leader of the Movement for Postmodern Marxism (MPM)
• Barnes Wallis,Scientist, inventor of the Bouncing bomb
• Shaun Wright-Phillips, Football Player
• Sid Green and Dick Hills, screen-writing partnership, best known for the Morecombe & Wise scripts.
• Drew McConnell, Bass Guitarist, Babyshambles.
• Vaughan Savidge, Radio Broadcaster
• Piers Johnson, Actor

Transport Connections

Jerningham Site

Pepys Site

Sports Field

References

External links

• College website

Coordinates: 51°28′04″N 0°02′36″W / 51.4679°N 0.04332°W / 51.4679; -0.04332