South Hampstead High School marks 150 years of female empowerment

South Hampstead High School, situated in Finchley, is marking 150 years since its establishment as St John's Wood High School for Girls. The institution was founded in 1874 by Miss Allen-Olney with just 27 pupils, operating in a single room divided by a curtain. It was the ninth school established by the Girls Public Day School Trust, an organisation created by women advocating for equal educational opportunities for girls.

Within six years, the school's student numbers had grown to 300, necessitating a move to a larger site at 3 Maresfield Gardens. Here, students received instruction in subjects including history, geography, English grammar, mathematics, French, Latin, and chemistry. Physical education at the time involved 'drill' exercises performed in navy pleated blue serge skirts and long black stockings, with lessons often concluding at lunchtime.

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A History of Activism and Academic Growth

By 1887, the school was renamed South Hampstead High. Under the leadership of Mary Benton, it began to enhance its academic standing, incorporating science laboratories, music rooms, a playground, and fives courts. This period also saw the school's alignment with the suffragist movement for women's voting rights. Ms Benton and many of her staff supported the campaign, while one teacher was a more militant suffragette who faced imprisonment in Holloway Prison for her activism. By the end of the First World War, an increasing number of students were pursuing university education, including Dr Ellen Farrer, who became one of the first women to qualify as a doctor.

In the 1920s, the school expanded its facilities with a new library, gymnasium, and a dedicated sixth form. Students documented their experiences in diaries, describing their growing independence and leisure activities such as cycling on Hampstead Heath, swimming, attending the cinema, and shopping. The acquisition of 1 Maresfield Gardens allowed the school to admit pupils from the age of five. During the Second World War, the school relocated to Berkhamsted School for Girls for safety during the Blitz, though some students and teachers commuted back to London daily.

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Notable Alumnae and Evolving Education

The school has educated several prominent figures. Stage and screen actors Angela Lansbury and Glynis Johns were students in the 1930s. Later alumnae include writers Fay Weldon and Naomi Alderman, actor Olivia Williams, and Baroness Neuberger. Helena Bonham Carter opened the new senior school building in 2014. The Direct Grant Grammar School scheme in the 1940s enabled many pupils from state schools to attend the institution with free places.

Current headteacher Anna Paul highlighted the enduring theme of female empowerment within the school's history. She noted the presence of suffragettes on the teaching staff and their activism. Ms Paul stated her commitment to recognising the school's feminist past and fostering an atmosphere of 'joyful scholarship' with high academic expectations alongside broad extracurricular opportunities. She also emphasised the importance of giving girls a voice through a strong debating and oracy programme, linking it to the founding heads' vision of equality for women.

Looking Ahead

Ms Paul continues to discuss feminism with students, addressing both historical progress and ongoing challenges. The school's approach is described as value-led, promoting kindness, bravery, respectfulness, and a sense of purpose, ensuring students find their niche and pursue their passions.