Wimbledon High School facts for kids

Wimbledon High School is a private school for girls in Wimbledon, South West London. It is part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) and is a member of the Girls' Schools Association. The school teaches girls from age 4 to 18.

School History and Growth

Wimbledon High School was started by the Girls' Public Day School Trust. This group is now known as the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). The school first opened its doors on November 9, 1880. It was located at No. 74 Wimbledon Hill Road.

When it first opened, there were only 12 students. Miss Edith Hastings was the first Headmistress. She was just 29 years old. In the next ten years, the school grew a lot. More than 200 girls were attending.

The very first lesson taught at the school was about an apple. Because of this, the apple became the school's special symbol. Every year in November, on the school's birthday, students and teachers eat apple-green cupcakes. This tradition remembers that first lesson.

Challenges and New Beginnings

Ethel Gavin became the headmistress in 1908. During World War I, the school faced tough times. The headmistress was in Germany and was held there for several weeks. Older students stopped their regular classes. Girls and teachers helped with the war effort. They made special masks for soldiers.

In 1917, a fire badly damaged the main school building. Ethel Gavin worked hard to help the school recover. Sadly, she died in early 1918 from cancer. The girls moved to a temporary place to continue their studies.

A new school building was officially opened in October 1920. The Duchess of Atholl, who used to be a student there, opened it. The new building had a gym and two science labs. Since then, many more new facilities have been added.

Sports Fields and World War II

The school's current sports fields are on Nursery Road. Until 1922, these fields were where the All England Club was located. This is the club that hosts the Wimbledon Tennis Championship. The club moved to its current spot on Church Road.

The school was able to buy these playing fields. Parents and former students helped raise £6000. This money made it possible to get the fields.

The school was also greatly affected by Second World War. Fewer students attended as London was bombed during the Battle of Britain. After the war, the school became a "direct grant" school. This meant it got money from the government. However, when this system ended in the 1970s, the school chose to become a private school again.

Modern Updates

A new building for the junior school opened in 2000. More new buildings were added later. These include a design and technology center and new science labs. There is also the Rutherford Centre for the Performing Arts. This center is named after the famous actress Margaret Rutherford, who was a student at the school.

In 2022, a big building project called "Project Ex-Humilibus" was finished. This name comes from the school's motto. The project added many new features:

• A STEAM tower for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
• A Sixth form center with special areas for older students (Year 12 and 13).
• New dining halls.
• A brand new assembly hall.
• A "Playground in the Sky" for junior girls. This is an enclosed play area on the roof of the Assembly Hall.

Academic Success

Wimbledon High School is known for its strong academics. Students usually get excellent results in their A-level and GCSE exams. The school is often listed very high in school rankings.

The school has won and been nominated for several Times Educational Supplement (TES) awards. These awards are sometimes called the "Oscars of Education." They include awards for Best Use of Technology, Inclusive School of the Year, and Senior School of the Year.

Sports and Achievements

Wimbledon High School has a long connection with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. This club organizes the Wimbledon Tennis Championship. The school's sports grounds were once the original home of the Wimbledon Championship. They were also the site of the tennis matches for the 1908 London Olympics. Every year, many students from Wimbledon High School are chosen to be ballgirls at the Championship.

Tennis Achievements

In 2023, a student named Hannah Klugman made history. At just 15 years, 1 month, and 22 days old, she was the youngest player ever to qualify for a W100 tennis event.

Rowing Success

Rowing is a very popular sport at Wimbledon High School. The school's Boat Club (WHSBC) is led by Gillan Lindsay. She is a British world champion and Olympic silver medalist. The club has won many trophies. They have also achieved high placements in important competitions. These include winning the National Schools' Regatta and qualifying for the Henley Royal Regatta.

House System

The school has a house system. When girls join the school, they are placed into one of four houses. Throughout the year, there are many competitions and activities between the houses. Some of these include The Big Draw, House Music, Junior Drama, inter-house sports, Sports Day, and House Debating.

Junior School Houses

The junior houses are named after famous women.

Senior School Houses

The senior houses are named after some of the first students at Wimbledon High School. These students were May and Margaret Arnold, Mildred Hastings, Violet Scott-Moncrieff, and Sophie Meredith.

Each house has its own committee. This committee includes a house captain and a deputy house captain. These leaders are chosen by staff after students apply for the roles. There are also captains for Music, Art, Sports, and Drama, and a secretary. These are chosen by the house captain.

House points are given for winning house competitions. Teachers also give points for excellent schoolwork and good behavior.

School Leaders

Here is a list of the Headmistresses who have led Wimbledon High School:

• Miss Edith Hastings (1880–1908)
• Miss Ethel Gavin (1908–1918)
• Miss Mabel Lewis (1918–1939)
• Miss Kathleen Littlewood (1940–1949)
• Miss Marguerite Burke (1949–1962)
• Mrs Anne Piper (1962–1982)
• Mrs Rosemary Smith (1982–1992)
• Mrs Elizabeth Baker (1992–1995)
• Dr Jill Clough (1995–2000)
• Mrs Pamela Wilkes (2001–2008)
• Mrs Heather Hanbury (2008–2014)
• Mrs Jane Lunnon (2014–2020)
• Ms Fionnuala Kennedy (2020–present)

Famous People from Wimbledon High School

Notable Former Students

Many talented people have attended Wimbledon High School, including:

• Katharine Stewart-Murray, Duchess of Atholl (1874–1960) – a famous politician.
• Dame Margaret Rutherford (1892–1972) – a well-known actress.
• Michelle Paver (born 1960) – an author famous for her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness books.
• Samira Ahmed (born 1968) – a news presenter.
• Lara Croft (born 1968) – a fictional video game character from the Tomb Raider series.
• Amara Karan (born 1984) – an actress who appeared in St Trinians.
• Georgina Sherrington (born 1985) – an actress from The Worst Witch. She won an award for her performance.

Notable Former Teachers

• Nellie Dale – a teacher who created her own reading program.
• Ada Wallas – a writer who taught here for a short time.