“More Light”. Does this motto resonate with you? It certainly encapsulates the spirit of South Hampstead High School.
South Hampstead High School is a private day school for girls aged 4 to 18. It stands here in Hampstead, north-west London. The Girls’ Day School Trust founded it in 1876. It was their ninth school.
Imagine the school’s early days with just 27 pupils. Rita Allen Olney was the first headmistress. She led the school until 1886. Then she left to start another school nearby with her sister.
Now picture Mary Benton. She was a cross-dressing headmistress. She returned when morale was low. Known as the “Brigadier-General,” she rebuilt the school. By the 1920s, half the students at university studied science.
South Hampstead High School became a direct grant grammar school in 1946. This lasted until the late 1970s. The local council paid for about half the students.
Helena Bonham Carter, an alumna, opened a new building in 2015. It has seven stories. Hopkins Architects designed it. Waterlow Hall, a new performance space, was unveiled in 2020.
Many head teachers have shaped South Hampstead High School. Anna Paul is the current head teacher. She took over in 2023. Before her, there was Victoria Bingham, Helen Pike, and Jenny Stephen. Each one left their mark.
The school has also had some notable former teachers. Edith Allen, mother of Raymond Postgate taught here. Margaret Nevinson, a suffragette, taught classics in the 1880s.
South Hampstead High School consistently achieves excellent academic results. In 2019, it ranked 13th in the country for A Level results. The Independent Schools Council compiled the data.
“Mehr Licht” is the school’s motto. It translates to “More Light” in English. These were supposedly Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s last words.
Many notable women attended South Hampstead High School. Helena Bonham Carter is an actress. Lynne Featherstone was a Liberal Democrat MP. Dame Angela Lansbury was a famous actress. Joanna MacGregor is a pianist. These women show the diverse achievements of its alumni.
South Hampstead High School continues to open doors, hearts, and minds. It fosters curiosity and kindness. It prepares young women for an exciting future. It encourages them to play their part in the world.