Do you see that oak tree sapling near the entrance? It carries a story almost as old as Hendon School itself. Hendon School is a mixed secondary school in Golders Rise. It gained academy status in November 2011. Before that it was a comprehensive school in the London Borough of Barnet.
Hendon School’s history is rich. It reflects changes in education. It began as a fee-paying school in September 1914. This was just after World War One began. Imagine the first students walking through those doors. They entered a world on the brink of immense change.
The school started with 350 pupils. By 1927 the field behind Hendon School was levelled. Trees were planted. In 1929 the gymnasium construction began.
In 1931 Hendon School grew. It went from two to three forms. By 1933 the north side extension was complete. This allowed space for 480 pupils. Hendon School was expanding to meet demand.
Now about that oak tree. In 1936 Harold Whitlock planted it. Whitlock was a former pupil. He received a gold medal at the Berlin Olympic Games. He got it for the 50 kilometers walk. Adolf Hitler presented the medal. Whitlock then planted the oak tree sapling in front of the gymnasium at Hendon School. It was a very special symbol.
By 1955 Hendon School had 620 pupils and 32 staff. An extension became necessary. It was on the east side of the main building. This included a new Hall and Dining Hall. Kitchens were also added. The extension officially opened in 1961.
In the late 1960s plans changed secondary education. The London Borough of Barnet suggested a merger. Hendon County Grammar School would join St David’s County Secondary School for Boys.
On October 1 1929 Barnfield Senior Boys’ School opened. In January 1964 it joined Brent Secondary Modern School. In preparation new buildings went up in St David’s Place. The two sites became St David’s School. The family of Claude Grahame-White declined permission to name the school after him.
In 1971 Hendon County Grammar School became Hendon Senior High School. St David’s County Secondary School for Boys became Hendon Junior High School. By 1978 all buildings were on one site. The school was then called Hendon School.
Hendon School faced closure in 1987 to 1988. The London Borough of Barnet claimed it was not viable. But the school survived. It gained Grant-maintained status. Extensions to the buildings occurred in the 1990s. These made room for Maths and Music departments.
Today Hendon School has an eight-form intake. There are about 1300 pupils. It has 120 teachers and 30 ancillary staff. It also runs a Saturday School for Languages. This caters for 200 pupils with 11 teachers. In 2011 Hendon School built a new Sixth Form Centre. This provides dedicated classrooms and facilities. Also in 2011 it expanded the autism unit. Internal and external dining facilities were improved.
In November 2011 Hendon School became an academy. It chose to keep its name. An Ofsted inspection in 2011 rated the school as outstanding. Previously it had been a failing school in 2005. It was then deemed satisfactory. Hendon School specialises in languages. It offers Japanese among others. The school has specialist educational facilities. These are for deaf and autistic students.
Hendon School stands as a testament to time. It embraces diversity. Its motto is “Omnia discendo vinces”. This means “Knowledge conquers everything”. From its humble beginnings to its current status as an academy, Hendon School continues to educate. It shapes the lives of its students. It prepares them for the future.