Established in 1949 Cowley Hill School initially served as a Junior Mixed County School. It was a pioneering post-war school in Boreham Wood. Its first headmaster was Mr Smith. Mr Eric Kidd became the first Head Teacher. His wife served as the school secretary. The school initially had eight classrooms. It boasted an assembly hall with a stage. A dining room completed the original structure. Cowley Hill School quickly expanded. In 1955 a new infant department was added. This addition became a separate building called Woodlands School. This expansion was needed due to the rising population. The London County Council’s house-building programme fuelled this population growth.
The school’s early days saw several dedicated head teachers. Mrs J Perrott followed Mr Kidd. Ms Hilary Bell took over in 1993. Mrs Linda Williams succeeded her. The school’s original badge was a shield. It displayed the initials CHS. However in 1994 a new logo emerged. Mrs Maggie Cheney a teacher designed this logo. It showed silhouetted children holding hands. That same year extensions accommodated extra children. The predicted number was sixty. Forty-five additional children actually enrolled.
In 1974 Cowley Hill School transitioned to a First School. Two rooms were designated for nursery places. This change reflected a shift to a three-tier education system in Boreham Wood. Further extensions were built in 1994. This was to accommodate more nursery children. By 1998-9 the main school had 215 children. Sixty-three attended the half-day nursery. The education system reverted to two tiers in 2000. Cowley Hill School officially became Cowley Hill Primary School. In 2001 the school had 315 children. All nursery children and those under seven received free milk. This was due to prevailing political policies. The school had ten classrooms and a speech and language base.
Cowley Hill School underwent a major transformation. It was rebuilt in 2015. The newly rebuilt school is now a two-form entry school. It serves children from Nursery to Year Six. In 2006 the Headmaster Jon Hood described it as a near-new building. He celebrated the school’s success. Cowley Hill School’s history is rich in growth and adaptation. It remains a vibrant part of the Boreham Wood community. The school continues to thrive as a popular and successful educational institution.