Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School

Journey back to 1863. Imagine London bustling with Victorian life. Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School first opened its doors then. It was built to honor Reverend John Hampden Gurney. He was the former vicar of St Mary’s, Bryanston Square. The original school stood proudly on Hampden Gurney Street, near Marble Arch. The school’s journey wasn’t always smooth. During World War II, the Blitz destroyed the nearby St Luke’s school. Hampden Gurney merged with St Luke’s in 1936. After the bombing, the school relocated to Nutford Place, the former site of St Luke’s. The new Hampden Gurney building opened in 1967. It was inaugurated by the renowned poet John Betjeman, who later became Poet Laureate. The school continued to evolve. In the 1990s, a new state-of-the-art building was constructed on Nutford Place. This modern facility is where Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School thrives today. The school maintains a strong connection with the Church of the Annunciation. Father Lincoln Harvey, the church’s incumbent, leads weekly Mass at the school. The school also visits the church each term. Father Harvey also serves as the chairman of the school’s governing body. Hampden Gurney prides itself on its inclusive environment and commitment to academic excellence. In 2023, it achieved the highest average scores in reading, writing, and mathematics among all state primary schools in England.