Dreams of academic excellence fill the air around Wallington County Grammar School. It is more than just brick and mortar. It represents a legacy of learning.
Wallington County Grammar School opened its doors on September 19 1927. W.T. Hutchins the founding headmaster celebrated his 33rd birthday that day. The school started modestly with 71 pupils. It was located half a mile from where we stand now.
Initially the school building was just a single story. A wooden extension was later added. Wallington County Grammar School moved to this Croydon Road location in 1935.
During World War II a V-2 bomb struck Wallington County Grammar School. Windows shattered. The roof collapsed. But classes continued. Teachers and students rebuilt their school. Fifty-two former students died in the war.
The school expanded from the 1950s to the 1970s. New buildings accommodated more pupils. The “New Block” opened in 1952. It now houses English and drama classes. It also serves as the dining hall. For two decades the first two grades were taught at Carew Manor. This was half a mile away in Beddington Park. The Sixth Form block was completed in 1973.
In 1997 Christopher Woodhead opened a new science block. He was an alumnus and HM Chief Inspector of Schools. This block features science classrooms and labs. The building was fully completed in 2000.
Wallington County Grammar School began admitting girls to the sixth form in 1999. The school became an academy on June 1 2011. A new Design Technology and Music block opened in 2019.
The school motto is “Per Ardua ad Summa”. It means “Through Difficulties to the Heights”.
The school has six houses. Each house has its own colours and namesake. The houses compete throughout the year. The winning house receives the Cock House Cup. The houses are Bridges Carew Mandeville Radcliffe Ruskin and Woodcote.
Wallington County Grammar School has a strong academic reputation. It received an “outstanding” rating in all areas in the 2017 Ofsted report. In 2005 it became a “science college”. This provided extra funding for the science department. The school later gained a second specialism “WCGS Applied Learning”. In 2019 the school won the Evening Standard’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.
Many notable individuals attended Wallington County Grammar School. They are known as Old Walcountians. Alumni include archaeologist John M. Allegro and civil servant Douglas Allen. Musician Neil Ardley and journalist David Bond are also alumni. Investment banker Paul Deighton and boxer Sunny Edwards attended as well. Former HM Chief Inspector of Schools Christopher Woodhead is an alumnus too.
Wallington County Grammar School stands as a testament to resilience and academic excellence. From its humble beginnings to its present-day achievements the school continues to inspire. It shapes future generations in the London Borough of Sutton.