William Ellis School

In 1862, a visionary named William Ellis established a school in Gospel Oak. This wasn’t just any school. This was the William Ellis School, a place where “useful” subjects like science and reason reigned supreme. William Ellis, a successful businessman, believed in nurturing young minds through practical knowledge, a stark contrast to the rote learning common in other schools of the time. The William Ellis School initially served both boys and girls of various ages. Later, in 1889, it was restructured as a boys’ secondary school under E.B. Cumberland. The William Ellis School eventually moved to its current location by Hampstead Heath in 1937. The school became fully comprehensive in 1984. Today, William Ellis School continues to thrive as a voluntary aided secondary school and sixth form for boys. It’s known for its strong language program. In 1997, it was designated a Language College. It requires students to study at least two languages in Key Stage 3, and at least one at the GCSE level. The school’s language offerings are diverse, ranging from French and German to Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Bengali. Native language specialists provide additional support, especially for GCSE and A-Level oral exams. Interestingly, the school shares a joint Sixth Form with the neighboring Parliament Hill Girls School, making all classes coeducational. This collaboration extends further through the LaSWAP consortium, which includes La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School and Acland Burghley School, providing education for about 1000 students.