Then & Now - A History of the School

"Success through effort"

The history of Our Lady's Convent High School is the story of growth and development, achieved by the united efforts and sacrifices of many people.

On 11th January 1904 Our Lady's School a small independent school moved from 114 Lordship Road to 14 Amhurst Park, the head was Sr M. Phillipa. So this is the Centenary Year. There were 27 pupils aged 10 and over; all the staff were Servite sisters; parents paid fees of £2.10shillings per term.  The rooms in the house built in the 1800' s were used as classrooms; there was a grass tennis court in the garden.

Now in 2004, the address of the four form comprehensive 11-19 Voluntary Aided Language College School is 6-16 Amhurst Park; there are 700+ students; the specialist and classrooms are all purpose built, the oldest built in 1949, the most recent in 2003. The Servite Sisters are the Trustees.

SERVITE VALUES IN EDUCATION

At a meeting of the International Servite Schools Group in Paris in 2000 the following were identified as Servite Values relevant to education in Servite Schools. These were further shared in Anaheim, California in 2003 by Servites from every continent.

• Marian identity
• Community
• Service
• Compassion
• Openness/respect for diversity
• Holistic approach
• Evangelisation
• Universality

1904-2003 Head Teacher's of Our Lady's Convent Over it's Hundred Years

Sr. M. Philippa O.S.M. was head from 1904 to 1916 and was responsible for establishing Our Lady's at 14 Amhurst Park,
having moved the school from its earlier site in Lordship Road to accommodate the growing number of students.

Mother Mary Angela Butler 1916-1936, obtained for Our Lady's Convent High School recognition by the Board of Education in 1924 and Grant Aid from the London County Council in 1929, thus ensuring the future status and financial stability of the school. The first lay staff were employed.

Mother Mary Celestine Corcoran O.S.M. 1937-1952, guided the school through the years of Evacuation during World War II 1939-1945, and under her direction the school roll was greatly increased. She obtained special government permission in 1949 to build the St. Joseph's block, the oldest part of the present school.

Sr. Mary Alban Gallagher O.S.M. 1952-1975, oversaw the enlargement of the school from 14-16 Amhurst Park to 6-16 Amhurst Park, the construction of the buildings from the present gym up to and including the chapel.Subject options and the size of the sixth form increased and academic standards rose. The school became Voluntary Aided.

Sr. Mary John Murdock O.S.M. 1975-1993, oversaw change from a two form entry grammar to a three form entry. comprehensive with co-operation at sixth form level. Subject options increased further; setting became the norm. Additional buildings were completed in 1978 and 1980. The demise of the I.L.E.A. and devolution to Hackney, with local financial management of schools occurred during this time.

Mrs Margaret Dixon 1994-2003, the school's first lay headteacher led the school through some exciting periods of reform and change. During her headship Our Lady's has gained the folowing awards: Beacon School, Investors in People, Language College Status, and is enlarging to be four forms of entry. One of the aims of Our Lady's is identical with the Language College policy: to enable the students to gain a broad cultural enrichment and awareness and leave the school as informed, adaptable young people, well prepared for the next stage of their lives, whether in higher or further education, or in the world of work. Language College status and the enlargement of the school heralded Our Ladys into the new Millenium and on 22nd March 2002 Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, opened and blessed the new extension to the school.

Our Lady's and the school's hundred years in pictures.