Minchenden Grammar School

Minchenden School
Minchenden Grammar School

Motto	Robur durabit
Established	1919
Closed	1984
Location	High Street Southgate London England
Local authority	Middlesex (1919-1965) Enfield (1965-1984)
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–18
Colours	Green
Website	Minchenden School

Coordinates: 51°37′49″N 0°07′46″W / 51.63035°N 0.12952°W / 51.63035; -0.12952

Minchenden School was a mixed secondary school situated in Southgate, North London, established in 1919 with 90 pupils.^[1]

History

The school was established in 1919 in Tottenhall Road as a mixed secondary school. In 1924, it moved to Southgate House, where it remained until 1987,^[2] and was renamed Minchenden School. The staff and pupils built an observatory.^[3] From 1960 to 1967, there was an annexe in the Fox Lane school, Palmers Green.^[1] The school's English department was particularly strong. Head of English Douglas Barnes 1959-1966 introduced a series of important innovations in teaching methods. In 1967, Minchenden Grammar School was converted from a grammar school to Minchenden School, a comprehensive school, with the upper school in High Street and the lower school in Fox Lane.^[1] It was merged with Arnos School in 1984 to form Broomfield School.

The building is now used by Southgate College.

Former teachers

• James Kirkup, poet

Notable alumni

• Graham Robert Allan, mathematician and an expert on Banach algebras, Professor of Pure Mathematics from 1970-8 at the University of Leeds
• Neville Brody (born 1957), graphic designer, typographer and art director
• Thomas Carlile CBE, President from 1972-4 of EEF the manufacturers organisation, and Chairman from 1995-2000 of the British Society of Master Glass Painters
• Prof Peter Clarricoats CBE, Professor of Electronic Engineering from 1968-97 at Queen Mary and Westfield, and vice-president from 1989-91 of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (since 2006 the Institution of Engineering and Technology)
• Air Vice-Marshal William Disbrey CB CBE, Director-General of Engineering from 1964-7 of the RAF
• Hugh Featherstone CBE, Director-General from 1969-84 of the Freight Transport Association
• Judy Fryd (1909–2000), political campaigner
• Hazel Genn (born 1949), legal academic
• Anthony Giddens, Baron Giddens (born 1938), sociologist, Director from 1997-2003 of the London School of Economics
• Ken Haddon, Chief Executive of AXA Reinsurance UK from 1987-98
• John Hodge (born 1929), engineer
• Peter Kellner (born 1946), journalist and political commentator
• John Kent, Keeper of Coins and Medals from 1983-90 at the British Museum, and President from 1984-9 of the Royal Numismatic Society
• William Orbit (born 1956), musician, composer and record producer
• Chris Pond (born 1952), Labour MP from 1997-2005 for Gravesham
• David Puttnam, Baron Puttnam (born 1941), film producer and politician
• Martin Rushent (born 1948), record producer
• Peter Sallis (born 1921), actor
• Sir Peter Soulsby (born 1948), Labour MP since 2005 for Leicester South
• Barry Took (1928–2002), comedian, writer and television presenter
• Nick Dunning, actor - credits include The Tudors, My Boy Jack, Alexander^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Edmonton: Education". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 196-203. British History Online. 1976. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=26945. Retrieved 2009-11-24. 
2. ^ "The High Street". A Walk in Southgate. Southgate Civic Trust. http://www.southgategreen.org.uk/misc/walk.php. Retrieved 2009-11-24. 
3. ^ "Notes". The Observatory 59: 200. June 1936. Bibcode 1936Obs....59..199.. 

Further reading

• Minchenden School golden anniversary, 1919-1969, published by Minchenden School, 1969 ISBN 978-0-9501826-0-5
• Douglas Barnes, Becoming an English Teacher (London: NATE, 2000)

External links

• Social Change and English, 1945-1965 - Minchenden is one of three schools in London that are included in this Leverhulme Trust-funded project about the teaching of English in the period 1945-1965. The project is collecting oral histories from former teachers and pupils at the school.