Woodford County High School (London)

Infobox UK school
name = Woodford County High School


size =
latitude = 51.607
longitude = 0.0185
dms =
motto = "Laeti Gratias Deo Agimus"
(Let us thank God joyfully)
motto_pl =
established = 1919
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = grammar
religion =
president =
head_label =
head = Miss Helen Cleland, BA
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label =
chair =
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist =
street = High Road
city = Woodford Green
county = London
country = England flagicon|England
postcode = IG8 9LA
LEA = Redbridge
ofsted = 102852
staff =
enrollment = 846 [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=102852&providerCategoryID=32 Home ] ]
gender = Girls
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours = Highams color box|green, Repton color box|blue, Warner color box|yellow and Newton color box|red
publication =
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.woodford.redbridge.sch.uk/
website_name = www.woodford.redbridge.sch.uk

Woodford County High School (WCHS) is a secondary all-girls grammar school in Woodford Green in the London Borough of Redbridge, UK. The school opened in 1919.

Like most grammar schools, WCHS has seven years (7–13) and to gain a place in the school, children have to take the Eleven Plus exam. It is a girls' school, with its brother school being Ilford County High School. Woodford County High School has four classes in each year, and each year only 120 girls out of the 900 who take the 11+ get a place at the school. There are four houses of the school, each with a name and colour: Highams (green), Repton (blue), Warner (yellow) and Newton (red).

The school building was originally the site of the Highams Manor, built in 1768. The grounds of the school were designed by Humphry Repton, who gives his name to one of the school's houses.

The School Birthday

The "School Birthday" is celebrated annually on 29 September (or the following Monday if it occurs on the weekend). On this day, former students of the school (called "Old Girls") visit and a marquee is erected on the back terrace. During the morning there is an assembly, attended by the whole school as well as visitors. A cake competition is held, where students can enter cakes for one of four categories: Junior Novelty, Senior Novelty, Junior Traditional and Senior Traditional. The cakes are judged during morning breaktime and the winners announced.

Periods 3 and 4 take place as normal, although are usually considered 'fun' lessons, after which pupils return to their form rooms to do fun activities with their form prefects (Year 13s). After lunch, each year is allowed to wear non-uniform and does a separate year activity — aided by Year 12s. The activities are as follows:

* "Year 7: Outdoor Cooking" — Members of year 7 use small gas cookers and usually cook on the tennis courts or in the Greek Theatre. If it is raining, the cooking takes place under the School Birthday marquee or science labs.
* "Year 8: Murder Mystery" — The murder mystery is considered to be the most fun activity by some. Filmed by the Silver badges, each year tells a different story in which one teacher is killed by another. The Year 8s must travel around the school collecting clues from the Year 12s which point towards the identity of the killer. Once the activity is over, they hand in their choice of murderer and the motive before watching the end of the recording - which finally reveals the murderer.
* "Year 9: Woodford Challenge" — The Woodford Challenge takes place on the field. Year 9s travel around the field doing various quizzes and puzzles. They may get muddy during this activity.
* "Year 10: Fashion Show" — Members of year 10 are given different topics, and have to create a costume for one member of their group based on this topic. Topics include things such as 'kitchen' and 'alien'. This activity takes place in the Assembly Hall.
* "Year 11: Bowling" — The Year 11s go bowling.

House events

Throughout the school year various competitions between the four houses take place. The biggest and liveliest of the year is the House Drama Festival. This takes place in November, although planning begins as soon as the school term begins in September. The House Captains are in charge of organising their own houses. For the House Drama festival, each House performs a play—usually a musical. Various awards are given such as Best Junior Actress, Best Senior Actress, Best Support Actress, Best Chorus, Best Orchestra, Best Costumes, Best Scenery, Best Publicity and so on. However, publicity was limited to notice boards in 2006, due to the fact the school was re-painted (hence one was not allowed to stick things on the wall).

Other house competitions include the 5 penny race in October. During this, students collect 5 pence coins to lay out in lines along the back terrace. The house with the longest line wins. The money goes to a charity which deals with children with leukaemia. The Repton House has a very long current streak. There is also the House Quiz, Housepoints and Sports Day (which is 'It's a Knockout', which involves competitive team sports, every alternate year).

Not a house event, Woodford County also holds an annual Asian society play showcasing a variety of talent including writing, producing, directing, acting, dancing etc. all done entirely by the pupils. All proceeds go to charity. In 2006, they performed 'Colours, Compromises and a Couple of Ladoos'—loosely based on the comedy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".

Notable Alumnae

*Kathleen Lonsdale (1903 - 1971), Crystallographer

References

External links

* [http://woodford.redbridge.sch.uk/ Woodford County High School Public Website]
* [http://woodfordathome.co.uk/ Woodford County High School Students Website]