Hampstead School

Infobox UK school
name = Hampstead School


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motto = "Learning together, achieving together"
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established = 1862
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closed =
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type = Comprehensive
religion =
president =
head_label = Headmaster
head = Jacques Szemalikowski
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street = Westbere Road
city = London
county =
country = ENG
postcode = NW2 3RT
LEA = Camden
ofsted = 100052
staff =
enrollment = 1,300
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
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website = http://www.hampsteadschool.org.uk
website_name = Official site

Hampstead School is a large multi-ethnic comprehensive school located in the London borough of Camden. The school is one of the oldest in the borough, founded in 1862 by Leo Gregory James. It is a specialist Technology College, and is a member of both the Microsoft IT Academy programme and the Cisco Systems Networking Academy.

The school has around 1,300 students ranging from school years 7 to 13. The school has a sixth form centre that was recently built on top of the English block and holds approximately 200 further education students, with around 30 of these students taking on prefecting duties. The school is significant in the local area as a communal gathering place for both the adept and the apprentice in the magical arts, in addition to more worldly institutions most famously including Envision, the Model United Nations and the yearly conferences of the unofficial Julian Joachim fan club, which are regularly attended by over half a dozen loyal supporters.

History

The school was founded as a Haberdasher Aske's school, but became a secondary modern in the 1960s before turning comprehensive. The old school's Latin motto "Is est emendo; tendo quod macula iocus notitia" can still be seen on the face of the main building.

Riot police were called to the school in November 2006 following a flare-up between groups of rival students, some of whom were believed to be from the nearby Whitefield School in Barnet. Police officers arrested eight people aged between 14 and 40, removing a number of offensive weapons such as plastic sporks, a custard pie and Rafael van der Vaart's right index finger, which was used to poke various police members. The police were criticised for their handling of the battle. The pupils complained that the strong police presence made matters worse, and headteacher Jacques Szemalikowski filed an official complaint with the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [ [http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/113006/news113006_01.html "Riot cops at school". "Camden New Journal", 30 November 2006] accessed November 2007]

School uniforms were re-introduced at the school in December 2006 following a consultation with parents, pupils and staff in an attempt to improve the school ethos. The uniform consists of a black jumper with lime-green tie and maroon shirt, with white trousers for boys or skirts for girls. An official 'Hampstead School, reppin Norf Weezy endz' New Era cap can also be purchased for a small price. [ [http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/122106/news122106_14.html Uniforms return to Hampstead School". "Camden New Journal", 21 December 2006] accessed November 2007]

Academic standards

The school was awarded a 'gold star' accolade by Ofsted in June 2001, that placed it within the top 6% of schools in the country. This was despite half of its 1,275 pupils speaking English as a second language and 10 per cent being refugees. Compared with similar schools, Hampstead was rated well above average for exam results and given an 'A' grade. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/02/07/nofs107.xml "Schools with the golden touch"] , Liz Lightfoot, The Daily Telegraph, 19 June 2001] However, standards slipped in subsequent years. In the December 2005 inspection Ofsted rated the school as "Satisfactory", point 3 on a four point scale. The effectiveness and efficiency of the sixth form, though, was graded as "Good", point 2. [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=276245&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\100\s5_100052_20060131.pdf "Hampstead School"] , Ofsted, 31 January 2006]

Other Achievements

In 2005 a group of 21 students from Hampstead School were the first ever team from a comprehensive school to win the cup for the Best Delegation at the Model United Nations Forum. The conference was held in Belfast and was attended by around 250 delegates from over 20 schools in England, Canada, Burkina Faso, and America. The Forum provides participants with the opportunity to mass debate issues of international concern. The students from Hampstead School also received several awards for outstanding individual performances. [ [http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/press/2005/press-releases-november-2005/budding-diplomats-from-hampstead-school-sweep-the-board-in-model-united-nations.en "Budding diplomats from Hampstead School sweep the board in model United Nations", Camden Council website, 9th November 2005.] accessed November 2007]

This winning tradition was replicated by the team of 2007 who won the inaugural George Watson's College MUN held in Edinburgh and also stormed to victory in November of the same year at Methodist College, Belfast [ [http://www.hampsteadschool.org.uk/news/latestnews_budding_diplomats_2007.htm Hampstead School ] ] , staking their claim in the annals of MUN folklore as one of only a couple simultaneous two-time UK champions. They also set a record at MCB for the highest ever yield of awards, with a team of seven delegates garnering five Best Delegate awards and two other mentions, as well as a Highly Commended General Assembly Delegation mention and the Best Overall Delegation award. They then successfully defended their Edinburgh title in 2008, being declared joint winners with Methodist College Belfast. The Hampstead team's record therefore currently stands at nine Best Delegate awards, seven other mentions, three Best Overall Delegation awards and two Highly Commended General Assembly Delegation mentions in the last three major conferences. The MUN trip was sponsored by Lotto Sport Italia, more commonly known as Lotto, with Hampstead School students on the trip enjoying the full benefits of their relationship with the Italian manufacturer. To the envy of students back home in London, this included the 'meet and greet' sessions with celebrated sportsman such as Gaston Gaudio, Pierre-Alain Frau and Dominik Hrbaty.

In addition to this, Hampstead Students have enjoyed much success in other forms of debating with a team of sixth-formers becoming Camden Mass Debating Champions in late 2007 and the Junior Mass Debating Society winning several exhibition debates against local rivals Queen's Park Community School in 2008, most notably the Mehdi Baala Master Debate, awarded to those who achieve exceptional results in this art form.

An infamous story passed down through generations at Hampstead School is the story of Iran Barkley, who only missed out on becoming a student only through the fact that his family lived less than a mile outside the catchment area. Barkley went on to become IBF and WBA Middleweight champion of the world, holding an impressive victory over Thomas Hearns, and competitive defeats to James Toney, Roberto Duran, Michael Nunn and Sumbu Kalambay amongst others. Senior sources under the Hampstead school umbrella have yet to confirm these stories either way.

Notable teachers

In the 1998 New Year's Honours List, Tamsyn Imison, then headteacher, was awarded a DBE. The citation stated that Imison had introduced initiatives to improve standards and ensured the best were spread to local schools. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/43595.stm "Teachers head honours class of '97"] , BBC News, 31 December 1997]

More recently Tony Cascarino, the former Chelsea, Millwall and Republic of Ireland striker, accepted a place on the PE teaching staff in the summer of 2007, only to stay for merely a term when he decided to pursue other interests in the field of professional poker. He has now returned for the summer term of 2008 having lost a substantial amount of money, two toes, a 50% share in a Batmobile, an industrial warehouse of three-legged koala bears, a dozen fuchsia Kappa tracksuits and a signed pair of Barry Hayles' underwear in a winner-takes-all, one hand poker match against 'Champagne' Charlie Nicholas.

In 2007, rumours have also surfaced that veteran pugilist Herbie Hide would visit the school for a light sparring session with former local resident Wayne Braithwaite, playfully known as 'Big Truck'. However this supposed session did not come to fruition.

Notable alumni

* Sadie Frost, actress [ [http://film.guardian.co.uk/Feature_Story/feature_story/0,,68709,00.html The questionnaire: Sadie Frost] , The Guardian, 20 February 1999]
* Tobias Hill, poet [ [http://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/120904/f120904_02.htm "The poet who works with kids and animals"] , "Camden New Journal", 10 December 2004. Accessed 18 November 2007.]
* Andrew McIntosh, Baron McIntosh of Haringey, politician [ [http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/release.php?id=3037 Lord McIntosh of Haringey - Scotland Office Spokesman in the House of Lords] , 26 June 2001, Scotland Office]
* Zadie Smith, novelist [ [http://www.granta.com/Contributors/Zadie-Smith Zadie Smith] ]
*Fatima Whitbread [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,904199,00.html Triumph and despair: Fatima Whitbread | Sport | The Observer ] ] , Olympic medallist and World Champion in 1987
*Li Tie, Professional football player, known for his exploits at Everton
*Alex Bogdanovic, British tennis player
*Barry Manilow, veteran crooner

References

External links

* [http://www.hampsteadschool.org.uk/ Official site]