Sanders Draper School

Infobox UK school
name = Sanders Draper School


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motto = "Positive achievement for all"
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established = 1937 "(actual)"
1938 "(official)"
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closed =
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type = Comprehensive school
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founder = Lady Simon
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specialist =
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city = Hornchurch
county = Greater London
country = England
postcode =
LEA = London Borough of Havering
ofsted = 102341
staff =
enrollment = 954 [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=102341&providerCategoryID=32 Ofsted School information] Official UK schools body information pages]
gender = Co-educational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
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website = http://www.sandersdraper.org.uk
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The Sanders Draper School is a mixed-gender secondary school for students aged between 11 and 16 located in Hornchurch, London Borough of Havering, UK. It is a specialist science school and it shares its grounds with Sutton's Junior & Infant school, just off Suttons Lane. It consists of four main buildings and a large sports and playground.

History

The school was opened in 1937, but was only officially founded on June 2nd, 1938 by Lady Simon, as "Suttons Modern Secondary School". It was built to provide educational facilities for between 950 and 1,100 students. It originally housed boys and girls in different departments with the boys on the southern edge, eventually running as two separate school establishments (one for boys and the other for girls) in 1945. The two "establishments" were amalgamated as one mixed school in 1953. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42814#s5 British History online, excerpt from "A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7"] ]

On March 24th, 1943, American-born Flying Officer Raimond Sanders-Draper (voluntarily flying for the RAF), took off from Sutton's Aerodrome. The aerodrome perimeter was only 530 yard (485m) from the school grounds. Shortly after take off, Sanders-Draper developed engine trouble and was forced to take emergency action. It is believed he chose to put his Spitfire nose-down into the playing fields, rather than make an attempt at landing on larger open grounds, as he was not sure he could avoid hitting the school with his now much-reduced engine power. The aircraft broke and the "main parts" ricocheted, breaking 9 windows and scoring the outside wall.

Only one student, 13 year old Richard (Dick) Burton ("sometimes Barten," [ [http://www.sandersdraper.org.uk/OurSchool/BriefHistory/tabid/208/Default.aspx History excerpt from School Website] ] ) was injured, with 5 other students treated for minor shock. Tragically, this heroic action was responsible for the death of Raimond Sanders-Draper. In honour and recognition of his bravery, Suttons School officially changed it's name to "The Sanders-Draper School" in 1973. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42814#s5 British History online, another excerpt from "A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7"] ]

This is a log from one of the students who witnessed the accident [ [http://www.ultralab.anglia.ac.uk/pages/schools_online/schools/Sanders_Draper/History.html Sanders Draper History] ] :

At 10.45am an aircraft crashed on the playing field, the main parts being ricocheted onto the drive, fragments breaking a total of 9 windows in three classrooms. Splinters from the 'plane scored the wall and injured the playing field and shrubbery. Richard Burton received a cut on the leg from flying glass needing medical attention and five boys were treated from primary shock. The boy with the injured leg was conveyed to his home by ambulance, under Dr. Heath's orders. School was evacuated to shelter for 15 mins. owing to probability of danger from fire and exploding ammunition. By 11.15am the school had resumed normal work.

Alumni

Freddie Sears

References

External links

* [http://www.sandersdraper.org.uk/ Sanders Draper School Official Website]
* [http://www.ultralab.anglia.ac.uk/pages/schools_online/schools/Sanders_Draper/History.html School history from the "Schools Online project" (Some information incorrect - written by students) ]