Woodhouse College Explained

Woodhouse College
Coordinates:51.6115°N -0.1686°W
Type:Academy sixth form
Trust:Frontier Learning Trust
Head Label:Principal
Head:Sugra Alibhai
Address:Woodhouse Road
City:Finchley
County:London
Country:England
Postcode:N12 9EY
Local Authority:London Borough of Barnet
Ofsted:yes
Urn:148421
Enrolment:1060 (2008/9)
Gender:Co-Educational
Lower Age:16
Upper Age:18
Website:http://www.woodhouse.ac.uk

Woodhouse College is a single site selective state sixth form centre situated between North Finchley and Friern Barnet on the eastern side of the London Borough of Barnet in North London, England. It is one of the most successful sixth form colleges in England and is a member of The Maple Group. It was formerly a state grammar school, known as Woodhouse Grammar School.

Admissions

The college caters mainly for full-time students aged 16 to 18 whose primary aim is to progress to Higher Education. Entrance grade criteria are similar to other high-performing sixth forms in Barnet.

History

Woodhouse Grammar School

After the First World War, the former residence of ornamental plasterer Thomas Collins (1735–1830) in the Woodhouse area of Finchley was reconstructed; the house became The Woodhouse School in 1923. A blue plaque commemorating Thomas Collins is on the wall outside the present college office. The school coat of arms with the motto 'Cheerfulness with Industry' is still displayed above the stage in the college hall.

During the Second World War, the school continued to function while the basement was used by the ARP service. The names of the forty-seven former pupils who died during WWII are recorded in a hand-illuminated Roll of Honour which hangs at the foot of the main staircase near the front entrance to the college. The Roll of Honour also records the names of the four houses of the old grammar school: Gordon, Livingstone, Nightingale and Scott.[1]

Sixth Form

Woodhouse Grammar School was later reconstituted as Woodhouse Sixth Form College. There were plans to merge the school with Friern Barnet County Secondary School in 1971, but these were blocked by local MP Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher gave a speech at the college in May 1983.[2]

In January 2021 Woodhouse College converted to academy status and is now part of the Frontier Learning Trust.[3]

Academic performance

The college achieves above average A-level results. Woodhouse College's 2022 results were 83% grades A* - B.[4]

Notable alumni

Woodhouse Grammar School

Woodhouse Sixth Form College

External links

Notes and References

  1. By Word and Deed - a chronicle of Woodhouse 1922-49 by Percy Reboul published by the Friends of Woodhouse
  2. Web site: Speech at Adoption Meeting (1983 May 19). Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 16 January 2016.
  3. Web site: Frontier Learning Trust. www.frontierlearningtrust.ac.uk.
  4. Web site: Woodhouse celebrates its best ever A level results. Woodhouse College. 18 August 2022.
  5. Web site: Taylor . John . Giles Hart . The Independent . Independent News and Media . 2005-07-29 . 2009-02-03 .
  6. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5312941.ece Oliver Postgate obituary
  7. News: Hari. Johann. Johann Hari: What I've got in common with Jamie Oliver's kids. 28 March 2011. The Independent. 22 March 2011.