Elm Wood Primary School
Encyclopedia
Elm Wood School is a primary school based at the southern end of the inner London Borough of Lambeth
. The school has gone through a number of changes since its establishment at the beginning of the twentieth century reflecting the changing policies of local and national governing authorities as well as the changing nature of the community it serves.
, was opened for children up to the age of 14. This was built by the London County Council
, reducing the burden placed on earlier established neighbouring schools (such as Salter’s Hill School (now known as Kingswood School) and Gipsy Road School (which stood on the site later occupied by Norwood School
, Norwood Park Primary School, and now is the temporary home for Elmgreen School
). In the 1930s (c.1933/34), the school became known as West Norwood Central School (or West Norwood Central Council School) . The name was not indicative of the geographic position of the school within South London
, given that the school buildings were on the very edge of West Norwood
’s border with West Dulwich
(with two of the four roads enclosing the block in which the school stands are in West Dulwich). Following the Education Act 1944
, when the schooling system in the United Kingdom
was restructured into primary, secondary and further education, the school became a Secondary School under the name West Norwood Central Mixed School in 1951/1952, also known as West Norwood Secondary School or West Norwood Comprehensive.
In this form, the school was deemed to have been a pioneer. However, in the late 1950s a number of schools were established by the London County Council
to form the vanguard of comprehensive education. A large number of pupils and staff from West Norwood Central moved to the brand new Kingsdale School
which opened in 1958. Of the remaining pupils within West Norwood Central’s former catchment area, a great many went to the newly established Norwood School for Girls
, based at that time on the same premises as the former Gipsy Road School. For those wanting boys only education, the giant Tulse Hill School
for boys had been established in 1956 and had already been taking in pupils that may formerly have done to West Norwood Central.
After this, in 1960/1961 the school became a primary school for children up to the age of 11 under the new name of Elm Wood Primary School. Colloquially, the school’s name has been spelt both as Elmwood and Elm Wood but the school is officially Elm Wood School, a Junior and Mixed Infants School.
. Since 2006 however the school has changed dramatically, from the building of a multi-purpose sports facility in the rear playground to an ICT suite which has replaced a library and resource room.
inspection of that year which stated that the school was very well led by the headteacher and deputy headteacher.
was awarded £4.3million of government funds for better sports facilities. The first beneficiary of this was Elm Wood which was given money to build a Multi-Use Games Area with markings for basketball, netball, tennis, five-aside football and kwik cricket.
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
. The school has gone through a number of changes since its establishment at the beginning of the twentieth century reflecting the changing policies of local and national governing authorities as well as the changing nature of the community it serves.
History
In 1929 Carnac Street Central School (or Carnac Street Central Council School), a Secondary Elementary SchoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, was opened for children up to the age of 14. This was built by the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
, reducing the burden placed on earlier established neighbouring schools (such as Salter’s Hill School (now known as Kingswood School) and Gipsy Road School (which stood on the site later occupied by Norwood School
The Norwood School
Norwood School is an independent co-educational K-8 school in Bethesda, Maryland founded in 1952.-History:Norwood was founded as an Episcopal parish day school. In early 1952, in response to requests from parishioners, the Rector of St. John’s Church, Norwood Parish, asked Frances Marsh, the...
, Norwood Park Primary School, and now is the temporary home for Elmgreen School
Elmgreen School
The Elmgreen School in West Norwood is the first Parent Promoted secondary school to be created in the UK under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The school is a specialist Humanities College.-History:...
). In the 1930s (c.1933/34), the school became known as West Norwood Central School (or West Norwood Central Council School) . The name was not indicative of the geographic position of the school within South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, given that the school buildings were on the very edge of West Norwood
West Norwood
West Norwood is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is primarily a residential suburb of south London but with some light industry near Knights Hill in the south....
’s border with West Dulwich
West Dulwich
West Dulwich is an area in southeast London, England, that straddles the London Borough of Lambeth and the London Borough of Southwark. Croxted Road and South Croxted Road mark the boundary between London Borough of Southwark on the east and London Borough of Lambeth to the west...
(with two of the four roads enclosing the block in which the school stands are in West Dulwich). Following the Education Act 1944
Education Act 1944
The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary schools in England and Wales. This Act, commonly named after the Conservative politician R.A...
, when the schooling system in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
was restructured into primary, secondary and further education, the school became a Secondary School under the name West Norwood Central Mixed School in 1951/1952, also known as West Norwood Secondary School or West Norwood Comprehensive.
In this form, the school was deemed to have been a pioneer. However, in the late 1950s a number of schools were established by the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
to form the vanguard of comprehensive education. A large number of pupils and staff from West Norwood Central moved to the brand new Kingsdale School
Kingsdale School
Kingsdale School is a mixed comprehensive secondary school in West Dulwich, Southwark, South London, England, with an age range of 11–18. The school is operated by the Southwark London Borough Council....
which opened in 1958. Of the remaining pupils within West Norwood Central’s former catchment area, a great many went to the newly established Norwood School for Girls
The Norwood School
Norwood School is an independent co-educational K-8 school in Bethesda, Maryland founded in 1952.-History:Norwood was founded as an Episcopal parish day school. In early 1952, in response to requests from parishioners, the Rector of St. John’s Church, Norwood Parish, asked Frances Marsh, the...
, based at that time on the same premises as the former Gipsy Road School. For those wanting boys only education, the giant Tulse Hill School
Tulse Hill School
Tulse Hill School was a large comprehensive school for boys in Upper Tulse Hill, in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. The school spanned eight floors and had almost two thousand pupils. It opened in 1956 and closed in 1990. Notable alumni included Ken Livingstone, ex London...
for boys had been established in 1956 and had already been taking in pupils that may formerly have done to West Norwood Central.
After this, in 1960/1961 the school became a primary school for children up to the age of 11 under the new name of Elm Wood Primary School. Colloquially, the school’s name has been spelt both as Elmwood and Elm Wood but the school is officially Elm Wood School, a Junior and Mixed Infants School.
School name
The school’s name has reflected its location in all its changing forms. Originally known as Carnac Street School, this reflected the street upon which its entrance faces. Its next incarnation as West Norwood Central School (and Central Mixed School) is reflective of the fact that it is based in West Norwood. Elmwood (and Elm Wood) appear to be a departure from this trend. However, the area, which was once part of what was called the great Northwood (from which the area Norwood itself is a corruption), was once strewn with Elms which is reflected in many other local place names such as Elm Court Road, The Elms, Elmworth Grove, all within a half mile radius of the school.Buildings
The school is very little changed since it was first built at the beginning of the twentieth century. In the playground, an 'annexe' was built housing two classrooms built to absorb the 'baby boom', which were in use around 1970. In the centre of the front wall remains a coat of arms, although these are not those specifically of the school but of the London County CouncilLondon County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. Since 2006 however the school has changed dramatically, from the building of a multi-purpose sports facility in the rear playground to an ICT suite which has replaced a library and resource room.
Education
The school serves an area of mixed socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, with around 10% of pupils speaking English as a second language at an early stage of language acquisition. In 1999 the school was found to have serious weaknesses but had improved considerably by 2001 according to the OFSTEDOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
inspection of that year which stated that the school was very well led by the headteacher and deputy headteacher.
Sports facilities
In 2004 Lambeth London Borough CouncilLambeth London Borough Council
Lambeth London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Lambeth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
was awarded £4.3million of government funds for better sports facilities. The first beneficiary of this was Elm Wood which was given money to build a Multi-Use Games Area with markings for basketball, netball, tennis, five-aside football and kwik cricket.
Headteachers
- Mrs Agnes Kretowicz to 1984
- Mr Parsons from 1984
- Ms C Eames-Jones
- Catherine Marshall 2006 to "2007"
- Stephen Hall from 2007 to 2010
- Miranda Gibb from 2010