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Hampstead School

Hampstead School
Location
Map
Westbere Road

London
,
NW2 3RT

United Kingdom
Coordinates51°33′21″N 0°12′26″W / 51.55577°N 0.20711°W / 51.55577; -0.20711
Information
TypeCommunity school
MottoLearning together, achieving together
Established1862
Local authorityCamden
Department for Education URN100052 Tables
OfstedReports
HeadmasterMatthew Sadler
GenderCo-educational[1]
Age11 to 19[1]
Enrolment1,300[1]
Colour(s)Red, black and white
Websitewww.hampsteadschool.org.uk

Hampstead School is a large comprehensive school in the London Borough of Camden, located in West Hampstead in North London.

About 1,300 students between the ages of 11 and 19 attend its Lower School (Year 7 through to Year 11) and Sixth Form College (Year 12 and Year 13). Hampstead School's headmaster since 2020 is Matt Sadler.[2]

History

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The main school building on Westbere Road is one of West Hampstead's oldest buildings. It was originally the site of Haberdashers' Aske's Hampstead School after relocating from its original Hoxton premises in January 1903 and before moving in 1961 to its present location when it became Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, Elstree.

Hampstead School was founded as a secondary modern in 1961 and incorporated Harben Secondary Modern School in Netherwood Street, Kilburn,[3] before becoming a comprehensive.

The main building façade still displays the old Latin motto Is est emendo; tendo quod macula iocus notitia ((in English) To correct faults, give direction and impart knowledge).[4]

Academic standards

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Hampstead School was awarded a 'gold star' accolade by Ofsted in 2001, which 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.[5]

Some aspects of the school's performance according to Ofsted dipped after the 2005 inspection. In particular, attendance and GCSE results fell sharply in 2006. However, according to Ofsted this dip was corrected by 2008.[6]

GCSE students sitting their examinations in 2010 achieved the school's highest Key Stage 4 results to date, surpassing the record set by the 2009 cohort.[7]

The 2012 Ofsted report graded the school as 'good' for both achievement of pupils and quality of teaching.[8]

Sixth Form

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Hampstead School's approach, many of whose students enter the Sixth Form with below average standards,[6] enables most go on to university.[6]

Debating

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The school's Debating Society meets every Friday and includes students from all year groups.[9]

In 2005, 21 students from Hampstead School became the first team from a comprehensive school to win top prize for being Best Delegation at the Model United Nations (MUN) Forum held at Belfast. Providing participants with the opportunity to debate issues of international concern, the MUN Forum was attended by over 250 delegates from 20 selected schools throughout England, Canada, Burkina Faso and America. Hampstead School students also received several awards for outstanding individual performances.[10]

Entering two teams to compete in the biennial competition hosted by Woodhouse College in North Finchley, one of Hampstead School's teams (representing North Korea) won the 2017 MUN Best Delegation Award.

The Hampstead Trash

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In 2013 headmaster Jacques Szemalikowski reported to the police a pupil who had set up a website critical of Hampstead School.[11]

School mural

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In 2024, Old Hampsteadian graffiti artist Pref inspired a new 17-metre-wide (56 ft) and 7-metre-tall (23 ft) artwork for the school’s D&T building. Welcoming its creation, headmaster Matt Sadler commented: "the previous, smaller, mural that was replaced had been in situ for 12 years, but I hope the new one will last even longer..."[12]

Notable former pupils

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Alumni (Old Hampsteadians) include:

Notable teachers

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In the 1998 New Year Honours, then-headmistress Tamsyn Imison was appointed DBE:[28] citing that Dame Tamsyn Imison had introduced initiatives to improve standards and ensured the best were spread to local schools.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Hampstead School". Get information about schools. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  2. ^ www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk
  3. ^ Kilburn website, accessed 9 September 2013
  4. ^ www.hampsteadschool.org.uk
  5. ^ "Schools with the golden touch"[dead link], Liz Lightfoot, The Daily Telegraph, 19 June 2001
  6. ^ a b c Ofsted report October 2008[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ BBC report January 2010
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Hampstead School official website". Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Budding diplomats from Hampstead School sweep the board in model United Nations", Camden Council website, 9 November 2005. Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine accessed November 2007
  11. ^ Davis, Anna. "Hampstead headteacher tells police of pupil 'enchanted by anarchism' and tips off his chosen university." London Evening Standard. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  12. ^ www.hamhigh.co.uk
  13. ^ www.independent.co.uk
  14. ^ Anon (2019). "Brockdorff, Prof. Neil". Who's Who (online Oxford University Press ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  15. ^ www.tate.org.uk
  16. ^ "New name for Berkshire Maestros: Berkshire Music Trust". Wokingham.Today. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  17. ^ Proctor, Ian (13 May 2011). "Brent's new mayor unveiled". harrowobserver.co.uk. Harrow Observer. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  18. ^ The questionnaire: Sadie Frost, The Guardian, 20 February 1999
  19. ^ "The poet who works with kids and animals" Archived 22 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Camden New Journal, 10 December 2004. Accessed 18 November 2007.
  20. ^ "Jervis Johnson LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  21. ^ www.joffebooks.com
  22. ^ www.camdennewjournal.com, Camden New Journal, 17 March 2011
  23. ^ Lord McIntosh of Haringey – Government Spokesman in House of Lords for Scotland Office Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 26 June 2001, Scotland Office
  24. ^ www.prefprefpref.com
  25. ^ www.bbc.co.uk
  26. ^ www.londonmuseum.org.uk
  27. ^ "Holocaust Memorial Day in Camden - Keeping the Memory Alive". Camden Council. London Borough of Camden. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2022. Milly Toomey, who recently attended Hampstead School
  28. ^ Millennium Dame - interview with Tamsyn Imison: Times Educational Supplement, 20 March 2008 includes much comment on Hampstead School accessed 20 July 2010
  29. ^ "Teachers head honours class of '97", BBC News, 31 December 1997
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