Rickmansworth School
(© Rickmansworth School) Rickmansworth School Crest
Despite its name, Rickmansworth School is situated within the Parish of Croxley Green. Occupying some 26 acres and enjoying a woodland setting, the school has seen many changes since accommodating its first pupils in September 1954. Formally opened by Countess Mountbatten of Burma on 20th June 1956, the school was the one hundred and twentieth to be built in Hertfordshire since 1948 and the fifth Grammar school to be built nationally after the Second World War.
One of Hertfordshire’s largest at the time, the school was said to be the envy of Grammar schools across the country. This was not solely due to the many specialist facilities offered but also to the modern buildings and layout. The twelve teaching posts advertised attracted hundreds of applications. The caretaker’s house was a modern dwelling built at the entrance to the school. One hundred and twenty eight people applied for the job. The school was designed as four separate blocks, three of which were then connected during construction. The intake of pupils was distributed between four houses respectively named, Caius, Carey, Penn and Anson. The names have changed since but the House system is still used on sports day.
The first Headmaster was Mr. Peter Morrill and Miss Mildred Lomas - Collings was the first Headmistress. They laid down the basis for the school’s on-going success. Continued growth in the local population ensured a corresponding growth in the size of the school and that in turn allowed for wider opportunities to study a varied curriculum. Children living in and around Croxley Green also had the advantage of attending a local Grammar school instead of the limited places at the Watford Boys’ and Girls’ Grammar schools.
In 1969 Comprehensive status brought about ‘all ability’ admission which did away with selection by the ‘11 + examination’. However, the School was still maintained as a County School funded by Hertfordshire Local Education Authority. In September 1990 it was one of the first schools in the country to take advantage of a new scheme and be offered Grant maintained status, and therefore become self -governing. The Board of Governors was responsible for overseeing expenditure. Change came again in 1999 when the status Foundation School was introduced.
Rickmansworth School continues to offer a wide range of academic options for pupils to advance their studies. The school’s Latin motto: ‘nisi Dominus aedifcaverit’ was taken from Psalm 127 “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that built it” Sources The Croxley Resident number 51
The current school website can be found here www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk
One of Hertfordshire’s largest at the time, the school was said to be the envy of Grammar schools across the country. This was not solely due to the many specialist facilities offered but also to the modern buildings and layout. The twelve teaching posts advertised attracted hundreds of applications. The caretaker’s house was a modern dwelling built at the entrance to the school. One hundred and twenty eight people applied for the job. The school was designed as four separate blocks, three of which were then connected during construction. The intake of pupils was distributed between four houses respectively named, Caius, Carey, Penn and Anson. The names have changed since but the House system is still used on sports day.
The first Headmaster was Mr. Peter Morrill and Miss Mildred Lomas - Collings was the first Headmistress. They laid down the basis for the school’s on-going success. Continued growth in the local population ensured a corresponding growth in the size of the school and that in turn allowed for wider opportunities to study a varied curriculum. Children living in and around Croxley Green also had the advantage of attending a local Grammar school instead of the limited places at the Watford Boys’ and Girls’ Grammar schools.
In 1969 Comprehensive status brought about ‘all ability’ admission which did away with selection by the ‘11 + examination’. However, the School was still maintained as a County School funded by Hertfordshire Local Education Authority. In September 1990 it was one of the first schools in the country to take advantage of a new scheme and be offered Grant maintained status, and therefore become self -governing. The Board of Governors was responsible for overseeing expenditure. Change came again in 1999 when the status Foundation School was introduced.
Rickmansworth School continues to offer a wide range of academic options for pupils to advance their studies. The school’s Latin motto: ‘nisi Dominus aedifcaverit’ was taken from Psalm 127 “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that built it” Sources The Croxley Resident number 51
The current school website can be found here www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk
(© loaned by Richard Smith) 1960 School photograph
Names for the above picture - can you help with the missing names?
Back Row Left - Richard Smith, Tony Parish, Malcolm Smith, Clive Norris, Mick Dowdall, Roger H. Smith, Dave Richings, Gordon Adams, Colin Graham, David Deacon, Michael Soper, Trveor Denton
Middle Row - Mary Toogood, Brenda Hardwick, Angela Lindsey, Rosemary Robinson, Mr Little, Ann Pattinson, Patricia Townsend, Diane York, Lesley Matthews
Front Row - Jean Snell Leah Canvin
Back Row Left - Richard Smith, Tony Parish, Malcolm Smith, Clive Norris, Mick Dowdall, Roger H. Smith, Dave Richings, Gordon Adams, Colin Graham, David Deacon, Michael Soper, Trveor Denton
Middle Row - Mary Toogood, Brenda Hardwick, Angela Lindsey, Rosemary Robinson, Mr Little, Ann Pattinson, Patricia Townsend, Diane York, Lesley Matthews
Front Row - Jean Snell Leah Canvin
(© loaned by Richard Smith) Juniper Hall Field Centre - a Biology Feild Trip in Summer 1959
Back Row - Brendan Powell, Mick Dowdall, Mick Nicholls, Richard Smith, Roger H. Smith
(© loaned by Richard Smith) Juniper Hall Field Centre - a Biology Feild Trip in Summer 1959
Names - Richard Smith, Roger H Smith, Mick Dowdall
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(© loaned by Richard Smith) Autographs from the class of 62 and Teachers
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(© loaned by Richard Smith) Amersham Mixed Hockey 7's March 1968 - note our shirts were designed by the members of the Rosarians Hockey Club formed in 1963 after we had left Ricky Grammar school. We played against local clubs
and also at the Lowestoft Hockey Festival each Easter - ( mens
team only ) but also some mixed hockey on Sundays too.
(© loaned by Richard Smith) 1960 School Hockey Team
Back Row - Richard Smith, Martin Ware, Les Hodgins, Alan Cartwright, Dave Boyce, Colin Rowe
Front Row - Dickie Valentine, Ken Franklin, Martin hartley ( Captain), Derek Hughes, Nick Francis
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(© loaned by Richard Smith) Back Row - Dave Boyce, Stuart Gibson, Colin Robinson, Martin Ware, Geoff Noble, John Child
Front Row - Les Hodgins, Ken Franklin, Nick Francis ( captain ), Derek Hughes, Dave Richings
Richard was absent when that photo was taken.
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(© David Hillas) Gymnastics at Rickmansworth Grammer School June 1969
Rickmansworth School c1974
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Rickmansworth School c1974
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c1974 Mr. Abrahams Class
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c1976 Class 2RL
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c1979 Mr Hills Class
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c1979 Rickmansworth School
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Staff - 2020
Mr M. Fletcher - Headteacher Mr C. Hambleton - Deputy Headteacher Mrs V. Cartledge - Deputy Headteacher Mr R. Titley - Assistant Headteacher Mr S. White - Assistant Headteacher Miss M. Parry - Assistant Headteacher Mrs E. Gritten - Director of Finance & Business Ms. A-M Sprenger - Year 7 Mr R. Nelson - Year 8 Ms U. Ghantiwala - Year 9 Mr G. Burgess - Year 10 Mr S. Berry - Year 11 Mr S. White - Director of Sixth Form Miss N. Westland - Deputy Director of Sixth |
Staff - 2019
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Mr M. Fletcher - Headteacher Mr P. Thompson - Deputy Headteacher Mr C. Hambleton, - Associate Deputy Headteacher Ms V. Lane - Assistant Headteacher Mr R. Titley - Assistant Headteacher Ms L. Cramp - Acting Assistant Headteacher Mr S. White - Acting Assistant Headteacher DIRECTORS OF LEARNING AND HEADS OF YEAR Ms A-M. Sprenger - Director of Learning Year 7 Ms U Ghantiwala - Director of Learning Year 8 Mr G. Burgess - Director of Learning Year 9 Mr S Berry - Director of Learning Year 10 Mr R Nelson - Director of Learning Year 11 Mr S. White - Head of Sixth Form |
Staff - 2018
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Mr Keith Douglas - Headteacher Mr Paul Thompson - Deputy Headteacher Mr Chris Hambleton - Assistant Headteacher Ms Verity Lane - Assistant Headteacher Mr Richard Titley - Assistant Headteacher DIRECTORS OF LEARNING AND HEADS OF YEAR Mr S White - Acting Director of Learning for Year 7 Mr G Burgess - Director of Learning Years 8 & 9 Mrs A-M Sprenger - Deputy Head of Key Stage 3 Mr R Nelson - Director of Learning for Years 10 & 11 Mrs K Link - Deputy Head of Years 10 & 11 Mr C Eley - Head of Sixth Form Ms A Hughes - Deputy Head of Sixth Form |
(© Lynn Withington) Armistice Commemoration 2018 at Rickmansworth School
To commemorate 100 years since the signing of the Armistice which ended World War One, a ceremony was held at Rickmansworth School on Friday 9th November 2018.
Following an assembly led by the Head of History, 95 pupils from Rickmansworth and Harvey Road each placed a wooden cross around the tree outside the main building.
Each cross bore the name of a soldier from Croxley who lost his life in the War. A year 11 pupil played The Last Post from the roof of the music block and the whole school fell silent for two minutes.
The winning entry in a poetry competition was then read aloud to close a very moving tribute from the young people of Croxley Green to those young men who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Following an assembly led by the Head of History, 95 pupils from Rickmansworth and Harvey Road each placed a wooden cross around the tree outside the main building.
Each cross bore the name of a soldier from Croxley who lost his life in the War. A year 11 pupil played The Last Post from the roof of the music block and the whole school fell silent for two minutes.
The winning entry in a poetry competition was then read aloud to close a very moving tribute from the young people of Croxley Green to those young men who made the ultimate sacrifice.
(© Lynn Withington) Rickmansworth School Remembrance Garden
On Monday 11th November 2019 pupils and staff gathered in the new school garden. Year 7 pupils had made poppies bearing messages of remembrance which they placed in the ground. The Last Post was played by a pupil from the roof of the music block and the two minute silence was observed by all.
Three pupils had also represented the school at the Croxley Green parade and service the day before. They laid a wreath on the war memorial along with other local schools and groups.
Three pupils had also represented the school at the Croxley Green parade and service the day before. They laid a wreath on the war memorial along with other local schools and groups.
