Academy in Gidea Park, London, England
The Royal Liberty School is a secondary school for boys aged 11 to 16, located in Gidea Park in the London Borough of Havering, England.[1]
The school is situated on Upper Brentwood Road about 400 metres north of Gidea Park railway station, and approximately halfway between Gidea Park and Ardleigh Green to the north-east of Romford. It is in the parish of St. Michael & All Angels, Gidea Park.[2]
History
Grammar school
The school was founded in 1921 in the buildings at the grounds of Hare Hall and takes its name from the Royal Liberty of Havering. During this period an ornate koi pond was located within its grounds. It was once a traditional English grammar school, and also had a sixth form until 1992. In 2017 the school joined the Success for all Education trust.
The Royal Liberty was the first school in Europe to install an electronic computer (an Elliott 903, similar to the 920 military version) in 1965.
As a grammar school, it operated a squadron of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), incorporating basic, army, navy, and air cadets (including a training glider).
Comprehensive school
- 1974 – In accord with government policy, and in spite of manifest opposition, the school converts from a grammar to comprehensive school.
- 1989 – J. P. Coles, retired as headmaster after 25 years of service, with L. B. Thomas subsequently promoted from deputy head to headmaster.
- 1988 – The sixth form was twinned with the nearby Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls.
- 1992 – The sixth form was abolished.
- 1996 – School was placed into Ofsted special measures. L. B. Thomas left and S. Berwitz was appointed head.
- 2000 – School removed from special measures.
- 2001 – School cited by Ofsted as "one of the most improved schools in the UK".
- 2003 – Julia Deery was appointed head.
- 2004 – Bid launched for specialist school status, hoping to attract additional government funds.
- 2006 – School wins bid and becomes a Science College.
- 2014 – Julia Deery leaves, with April Saunders becoming head.
- 2017 – School coverts to academy status and joins the Success for all education trust
- 2022 - April Saunders leaves, with Lee Raftery becoming head.
Houses
The school's houses were previously known as Danes, Normans, Romans and Saxons. Then there was a period when they were known as Darwin, Newton, Rutherford and Salk. They are now known as Discovery, Challenger, Endeavour, Voyager and Apollo to reflect the school's status as a Science College. In the academic year of 2023, the names are changing to birds of prey. The plan is to change Apollo to Hawk, Challenger to Eagle, Discovery to Osprey Endeavour to Kestrel and Voyager to Falcon.
