History of the School 1903

In 1903 a request was made to Reverend Mother Angela Bowen at Forest Gate for a secondary school in Ilford. This was granted and Mother Regis Woodlock was chosen as Headmistress and mother Cecilia Cremonini as her companion.

A double fronted, three-story house , “Hainault”, at 73 Cranbrook Road, was rented and the school was scheduled to open on 4th May 1903. The morning was rainy and windy and the two nuns traveled by two-horse tram to Manor Park, changing there to a horse-bus to Ilford Broadway. Forty pupils had been promised but only seven presented themselves. Ranging in age from five to eleven, five girls under Mother Regis and a small girl and boy under mother Cecilia. By Christmas numbers had increased to 59, some of these Ilford residents who had transferred form Forest Gate.

In those early days the attic was dignified by the name “assembly hall”. Here drill was given with Mother Regis as gymnast and mother Cecilia on the piano. On many occasions drill was given in the garden and the formers demonstrations were often observed by the maids of neighboring houses eagerly watching from their bedroom windows.

In the summer of 1904, the adjoining house “Heathfield” was rented, subsequently to be purchased in 1906 with a far larger garden and room for future development and a large billiard room at the top of the house, where the first, very modest Prize giving was held on 19th July. During the summer holidays “Hainualt” was evacuated in favor of “Heathfield”. In December, nine pupils sat for Cambridge Junior and Preliminary Grades, all passing - one gaining Honours.

Throughout 1905 and 1906 the number of staff - nuns and secular – and pupils continued to increase, the majority of pupils being Protestants. The increase in numbers continued steadily until extension of some kind became absolutely necessary.

In September 1907 another house in Cranbrook Road , the “Chestnuts”, was rented to house Mother Cecilia and the juniors, whilst plans were drawn up for building a new school at the end of the garden facing Morland Road . During 1908 Mother Mary Austin McCarthy, a name remembered by many, joined the staff.

On 27th November 1908 a holiday was given in order to move into the new school and by Saturday 28th November all was straight except for the Assembly Hall which was not ready until 7th December. There was great excitement on Monday 30th November when the children arrived. The building had been blessed by Cannon Palmer three days previously. Unfortunately, December saw several cases of diphtheria, consequently the school closed early for Christmas Holidays.

The formal opening of the new school took place on 14th January 1909, with mixed feelings of joy and pride.