St. Christopher School, Letchworth
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St. Christopher School was set up in 1915 shortly after Ebenezer Howard founded Letchworth Garden City. It was to be a school 'where members of different faiths shall be encouraged to mix together and in this way to learn a respect and tolerance for beliefs other than their own'. Overall the aim was to create a community that would encourage the positive development of all the capacities that lie within the child.
Notable hallmarks include the lack of school uniform and the freedom and encouragement to address teachers by their first names. Until recently all Major Officials (the school's equivalent of a prefect) were nominated and elected by school pupils. Students and staff alike had a say at the school council meeting and the School Meeting, but the headmaster reserved the right to veto any he deemed unworkable or unacceptable.
It was founded in 1915 by Dr Armstrong Smith. Beatrice Ensor and Isabel King assumed joint headship following Smith's retirement the previous year, but both women left to head Frensham Heights in Surrey in 1925.
The School in its present form developed under the guidance of Lyn and Eleanor Harris (1925-1953) and their son Nicholas (1954-1980). Following Nicholas' death in a road accident in Spain, the governors hired Colin Reid, essentially to carry on his work. Colin was Head from 1981-2004.
The headmaster for the next two years was Donald Wilkinson, who made many changes to the running of the school during his short spell. Mr. Wilkinson's alterations to the way the school was run, including its system of self government, led to much controversy.
Donald Wilkinson resigned the headship on 28th September 2006 for personal reasons. The Chairman of Governors thanked Donald for his contribution to the development of the School and in particular for the raising of academic standards both at GCSE and A level.
The current Head is Richard Palmer. Having first studied during a GAP year and later taught Craft, Design and Technology at the School and having been a boarding houseparent before leaving to teach at two other schools, Richard returned in 2004 as Head of the Junior School. He acted as Head of the whole school in the interregnum following Donald Wilkinson's departure but on the 11th December 2006, he was announced as the permanent Headmaster.
The school is the proud holder of the world record for having the oldest running Parent Teacher Association (P.T.A.).[citation needed]
[edit] Headteachers
- Dr Armstrong Smith (1915-1918)
- Beatrice Ensor & Isabel King (1919-1925)
- Lyn & Eleanor Harris (1925-1953)
- Nicholas King-Harris (1954-1980)
- Colin Reid (1981-2004)
- Donald Wilkinson (2004-2006)
- Richard Palmer (2006-present)
[edit] Famous ex-pupils
- Gavin Campbell actor
- Neil Coles golfer
- Jonathan Croall author
- Jenny Diski author
- A A Gill restaurant critic
- Paul Hamlyn publisher
- Ralph Halpern entrepreneur
- Neil Murray rock bass guitarist
- Shaun Slovo author
- Michael Winner film producer
