Highgate School is a famous and prestigious British public school in Highgate, North London. It is run by a charity, the Highgate Foundation, which also manages both a prep and a pre-prep school.
History
The school was established, in 1565, by a Royal Charter patented by Elizabeth I giving permission for Sir Roger Cholmeley to erect a free grammar school for boys, making it one of the older schools in the United Kingdom.
Administration
Due to the Foundation's significant ownership of land and properties around the school, it has been able to invest greatly in the school's facilities; the relatively recent conversion from boarding to day school has increased the space available for this to continue. The Foundation's governing body consists of 12 members; 5 are nominated (one each by the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and London, by the Bishop of London, and by the Lord Chief Justice), and the rest are co-opted. The school is a member of the Eton Group of leading independent schools.
Notable Members of Staff
- Dr Szydlo - Dr Szydlo made a name for himself by appearing on Channel 4 TV Show "That'll Teach Them", where he was subjected to two classes, one of boys, one of girls to attempt to teach them O Level Chemistry with his wacky and zany style of chemistry teaching revolving around often risky experiments. He is best remembered for having ink flicked at him by a group of the girl students on the programme, and fans of his appearence on this show include radio presenter Al Smith
- Miss Picton - Miss Picton, one of the school's latin teachers, was the subject of a call onto Virgin Radio show The Geoff Show where a female Highgate pupil made the claim that she was the daugher of one of the Chuckle Brothers. However, this claim has not since been verified.
- Jon Ingold - Jon H Ingold is one of the leading teachers in Highgate School's Maths department; however outside this community he is best know as the author of many works of interactive fiction. He has been nominated for the XYZZY Awards on many occasions and has won several times.
Notable pupils
- Claudio Elliston. Claudio was a muched loved pupil of students and staff.
Alumni
Former pupils are known as "Old Cholmeleians" after the school's founder, Sir Roger Cholmeley, and, as is common with prestigious British schools, Highgate has a very diverse range of famous old boys. The Old Cholmeleians Society, of which students become members on leaving, ensures that former pupils retain a connection to the school, a custom that is typical of a school with traditional values. Members include:
- Charles Clarke
- Anthony Crosland,
- Johnny Borrell of Razorlight
- John Hassall of The Libertines/Yeti
- Crispin Mills from Kula Shaker
- Harry Thompson
- Barry Norman
- Murray Walker
- Geoffrey Palmer
- Gerard Hoffnung
- Sir Clive Sinclair
- Sir John Tavener
- John Rutter
- Phil Tufnell
- Sir John Betjeman (was taught by T S Eliot)
- Gerard Manley Hopkins
- John Venn
- Martin Gilbert