EDUCATION HISTORY
This section has a brief description of education in our area. We will update over time.
First records of Education with Sanderstead seemed to have been around 1831. This is from a drawing labeled “ Sanderstead Village School”. There is however mention within the census of 1841 of a teacher and a home of a teacher. The Tithe apportionment Map of 1843 shows a school in a cottage opposite “The White House” (On the Gruffy side).
In a inquiry in 1873, the return from Sanderstead showed that the school was housed in a single room owned by Col. Wigsell. The School was managed by Col. Wigsell and the Rector. The teacher was Helena Hawes.In 1875, Sanderstead had a school board made up of five members. Col. Wigsell donated land and the school. It was first designed to hold 75 pupils. The original school is part of Gresham School today. The new school opened for the first time in 1876.
Not much changed within Sanderstead for a number of years. In fact it wasn’t until the residents called a conference in 1937 to complain and consider the provisions for a new secondary school in the area. The county Council had already acquired land in mitchly wood which could be a possible area for a new school.It wasn’t to after the Second World War that things started to change within the area. Due to the growth of the population within the area. The original Sanderstead Village school was not adequate.
Brief history of schools within Sanderstead Parish.
Atwood School
Opened in June 1960. In 1989, while the school was being enlarged, the site was excavated and the findings proved that there was a roman community within Sanderstead around 600 BC. The Name of the School comes from the Atwood Family who had a long history within the area.
Beech House School
Was founded in 1932 by to ladies. Miss Whisler and Miss Christopherson. It was located in Church way as where it still is today. Originally it had around 25 pupils aged four to eleven. Today it has around 40 pupils aged three to seven
Croydon High School
Originally sited in North End, Croydon in 1874. Founded by the Girls Public Day School trust. It became to large and moved to wellesley road in 1880. The site in selsdon became it’s new home in 1966 due to it outgrowing the site. Today, the school still has a high reputation within the area as one of the best girl schools.
Gresham School
As the above. The school was originally called “Sanderstead Board School” or Village School. During the WW2, the school was shut for a period until shelters were built to protect the children from the falling bombs. The school escaped damage but only just as a bomb landed in the recreation field but did not explode. Today the school is still on the same site but slightly bigger. The original part is now the canteen area.
Riddlesdown High School
On land first equired by the county council in the 1930’s, Riddlesdown School finally opened in 1958. In 1969, the school converted over to a “Comprehensive” school. Being one of the largest schools in the area, Riddlesdown in 1996 first began their six form section.
Ridgway School
Built in the same year as Riddlesdown, Ridgway first opened in 1958 as both an Infant and Junior school. Recently, both areas have been extended to meet the demand in the area.
St. Annes School
Founded on 12th September 1909. St Annes College was home to girl Catholics from the area. The school first started with two classrooms and 12 children. This changed through time as with the outbreak of war. The girls were evacuated in 1944 to Scotland where they remained until 1945. Since then, the school site was never going to be able to cater for the size and in 1990, the school closed. Today the original walls and gates are still there but the school buildings have been replaced by housing.
Sanderstead Junior School
Founded in January 1906, the school has teached children to the present day at their site near Purley Oaks. The school has changed since then to be better equipped but it still teaches today in its original place.
Other Schools
Hamsey Green Primary school first opened in 1949. Little heath school opened in Farley road, Selsdon in 1927. It closed around 1964. Wentworth House School in Mayfield road was founded in 1904. It had around 20 pupils. The school phased out around 1934.
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