The Latymer School, Edmonton

The Latymer School is a voluntary aided, selective, co-educational grammar school located in Edmonton, London. It was founded in 1624 by the will of Edward Latymer to provide education and clothing for eight poor boys of the area. Initially operating under different guises related to its foundation, it formally became a co-educational grammar school in 1910 when the site was re-opened on Haselbury Road.

The school has formal links with St John's College, Cambridge (Edward Latymer's College) and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (the College of Edward Latymer's father, William Latymer) which have endowments which may be used for the furtherance of the studies of former Latymer pupils at those colleges.

History

17th century - Foundation and key endowments

Edward Latymer (1557–1626), a legal official, by his will dated 16 March 1624 (Old Style, actually 1625 New Style), bequeathed funds for the education and clothing of eight "poore boies" of Edmonton. The will specified that the boys should wear a red cross on their sleeves, the "Latymers crosse". The implementation of Latymer's charity was delayed due to legal challenges to his will, and the Edmonton trustees did not receive their share of the estate until around 1633. Initially, Latymer referred to a "petty schoole".

Reverend John Brooke was licensed as the first schoolmaster in March 1634, and his subscription is the first to mention a ''scolam grammaticalem'' (grammar school) in Edmonton. A dispute in 1635 between Brooke, the vicar, and a curate, Thomas Hale (Heale), resulted in a Consistory Court judgment that confirmed Brooke's right to "inioy the school and school-house".

Other significant 17th-century benefactors included John Wild, a wealthy shoemaker, whose will of 1662 provided for the schoolmaster of the "new schoole of Edmonton" and for scholarships to Cambridge. Thomas Style, in 1679, left a substantial rent charge for charitable purposes, including the teaching of twenty poor boys in "grammar and Latin tongue," indicating a desire for a grammar school education. The school was often simply known as "the school at Edmonton" or the "free school". The charities were kept separate, and boys were distinguished as Latymer's boys or Style's boys.

18th century - Consolidation and the Hare/Ware masterships

The 18th century was characterized by the amalgamation of various charitable endowments and the long tenures of schoolmasters from the Hare and Ware families. In 1739, the various educational foundations, including those of Smith, Latymer, Wild, and Style, were amalgamated. This period saw the school operating from a schoolhouse in Church Street, near All Saints Church. The original schoolhouse site was expanded through acquisitions, including land bought with savings from Foundation funds.

The governance of the school often involved the local Vestry. In 1724, a crisis arose over the appointment of a schoolmaster, with Thomas Hare (son of a previous master, Benjamin Hare) wishing to succeed his father. The Vestry initially appointed Thomas Hare as parish clerk to teach the Latymer boys reading, writing, and accounts, while the Rev. John Button was appointed to teach the Style's boys grammar and Latin. By 1727, the vicar, Rev. William Washbourne, was appointed master, with John Whitby as usher.

Zachariah Hare, son of Thomas Hare, became schoolmaster in 1737. During his time, the educational charities were formally amalgamated, and he sold his house and its site (which extended over 1 acre) to the Trustees. This site, near the churchyard, became the established location of the school in Church Street. After Zachariah Hare's death in 1742, James Ware was appointed master to the Latymer, Wild, and Smith's charities by the vicar, Rev. F. Cooke, while Ware himself was selected by the Vestry to teach the Style's boys. His son, a second James Ware, briefly succeeded him in 1771.

19th century - The Adams dynasty, decline, and Dolbé's reforms

The 19th century was dominated by the Adams dynasty of headmasters: John Adams I (appointed 1781), his son John Adams II (master 1802–1828), and his grandson Charles Henry Adams (master 1828–1867). John Adams I was an Enfield man with an interest in astronomy and mathematics, described on his son's tombstone as "Master of Latymer's School in this parish".

In 1811, a new schoolroom was built on land adjacent to the existing schoolhouse in Church Street, funded by a bequest from Mrs. Ann Wyatt. This building, known as the Wyatt schoolroom, bore an inscription noting its purpose to "promote the glory of God, and the good of poor children". At this time, the school was often referred to as the 'Boys' Charity School'. By 1823, the number of boys reached 81, of whom 20 studied Latin.

The long tenure of Charles Henry Adams was marked by a significant decline in the school's standards and financial mismanagement. Concerns were raised by the parish in the 1840s, leading to Vestry investigations. In 1847, it was noted that while the headmaster received £130 per annum and lived rent-free, many scholars were not receiving clothing as stipulated by the bequests. The Charity Commissioners conducted inquiries, with reports by John Simons (1858, 1864) and Daniel Robert Fearon (1865, for the Taunton Commission). These reports painted a bleak picture: poor quality education, low attendance, inadequate buildings, and a master (C.H. Adams) described as "untrained and without university degree." The school was primarily providing elementary education, and the Latymer livery, a blue frock or tunic with a red collar and cross, was still worn. Financial irregularities were also severe; a Vestry committee in 1862 found a sum of £962 unaccounted for by the Trustees. C.H. Adams eventually agreed to repay a deficit from his salary as Master and Collector. He resigned in 1867 following Fearon's damning report for the Taunton Commission.

The resignation of Adams marked a turning point. A new scheme was drafted in 1867, aiming to create an "Upper" and "Lower" school, abolishing free clothing, and modernizing the curriculum. This led to the appointment of Rev. Charles Vincent Dolbé, a Cambridge graduate, as headmaster in September 1867. Dolbé transformed Latymer into a "Middle Class School," focusing on providing a broader education for the sons of local shopkeepers, civil servants, and professional people. The old Wyatt schoolroom was extended in 1868, and further rooms were added in 1874 to accommodate the revitalised school. The house system was established during Dolbé's time, with the first two houses being Latymer and Wyatt. Dolbé's motto "Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat" was adopted. He retired in 1897.

20th century - Relocation and expansion on Haselbury Road

William Shearer was appointed headmaster in September 1897, aiming to modernise the school's curriculum by balancing traditional subjects with science and commercial preparation. From 1898, plans were developed for a new school building on a fresh site, as the existing Church Street premises were deemed inadequate. However, these plans faced considerable local opposition and protracted delays from the Charity Commissioners, hindering progress.

The continued delays meant the Church Street site remained in "appalling conditions," and an attempt in 1904 to get Governors' approval for adapting the old buildings was unsuccessful. The school entered a period of "drift," failing to gain recognition as a secondary school from the Board of Education. An inspection in December 1907 condemned the school's premises as "tumble-down, squalid, and utterly inadequately equipped," with pupil numbers having fallen to 56. The inspectors deemed the school's situation an "unhappy stage" that needed to end.
A new scheme was eventually agreed, and in 1909 control of the Latymer Foundation was effectively handed to the Middlesex County Council and a new governing body formed. Despite Shearer's acceptance to continue under the new conditions, the new governing body moved to close the school at Christmas 1909, citing low pupil numbers and financial difficulties. Shearer defended his tenure, highlighting the "squalid and starved conditions" under which the school had operated. The Church Street school effectively ceased to operate, and an envelope addressed to the Headmaster in June 1910 was returned by the postman endorsed 'SCHOOL ABOLISHED'. This marked the end of an era for the old school premises, which was sold for £400, and paved the way for its re-establishment on a new site under different governance.The new Latymer School, for boys and girls, opened on the nearby Haselbury Road on 24 September 1910, with Richard Ashworth as its first headmaster. Ashworth was a dynamic and inspirational leader who established the ethos and traditions of the new co-educational grammar school. The school rapidly grew from its initial intake, accommodated in the original 1910 buildings (which included what would later be known as the South Block and the Small Hall complex). The first major extension was the North Block in 1924. The house system was also expanded under Ashworth with the addition of Keats and Lamb, named after Edmonton's famous literary figures, Dolbé and Ashworth houses were added later.

The Foundation's Tercentenary Dinner, held on January 31, 1925, at the Holborn Restaurant in Kingsway, was attended by 130 members and friends. A key feature of these celebrations was the toast proposed to the Founder by the Rev. Dr. Dale, headmaster of the Latymer Upper School at Hammersmith. It was for this tercentenary occasion that Alice W. Linford, a staff mistress, wrote the stanzas which were later adapted for use as the School Song.

During the First World War, the school continued, with staff and older pupils contributing to the war effort. The inter-war period saw significant expansion, notably with the opening of the Great Hall, new science laboratories, and extensions to the South Block in 1928 by the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Richard Ashworth died in 1928, having laid strong foundations.

Victor S. E. Davis became headmaster in 1929. His long headship spanned the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the implementation of the 1944 Education Act. During WWII, Latymer was evacuated, first to Clacton-on-Sea in 1939, then to Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley in 1940, and a smaller contingent to Mawnan Smith in Cornwall. The school returned to Edmonton as the main aerial attacks began. Post-war, Latymer became a voluntary aided grammar school under the 1944 Act, with the instrument of government sealed in June 1955.

Dr. Trefor Jones succeeded Davis in 1957 until 1970. His tenure saw further expansion and modernisation of the school buildings, with new science laboratories, a new gymnasium, music rooms, and specialist rooms for history and geography largely completed by March 1964. Some of these new facilities, including art studios and a technology block, were formally opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in 1966. The school also established a field study centre, Ysgol Latymer, in Cwm Penmachno, Cwm Penmachno, North Wales, in 1966.

Edward S. Kelly became headmaster in 1970. The school faced the challenges of potential comprehensive reorganisation. In 1977, following the 1976 Education Act, the Governors successfully resisted moves to become a comprehensive school, proposing instead to become a specialist music centre, a proposal that was not fully implemented but highlighted the school's strengths.

Geoffrey Mills succeeded Kelly in 1983 and served until 1998. Early in his tenure, he reorganised the school’s pastoral care into the House system still in use today and worked to ensure a broad, balanced curriculum supported by high-quality staff. Mills launched the Latymer fundraising campaign, the Association of Parents and Friends (now the LPF) in 1984, which led to significant improvements in school facilities.

Building on its status as a voluntary aided grammar school, Latymer subsequently gained Grant-maintained school, Grant-Maintained status in 1993, following the Education Reform Act 1988. This allowed the school to maintain its selective intake, admitting pupils based on academic ability. The school retained this status until it was abolished in 1998, at which point the Education (Grammar School Designation) Order 1998 officially confirmed Latymer as one of the remaining grammar schools in England.

21st century - Continued development and modernisation

After Geoffrey Mills' retirement, the school continued to develop under subsequent headships. The Millennium project, conceived during the 1990s, saw the formal opening of the Mills Building, a performing arts centre, in June 2000. This was followed by a new sports and dining hall complex, opened by Anne, Princess Royal, HRH The Princess Royal on 18 May 2006. Further developments have continued to enhance the school's facilities into the 21st century.

School site

The Latymer School moved to its current Haselbury Road site in 1910. The initial buildings on the Haselbury Road site were provided by Middlesex County Council at a cost of £6,782, accommodating approximately 150 pupils, and included what is now the Small Hall and surrounding rooms, as well as the foundational parts of the South Block.

To accommodate growing numbers, twelve classrooms were added in 1924 with the construction of the North Block, allowing pupil capacity to expand significantly.

A major development in 1928, ceremonially opened by the George VI, Duke and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Duchess of York, included the Great Hall, new science laboratories, and the main South Block. The Great Hall is a central feature, fully equipped with a stage and seating for over 1,000 people, used for school assemblies, concerts, drama productions, and other major events. It is home to the Davis organ, which was repaired and upgraded in 2005.

During the headship of Dr. Trefor Jones (1957-1970), much of the school was modernised. The balconies in the Great Hall were altered to improve views of the stage, and older wall tiling was removed and walls refinished. New constructions from this era (largely completed by 1964) included gymnasia, art studios, a technology block, additional science laboratories, music rooms, and specialist rooms. The gymnasia, art studios, and technology block were formally opened in 1966 by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The 12 science laboratories and 6 technology rooms (with facilities for graphic design, product design, textiles, and cookery) were re-equipped and modernised again in the late 1990s.

A dedicated Sixth Form common room was constructed in 1984 to mark the retirement of headmaster Edward Kelly; this building was later repurposed as a sixth form study area. In 2000, the Jones Lecture Theatre (itself converted from a former gymnasium in 1970 to mark Dr. Jones's retirement) was converted into the current Sixth Form common room. A connecting building housing offices for the Head of the Sixth Form and a servery for sixth form students was also added at this time.

The Mills Building, named after former headmaster Geoffrey Mills (1983-1998), was opened in the spring of 2000 as a performing arts complex. Constructed in the 1990s on the site of the school's old dining huts, it houses facilities for the Music, Drama, and Media Studies departments.

A new Sports and Dining Complex was opened by Anne, Princess Royal, HRH The Princess Royal on 18 May 2006. This brownfield development occupies a similar footprint to the previous 1940s catering facility and incorporates environmentally friendly design features, including solar panels for hot water, sun pipes for natural lighting, and wind catchers for ventilation.

The Seward Studio is a flexible performance and gallery space named after Dame Margaret Seward, a former head girl and Chair of Governors (1983–1994). Opened on 23 February 2010 as part of the school’s centenary celebrations, it was created by converting the old boys’ gym. Designed with input from former BBC engineer Don McQuistan and installed by Robert Bruce of Fox Visual Systems, the studio seats up to 180 with removable seating and features a dry acoustic with an adjustable reverb system, plus a Crestron Electronics, Crestron control system.

In September 2022 a new 3G all-weather football pitch was opened on the playing field, built with funding from the Football Foundation.

House System

The Latymer School has a house system in which students are assigned to one of six houses upon entry. The house structure is used throughout school life and plays a role in pastoral care, registration, and extracurricular activities.

The six houses of The Latymer School are named after important figures connected to the school's history or the local area:
* Ashworth: Named after Richard Ashworth, Headmaster of the school from 1910 to 1928.
* Dolbé: Named after the Charles Dolbé, Rev. Dr. Charles Vincent Dolbé, Headmaster from 1867 to 1897.
* Keats: Named after the Romantic movement, Romantic poet John Keats, who was educated locally in Enfield.
* Lamb: Named after Charles Lamb, an English essayist who died in Edmonton, London, Edmonton.
* Latymer: Named after Edward Latymer, the founder of the school.
* Wyatt: Named after Ann Wyatt, a benefactor who in 1811 funded the building of a new schoolroom.
From Years 7 to 11, each year group is divided into six Form Groups, aligned with the house system. These groups meet daily for registration and pastoral time. Students in Years 7 and 8 are taught primarily within their Form Groups. From Year 9 onwards, while Form Groups continue for registration and pastoral care, students are taught in mixed groups for some subjects. Form Tutors usually remain with their group from Year 7 through Year 11 and oversee aspects of academic and personal development.

History and Development

The house system was introduced in the late 19th century under Headmaster Charles Dolbé. Initially, it included two houses (Latymer and Wyatt), later expanding to four with the addition of Keats and Lamb under Richard Ashworth. Inter-house competitions, such as those for the Cornish Cup and Harold Dormer Shield, were established during this period.

During the mid-20th century, under Headmaster Victor Davis, the system expanded to six houses with the addition of Ashworth and Dolbé. A prefectorial system was introduced at this time, changing the role of house captains. Under Headmaster Dr. Trefor Jones (1957–1970), further developments included the assignment of staff to houses, regular house meetings, and structured charitable activities associated with each house (e.g., Wyatt House supporting pensioners, Dolbé and Keats houses contributing to famine relief).

From the 1970s, the house system was increasingly integrated into the school’s pastoral framework. Students were assigned to Form Groups that corresponded with their house and remained in these groups for the majority of their school years.

Activities and Ethos

The house system is fundamental to the student experience at Latymer. It provides:
* Inter-House Competitions: A wide range of sporting (netball, association football, football, field hockey, hockey, tennis) and cultural (music, drama) events are held annually. The Dormer Shield is awarded to the house with the highest point total, and the Jones Cup to the runner-up.
* Leadership and Community: Events are typically coordinated by Senior Pupils and overseen by Senior House staff.
* Charitable Work: Each house organizes fundraising events and community service projects. Students contribute to selecting the causes and planning activities such as the Christmas Bazaar, cake sales, and non-uniform days.

Ofsted judgement and school ranking

The school underwent its most recent Ofsted inspection on 24 March 2022, when it received an overall grade of 'Good', after having previously been graded 'Outstanding' on 25 January 2008. Its 6th form facilities remain graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. In the 2025 'Parent Power' rankings, published by ''The Times'' newspaper, the school was ranked 17th in the UK. In 2024, 86% of GCSE examinations achieved A-grades (17th nationwide), and 68% of entries gained A-grades at A-level, while 87% obtained A or B grades (21st nationwide).

Headteachers

* Rev. John Brooke (1634–c.1660s)
* Daniel Callis (1666–1667)
* John Hare (1667–1679)
* Benjamin Hare (1679–1723)
* Zachariah Hare (1737–1742)
* James Ware (1742–1765)
* Rev. William Pinckney (1765–1771)
* James Ware II (1771–1772)
* James Draper (1772–1773)
* Samuel Draper (1773–1780)
* John Adams (1780–1828)
* Charles Henry Adams (1828–1867)
* Charles Dolbé, Rev. Dr. Charles Vincent Dolbé (1867–1897)
* William Alexander Shearer (1897–1909)
* Richard Ashworth (1910–1928)
* Victor Samuel England Davis (1929–1957)
* Dr. Trefor Jones (1957–1970)
* Edward Stanley Kelly (1970–1983)
* Geoffrey Thomas Mills (1983-1998)
* Jackie Hardie (1998-1999) - ''Acting Headteacher''
* Michael John Cooper (1999-2005)
* Mark E. Garbett (2005-2015)
* Maureen Cobbett (2015-2025)
* Joseph Gilford (2025)

Notable alumni

In entertainment
*Evelyn Ankers, actress, known as "the Queen of the B movies"
*Clare-Hope Ashitey, actress
*Eileen Atkins, actress
*Bruce Forsyth, entertainer
*Tim Pope, directortimpope.tv : bio

*Leslie Welch, radio and television personality, the ''Memory Man''
*Aubrey Woods, actor, best known for performing "The Candy Man" in the 1971 film ''Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory''
*Vivian Oparah, actress
*Jasmine Blackborow, actress
*Ritchie Coster, actor
*Dex Lee, actor
*Joe Shaw (actor), Joe Shaw, actor and director
*Max Bennett (actor), Max Bennett, actor

In politics
*Syed Kamall, professor of politics
*Albert Meltzer, anarcho-communist writer
*Ash Sarkar, British journalist and left-wing political activist
*David Walder, Conservative Party politician
In academia
*Mark Abrams, social scientist
*Margaret Seward (dentist), Margaret Seward, First Female Chief Dental Officer
*John Horlock, vice-chancellor, Open University, 1981–90
*Liz Jolly, Chief Librarian, The British Library (from 2018)
*John Prebble, historian and novelist
*Stephen Wheatcroft (economist), Stephen Wheatcroft, economist and civil aviation expert influential in founding of British Airways
*Yorick Wilks, artificial intelligence pioneer
*Q. D. Leavis, literary critic and essayist
*Derek Savage (poet), Derek Savage, pacifist poet
*

In sport
*Ted Blake, trampoline pioneer
*Johnny Haynes, former Fulham F.C. and England national football team, England football (soccer), football captain
*Les Medley, Leslie Medley, former Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Spurs and England national football team, England footballer.
*Arthur Sanders (footballer), Arthur Sanders, footballer
*Mark Warburton, formerly Manager (association football), manager of Queens Park Rangers F.C., Queens Park Rangers

In music
*James Blake (musician), James Blake, British electronic artist
*Grace Chatto, cellist in British electronic music band Clean Bandit
*Richard Cook (journalist), Richard Cook, music writer, former executive of PolyGram records
*B.J. Wilson, original drummer of Procol Harum
*Ivana Gavrić, British pianist
*

Other
*Nick Holtam, 78th bishop of Salisbury
*Philip North, bishop of Blackburn

References

Bibliography

*

External links

Official websiteA summary of Latymer's academic performance

A detailed history of the Latymer schools at British History Online
at the Good Schools Guide

{{DEFAULTSORT:Latymer School
Educational institutions established in the 1620s
Grammar schools in the London Borough of Enfield
1624 establishments in England
Voluntary aided schools in London
Edmonton, London