Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School

The Haberdashers' Aske's School is a British Independent School in Elstree, near Borehamwood, in the county of Hertfordshire. It owes its name to its foundation by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers through the agency of Robert Aske.

Related Topics:
British - Independent School - Elstree - Borehamwood - Hertfordshire - Worshipful Company of Haberdashers - Robert Aske

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The school was originally established in Hoxton, near the City of London. In the nineteenth century it was divided into two, one part moving to Hatcham in South London, where a boys' and a girls' school were set up. Usually referred to as 'Aske's', they were formally known as the Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham Schools until 1991, when the two were combined as Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College.

Related Topics:
Hoxton - City of London - Nineteenth century - Hatcham - 1991 - Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College

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The other part moved to a site in Hampstead, North London, near Kilburn, becoming a direct grant school after the 1944 Education Act. Its formal name was the Haberdashers' Aske's Hampstead School, but it was generally known as "Haberdashers". In 1961 this school moved to its present site at Elstree, initially taking the name "Haberdashers' Aske's School Elstree". When the Labour government of 1964-70 withdrew the direct grant arrangements, it became fully fee-paying.

Related Topics:
Hampstead - Kilburn - Direct grant school - 1944 Education Act - 1961

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Recently, a number of buildings on the Elstree campus have been opened, including the new Aske Building (2004), a multi-million pound science and geography complex, and the Bourne Building, a series of classics, information technology and history classrooms. The Bourne building also features at its focus a large assembly hall, inherited from the building that stood there previously. A full development scheme has been initiated and over a period of time, the school will be re-built in order to keep up with the changing world.

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A girls' school was also established in Acton. The Acton school moved during the 1970s to its current location next to the Boys' School.

Related Topics:
Acton - 1970s

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The school is nominally Church of England in orientation, but is notable for the high numbers of ethnic minority pupils. A non-white head boy was selected as early as 1962. Currently, approximately 50% of pupils are from South Asian backgrounds and 30% from a Jewish background.

Related Topics:
Church of England - 1962 - South Asian - Jewish

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The Haberdashers' Company was also involved in the foundation of other schools, for example Monmouth School, but these were not associated with Robert Aske.

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Every year, the school holds a "MENCAP Funday" which involves the school being transformed into a fun park for disabled children and their siblings. The students from Years 10+ pair up or form groups to take around visiting children to fantastic events set up by teachers/other students. Everyone; the students, the teachers and the visitors enjoy the day thoroughly. Events include: Computer games, a candyfloss machine, bouncy castles, football, swimming, petting zoo, ice cream, and much more.

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