Blackheath High School is an independent day school for girls in Blackheath Village in southeast London, England. It was founded in 1880 as part of the Girls' Day School Trust; the Senior School occupied a purpose built site in Wemyss Road for over 110 years.
Location and history
The Senior Department is located in the former Church Army Wilson Carlile Training College (opened in 1965) in Vanbrugh Park after moving from the Wemyss Road site in Blackheath in 1993/4. The school building in Blackheath village then became the Junior department. The Vanburgh Park site includes the Church Army Chapel, a locally listed building (designed by architect Ernest Trevor Spashett) now used as a music room and dance studio. It was a state-funded direct grant grammar school (also known simply as direct grant schools) from the late 1940s until 1976.
The school's motto is "Blackheath High School - a place to grow, a place to excel". Previously it had been "Knowledge no more a fountain sealed": a reference to the days when girls had poor access to schooling, as was the case in the early years of the school.
Sophie Aldred, actressIsabel Appio, assistant music editor from 1986-91 of Time OutZeng Baosun, Chinese feminist, writer, and educatorProf Wendy Barclay, Professor of Influenza Virology since 2007 at Imperial College LondonPhyllis Barclay-Smith CBE, ornithologistLucy Boynton, actressThe Reverend Prof Sarah Coakley (née Furber), theologian, Norris–Hulse Professor of Divinity since 2007 at the University of CambridgeJean Cooke, artistSaffron Coomber, actressEvelyn Denington, Baroness Denington (née Bursill), Chairman from 1966-80 of Stevenage Development CorporationProf Alison Finch, Professor of French from 2000-03 at the University of Oxford, and acting Master of Churchill College, Cambridge in 2012Jessica Fellowes, author and journalistMargaret Jay, Baroness Jay of PaddingtonProf Elizabeth Jeffreys, Bywater and Sotheby Professor of Byzantine and Modern Greek Language and Literature from 1996-2006 at the University of OxfordHelene Kvale, actressDeborah Lawrenson, novelistHelen Lederer, comedianFiona Maddocks, wife of Tom Phillips (artist), Chief Music Critic from 1997-2002 and since 2008 of The Observer, and Founding Editor from 1992-97 of BBC Music MagazineMargaret Popham CBE, Principal from 1937-53 of Cheltenham Ladies' CollegeMary Quant, fashion designerProf Anne Stevens, Professor of European Studies from 1998-2008 at Aston University, and from 1991-98 at the University of KentDora Turnbull (née Elles), wrote under the pen-name Patricia WentworthLesley Vickerage, actressCharlene White, journalistBeth Willis (producer)Diane Yeo, wife of Tim Yeo, and UK Director from 2001-03 of UNHCR, and Director from 2003-05 of the Muscular Dystrophy CampaignMalim, Mary Charlotte; Escreet, Henrietta Caroline (1927), The Book of Blackheath High School, Blackheath: Blackheath Press .Watts, K M (1980), A History of Blackheath High School, Impart .Allen, Dr Hillary (2005), A Brief History of Blackheath High School GDST 1880–2005. Retrieved on 21/05/2008.
