Our History

Lyndhurst School

1954 to 2001

Gateshead Road Boreham Wood

The Hall at Lyndhurst

The school shared the site with Meryfield Junior Mixed Infants and was built as a senior school.  At first it was called Theobald County Secondary Modern School with provision for 430 pupils.  On 11th October the Head received notification that it was to be called The Lyndhurst County Secondary (mixed) School.  It had a ‘moat’ as an architectural feature.  There were 343 on the roll who came from Brookfield Primary, Cowley Hill Primary, High Canons, Shenley, Elizabeth Allen (Barnet), Ravenscroft (Barnet) as well as some new local children.  In addition there were 120 pupils from Brookfield who were accommodated in the dining room.  It was officially opened on 8th July 1955 by county Alderman H E Fern OBE JP, chairman of the County Education Committee.

The Headmaster was Mr Fennel until 1961.  Mr Thursting was acting head until 1962 when Mr J E Allen took the post until 1971.  He was replaced by Mr Flannagan, head of Parkside Junior Mixed Infants, and was superseded by Mrs Shirley Jones in 1984 to 1994, then Mike Howell until the school’s closure.  The original staff were: Messrs: H F Adams - music & english, K W Bray - history, J G Hill - general subjects, R A Ladds - metalwork, J W Oates - woodwork, R G Reed - PE, G H Spendlove - art & craft, L F Thursting - english, W H Wright - PE & geography, Misses: M E Choat - housecraft, J Le Gras - PE, J D Mullinger - religious education, N L Potter - geography.  The cook was Mrs Humbly and her assistants Mrs Smith, Mrs Noel, Mrs Pash and Mrs Unwin.  School Keeper was Mr L Smith until 1964, then Mr Loader, assistant Mr Timson then Mr Jones.  The secretary was Mrs Sutton, then Mrs Nelms until 1963, then Jill Smith to 1970. Mrs Knight and Mrs Diana Herriott took over. 

The first Governors meeting was held at Hillside School with Mr T Davies as Chairman and Mrs Bennett as vice-chair.  She became chair in 1959, then Mr W Back JP, then Mrs Murray.  From 1983 to 1964 Mr Roach was chair then Mrs Beryl Williams until 1991 then Mr Geoff Strack.

Head & Governors

In October 1954 the school was used as a polling station.  The week before, 23rd, it was used for the Bishops for robing on the occasion of the visit of HRH Princess Margaret who laid the foundation stone of St Michael and All Angels Church in Brook Road.  The log records "The Headmaster had the honour of being presented to Her Royal Highness". 

The first visit by the health nurse was on 8th October with regular visits thereafter.  12th saw the first harvest festival conducted by Rev. D Gardiner of Christ Church, Barnet and the flowers, fruit, vegetables and provisions were sent to the Winifred House Convalescence Home for Children, Barnet Gate, Arkley.

Football was played at Meadow Road playing fields on Wednesdays and Fridays.  The school was visited by Her Majesty’s Inspector who were disturbed about the toilet facilities.  It appeared that the girls and boys shared the same facilities and at Christmas they were rectified to single sex units.  The first half term holiday was from October 29th to November 1st 1954.  First school trip - the Imperial Institute, 1st December.  Christmas holidays were 18th December to 10th January.  Two new teachers - Mr J W Pethig - art and retarded class and Mrs T Jones - supply teacher.  On 13th January 1955 there were ‘arctic’ weather conditions causing disruption and the school was faced with an imminent coal shortage.

In February the London Philharmonic Orchestra visited and gave a recital.  There were ‘Jelly Patch’ tests for tuberculosis then X-Rays.  Sixty-two out of 340 proved positive.  Half term was Monday and Tuesday 21st and 22nd February.

Youth Employment Officers made regular visits and Companies gave talks to inform potential leavers about their workplaces.  Also the girls were given demonstrations - for example by Hoover who showed them how to use a washing machine.  The boys took a technical school entrance exam. School prefects went to the Ideal Home Exhibition. Eighteen children sat for the over-age Grammar School Entrance Exam. 

On 24th April at the beginning of the summer term in 1955 there were 405 on the roll.  The first school holiday trip was to Shanklin, Isle Of Wight when twenty-eight went for a week.  On their return another twenty-eight went and then another.  19th May first swimming at Aldenham Lodge Hotel in Radlett.  Campions School was due to open in September so catchment areas were decided.  All first years living in Gateshead Road and Theobald Street went to Lyndhurst.  All those living north of those areas to go to Campions.  About sixty-five out of 210 children went to Campions and all third and fourth years moving onto the estates went to Lyndhurst.

In July ten pupils went to London Airport and had a flight in an aeroplane.  School houses were formed: Stirling - red, Windsor - blue, Dunbar - yellow, Conway - green.

In September the school was overcrowded with 427 on the roll plus forty from Brookfield whose class was in the library.  The tuck shop opened. Student teachers came from Wall Hall College and Trent Park.  An entry on the 14th October 1955 reads :

"Mr Hill represented the school this afternoon at the funeral service of Allan Santiall in form 4, a boy who suffered death from gunshot wounds the previous Sunday".

A representative from Yardley gave the girls a talk on personal hygiene.  The head Postmaster from St Albans talked about careers in the Post Office.  Also talks on trades in the army for boys.  Dickens and Jones talked to girls about needle trades and other talks were given on nursing and WRAF trades.  Boys and girls were lectured by Standard Telephones.  9th December the first Christmas play : A Christmas Carol.

Woodwork Class

1956 two new courses started - engineering and commerce.  Engineering comprised of metalwork, technical drawing, science, maths, english and geography.  Commerce - shorthand, typing, book-keeping, english, maths and geography.  In May there was a trip to Innsbruck, Austria for a week.  There were visits to the Science Museum and the Royal Festival Hall to see the ballet Swan Lake.  The first prize-giving and speech day was held in July outside in the ‘Quad’.

Autumn 1956 - General Certificate of Education started.  Engineering boys visited Vauxhall Motors, Luton.  1957 prefects detention inaugurated for ‘corridor offenders’.  Mr Quaid started as assistant caretaker.  Gideons New Testament bibles presented to all first years by that society’s rep.  RSA exams held (in the evening as part of the Evening Institute). 

1958 - Visit to Switzerland for eight days.  Visits to Old Vic for A Midsummer Nights Dream & Watford to see a film of the Bolshoi Ballet.  There was a fashion show by Simplicity Patterns.  In June the School Brochure was introduced, outlining courses on offer at the school.  Some girls from Campions moved to Lyndhurst to take the commerce course.  In June a new stage was constructed by Mr Oates and the senior boys, £90 was raised through a jumble sale towards the cost.  The first reading competition was held in the hall. 

The pond at Lyndhurst

Autumn 1958 - 150 pupils admitted. There was serious overcrowding with 556 on the roll.  Unheated corridors were used for teaching.  17th March 1959 - John Dyton's play The Happiest Days Of Your Life was performed :

"…to mark the official opening of the new school stage.  This stage has been built by staff and scholars over a period of twelve months at a total cost of approximately £400.  The Divisional Executive made a grant of £50 and the rest has been raised by various efforts in the school.  The play was produced on four evenings and tickets to the value of £93 were sold."

There were visits to the cinema in Barnet to see Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. 

Autumn 1959 - there were 606 on the roll.  90% wore uniform.  In 1960 mobile classrooms were added.  Girls had Good Grooming demonstrations by a rep. from Persil.  School holiday on 6th May 1960 for Princess Margaret’s Wedding.  Four forms were taken to see the film Ben Hur.  Autumn 1960 roll was 672.  There were fifty-six pupils in the Fifth year: twenty-six taking GCE, twenty taking Commerce and six Engineering.  Peter Haigh, TV personality presented cycling proficiency awards.

Teaching Staff in 1961

1961 - a Railway Club was formed.  Thursday afternoons were set aside for parents to visit if they wished.  In July was the first meeting of the newly created governing body.  The rural science storage hut was destroyed by fire, but rebuilt. 

1962 - Prospective leavers visited London Transport Garage at Aldenham, Handley Page at Radlett, National Cash Registers in  Boreham Wood and iron works in Corby. 

1963 - Mrs Ward was the clerical assistant and then Mrs J Mitchell.  In March a mini-bus was bought from ‘private funds’ of £140.  The basketball team appeared on ATV’s programme Seeing Sport.  In September the Certificate of Education was introduced.

Teaching Staff in 1963

1971 - The mobile classrooms were removed.  Mrs Luckwell and Mrs Varney were assistant cooks.  Mr Flannagan appointed head, no log kept because records appeared in Governors minutes.

Like all other schools in Boreham Wood which were run by the county council it changed its status and became a Middle School in 1974 in the three-tier system.  Like many of the other schools it received alterations and adaptations to accommodate the new intake.

                                     The aftermath of the 1976 fire

On Monday 31st May 1976 the hall and seven classrooms were destroyed by fire and replaced.  However the moat was built over and not replaced. 

Pupils in 1982 to 1983

In 1984 Mrs Shirley Jones was appointed Headteacher and restarted a log.  Teachers were : Misses S Bain, S Lewson, E Reynold, H Bradley Y Mercer, F Coddington, J Clements, Ann Benjamin, Mrs E Smorfitt, A Thomas, M Maloney, A Sargeant, Messrs B Locke, B Saltmarsh, M Knowles, Tom Wilson, and John Taylor deputy head.  Craft was shared with Hillside School teachers : Messrs Darby, Wilton and Yates.  Mrs Green and Forbes took music classes. Mrs Barbara Norman and Mrs Rocky were in the office and Mrs P Darby was appointed Librarian (ex Campions).  The cook was Mrs P Jones, Mr Edwards the caretaker with his wife as assistant until 1985 when Mr Bob Batten took over and eventually became the site manager until the school’s closure.  The school nurse was Mrs C Bunce.  The log records :

"Joining the school from Campions, which closed in July, is 3C - the special unit for 11 children, at this moment all boys, with behavioural and social problems.  Miss S Curlis is in charge with Miss E Sheen, Welfare".

Miss Sheen retired in 1985 and was replaced by Mrs S Anderson.

In December 1984 years 3 & 4 went ice skating at Queens and there was a skiing trip to Switzerland.  In 1985 there was a trip to St Tropez at Easter for a week and Richmond tests took place for years 1 & 2.  Pupils went to Campions site to be included in the TV series, Grange Hill.  On 28th June Cecil Parkinson, MP for Hertsmere, visited assembly.  Mrs M Agger was the cook followed by Mrs McGinnity in 1986.  Friends of Lyndhurst was formed later to become the Lyndhurst Connexion in 1993. 

The budget allowance for 1986 to 1987 was £8,919.  In September 1987 there were 338 on the roll.  The staff were Misses Baum, Lawson - became Mrs Byrne in 1989, Reynolds, Porter, Curlis, Clements, Benjamin, Mercer - 1989, Mrs King, Sargeant, Batt - 1988, Smorfitt, Watson - 1988, Messrs Hall, Sutton, Knowles - 1988, Taylor, Wilson, Wilton, Harwood, Yates and Darby.  In 1988 a new mini-bus was acquired.

1989 - Stapleton Road conservation area was cleared by pupil volunteers and became an ongoing responsibility.  The school raised £1,000 to install a pond as its own conservation area in the grounds. 

1990 - Governors took responsibility in running the school.  An enormous crack in the Gym wall appeared (and remained for the rest of the school days).  In 1992 Ermytrude, a Mallard duck, took up residence in the pond and subsequently produced twelve ducklings.

On 4th January 1993, when the new term began, an arson attack destroyed three classrooms and these were replaced although some of the pupils’ work was lost in the fire.  The log reads : "At 10.15 that evening, the Head was alerted that the school was on fire".  In 1994 Mrs Jones retired and Mr Mike Howell was appointed headteacher and remained so until the school’s closure.

Between 1991 to 1995 staff were: Miss Nicola Porter - maths & IT, Miss Cappetta, Mrs Dorothy Dear - music, Mr Luis Dominguez de Sousa Mendes, usually called Mr Dominguez - CDT, Mrs Green and Paul Collingwood - PE, Mr Woodhouse who transferred to Kenilworth First School, Mr Taylor - deputy head, Miss Soo Curliss - special needs, Mrs Lambert - art, Mr John Foxley - history & geography, Mr Paul Hall - science & maths, David Baker - science, Miss Benjamin - home economics, Miss Jones - music Mr John Hall - RE, Mrs Sachs, Mrs Carlton - french, Mr Tom Wilson - english & drama, Mrs Green, Miss Baines, Mrs Collins, Mrs Alison Thomas - special needs co-ordinator.  The secretary & bursar was Mrs Diana Herriot to 1997, then Mrs Angela Brookes.  Technicians were Mrs Jackie Barnes and Mrs Christine Wainwright who left for the new Hertswood School in 2000.  Mr Andy Sami was a lunchtime supervisor.  Mark Washbrook was the IT technician.  The site manager was Mr Bob Batten. 

In 2000 it was a victim of the reversion to the two-tier system and for a year it continued to accept children, so as to ease transition, before being demolished in 2001. Pupils were transferred to the newly formed Hertswood School.

Photos taken in 2001 before being demolished :