ALUMNI

HISTORY

Clapton Girls’ Academy History

For over 100 years the young women of Hackney have had the opportunity to achieve academic success through attending the school now known as Clapton Girls' Academy. In the early 1820's Hackney School, which resided on the present CGA site, was demolished and replaced by the London Orphan Asylum in 1826. Throughout the school's history names and buildings have changed but the school's aim has always been the same:

To provide a safe environment which will help local girls become well-educated, strong, confident and tolerant women.

The school now known as Clapton Girls' Academy has existed without a break since 1906.

1906:

The school opened as County Secondary School for Girls, South Hackney on Cassland Road site.

1916:

In May the school moved to its new building in Laura Place with a new name: Clapton County Secondary School for Girls Motto: To do good work whether we live or die.

1930-45:

On the 2nd of September 1939 the school was evacuated to Bishop's Stortford. A partial return to Clapton occurred in 1943, followed by a full return two years later in 1945.

1947:

In the Summer Term of 1947 the school was renamed The John Howard School; although locally it continued to be known as 'Laura Place'.

1954:

The school adopted a new motto: Possunt Quia Posse Videntur (usually, though rather inaccurately, translated as 'they can because they think they can').

1966:

Students from the school had the privilege of meeting the Queen Mother.

1975:

The school was reorganised as part of the Inner London Education Authority's comprehensivisation programme. John Howard School, and the neighbouring Clapton Park School, ceased to recruit. The school on Laura Place site was extended and reorganised as Clapton Secondary School for Girls with a new motto: Wisdom and Togetherness .

1997-8:

The school successfully fought off proposals by the Local Education Authority to make it into a mixed school.

1999:

The school was awarded Technology College status. It became known as Clapton Girls' Technology College, with the motto: Learning Together, Working Together, Welcoming the Community.

2008 to 2010:

The school went through a transformation to its site under the national multi-million pound Building Schools for the Future programme.

1st September 2011

Clapton Girls' Technology College gained academy status and became Clapton Girls' Academy.

Headteachers

Our academy is unusual in that it has only had seven Headteachers in over 100 years of existence.

This says a lot for the stability of the academy and the dedication of its staff. The longest-serving Headteacher was in post for 24 years, and 2 others served for over 20 years each. The shortest serving Headteacher was in post for 2 years before becoming an HMI, (His Majesty's School Inspector), in 1930.

1906 to 1928: Dr Mary O'Brien Harris

1928 to 1930: Miss Ruth Fletcher

1931 to 1955: Dr Ursula D. Hunt

1956 to 1977: Miss Margaret Shaw

1977 to 1988: Mrs Pamela Williams

1989 to 1997: Mrs Margaret (Miggie) Hillson

1997 to 2016: Dr Cheryl Day

2016 to present: Ms Anna Feltham