BOROUGH’S ALL-BOYS SCHOOL SET TO CLOSE
THE only boys school in Hillingdon is set to close its doors after 64 years of educating children in the borough.
Abbotsfield School, established in 1953 at Clifton Gardens, Hillingdon, will close on July 20 for the final time in its current guise.
The building will then remain in use as Oak Wood School, a new co-educational school which takes Abbotsfield’s place.
A new building is being constructed on the Clifton Gardens site and once completed the school will shift over to the new building.
The move is expected to take place this winter, after which the old building will be stripped and demolished.
Swakeleys School for Girls, which is based on the same site and has a coeducational sixth form, will remain open as usual and will also be moving into a new building on the same site as Oak Wood, also this winter.
Sue Pryor, headteacher at Swakeleys, said: “Students and staff have been across to the new building and are incredibly excited about the opportunities the building is going to offer to us.”
Oak Wood will have an intake of approximately 200 pupils in September, with 65 girls joining in Year 7.
Students and staff from Abbotsfield will move to Abbotsfield for the new academic year in September.
Notable pupils who attended Abbotsfield include astrologer Russel Grant, TV presenter Rowland Rivron, Marillion drummer Ian Mosley, West Ham footballer Peter Bennett, Olympic decathlete Barry King and rapper Asite.
Councillor Ray Puddifoot MBE, leader of Hillingdon Council since 2000, alsol attended ddh the school.h l
Pupils who attended the school are invited to take one last look at the building and rekindle old memories on Monday July 17.
Some of the old teachers will also be present.
Headteacher Mark Bland said: “We are really excited to celebrate all the successes of Abbotsfield School over the last 60-plus years, meeting old boys and past members of staff to hear stories about their experiences at the school.
“We’re looking forward to the opening of Oak Wood School, marking the next chapter in our learning community’s journey.”
Mr Bland will also be head teacher of Oak Wood when it opens
The reunion takes place at 3pm and consists of a guided tour around the school and grounds and a look at the new Oak Wood building as it nears completion.