200 Years of Education

Uxbridge High School is currently celebrating 200 years of education associated with the school. Students and staff have managed to trace the origins of the school back through numerous stages of development to the Uxbridge Lancastrian School for Boys and the Girls School of Industry in the early 1800s. This original Lancastrian School was based in the Market House in the centre of Uxbridge, the original building can still be seen there today. It is particularly appropriate that the school has opened and commissioned its brand new £6 million state of the art sixth form centre and teaching block.

In recognition of the event the school developed a ‘mock’ Lancastrian classroom within the new Lancaster building.  The exhibition contained many genuine exhibits from the Victorian school era which were kindly loaned by the Uxbridge library archive.  There was considerable interest from local and national historians who supported the project with further artefacts and photographs.

On Thursday 24 June 2010, Governors organised a celebration event with many distinguished guests and friends of the school in attendance.  Guests included Professor Ian Campbell (Pro Vice Chancellor Brunel University), Shirley Harper-O’Neill (Past Mayor) and Ken Pearce (local historian).  A presentation was made by Ann Wise of the British Schools Museum in Hitchin, who gave a brief overview on the Lancastrian School origins.  A plaque which was generously donated by relatives of Joseph Lancaster, now living in Mexico, was unveiled to mark the occasion.

During the day, Uxbridge High Students were joined by students from Merchant Taylors Independent School, (a partner school) to debate the issue ‘This house believes that it was wrong to abolish corporal punishment.’  The celebration continued in school with students using the mock classroom as an interactive environment to learn more about their educational history.

Brief History of Education In Hillingdon

Press Release marking 200 years of education