Friern Barnet Grammar School

Friern Barnet Grammar School
Information
Former name	St John's High School for Boys
School type	Private Boys' School
Established	1884
Closed	1995

Boys at The Friern Barnet Grammar School, Friern Barnet Road, London

The Friern Barnet Grammar School was a small private day school for boys located on Friern Barnet Road, North London.

It was later absorbed into the co-educational Woodside Park School foundation which was later renamed The North London International School and is today known as The Dwight School London, notably one of the first schools to offer the International Baccalaureate as an alternative to traditional British A-Level studies.

History

The school was founded in 1884 as St John's High School for Boys by the Reverend Prebendary Frederick Hall MA of Jesus College, Cambridge, ^[1] rector of the Parish of St James and St John, Friern Barnet, to educate boys from middle-class families capable of meeting fee payments, as distinct from his efforts to provide the free schooling – financially supported by parishioners – of infants.

The rector was also the founder of the Friern Barnet Grammar School for Girls (c. 1891) and commissioned the imposing St John's church building opposite the boys' school. This was a late work in the Gothic Revival style by eminent architect John Loughborough Pearson (whose works include Truro Cathedral and St John's Cathedral, Brisbane) begun in 1890 and completed by his son Frank in 1911. Reverend Hall had been curate at Pearson's St. Augustine's, Kilburn. ^[2]

On the site of the school was the original temporary iron construction known as the school-church of St. John, where both classes and church services were held. This was later replaced by a one-storey building enlarged in the 1950s and the existing building, a two-storeyed block, was built in 1973.

After 1890 the establishment was known as Friern Barnet Grammar School for Boys having its own preparatory school from 1904. However the school was never populated by more than two hundred pupils.

The school's charitable arm was the subsidiary group, Friends of Friern Barnet Grammar School. ^[3] In 1995, Friern Barnet Grammar became the Senior Department of Woodside Park School, rebranded and began admitting girls. Woodside Park School later became what is now Dwight School London.

Over a number of years an intense rivalry developed between pupils of the Grammar School and those from the government maintained Friern Barnet County School (latterly Friern Barnet Secondary School), which in 1961 opened nearby in Hermington Avenue.

Information

Motto: Vita Lux Hominum

Latin: Life and Light of Mankind (from St John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men)

School Crest: Phoenix

School Houses: ^[4] Formerly – Collingwood, Drake, Frobisher, Grenville, Nelson

Latterly – Cook (yellow), Livingstone (green), Scott (red)

Annual Events: Founder's Day, Speech Day (Prize Giving), Sports' Day

In 1961, prizes were presented by the Member of Parliament for Finchley, Mrs Margaret Thatcher who "in an inspiring address spoke to the boys about their vocation in the life of the community for which school days are a preparation". ^[5]

Headmasters

Headmasters:

• A B McFarlane (1885–1888)
• C D Punchard (1888–1890) ^[1]
• Edward Hugh Pritchard (1890–1895) ^[6]
• C E Lacy (1895–1906) ^[7]
• J Ashley (1906–1908) ^[8]
• Robert Ames ^[9]
• Herbert Ames (1908–1941) ^[10]
• Charles Secker Smith (1943–1948) ^[11]
• C P F Alderson (1948–1951) ^[11]
• Rev P E Thomas (1954–1960) ^[12]
• Rev D Atkinson [died 2025] ^[13] (1960–1964)
• Alan Heaps (1964–1981)
• John Pearman [died 2025] ^{[14] [15]} (1981–1995) ^[16]
• Dr Peter Reynolds (Acting) (1995)
• Chris Platford (Acting) (1995) ^[17]

Notable former pupils

See also: Category:People educated at Friern Barnet Grammar School

• Tasnime Akunjee (1977–) – Lawyer ^[18]
• Sir (Walter) Leonard Allinson (1926–2022) – British diplomat, Oxonian (Merton College) ^[19]
• Professor A(rthur) Leslie Banks (1904–1989) – Professor of Human Ecology at the University of Cambridge, 1949–71 ^[20]
• Chris Carter (1953–) – Founder band member Throbbing Gristle, Carter Tutti ^[21]
• Lieutenant William Randolph Cooper (1897–1918) – 2nd Lieutenant, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, WWI casualty (killed at Givenchy, 1918) ^[22]
• Thomas Crosbie-Walsh (1880–1954) – Food scientist, editor Food Industries Manual & Food Manufacture, fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry ^[23]
• Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005) – Comedian ^[24]
• Peter Friese-Greene ^[25] – BBC cameraman, grandson of William Friese-Greene – inventor of cinematography, son of Claude Friese-Greene – developer of the colour film process ^[26]
• Colin Gottlieb (1961– ) – Chief Executive Officer, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Omnicom Media Group ^[27]
• Ertan Hurer (1961–) – Conservative Councillor (Enfield), Conservative parliamentary candidate (Hackney North and Stoke Newington, 2005)
• Stefano Ispani – Chief Executive, Ponti's Group ^[28]
• Alexander James Jr (b. 1925) – son of Arsenal and Scotland footballer Alex James ^[29]
• Sydney James Johnstone OBE (1881–1971) – Geologist and Principal, Mineral Resources Department, Imperial Institute, fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry ^[30]
• Barry Owen Jones (1934–) – Artist and director, Coach House Gallery, Royal Watercolour Society member ^[31]
• Lord Kershaw (1906–1962) – Edward Aubrey Kershaw, 3rd Baron Kershaw of Prestwich ^[32]
• General Wilfred Kitching CBE (1893–1977) – 7th General of the Salvation Army ^[33]
• Dr Edgar Mann (1926–2013) – formerly Chairman of the Executive Council of the Isle of Man (Tynwald) ^[34]
• Simon Nicol (1950–) – Founder band member Fairport Convention
• Dr J M R Owens (1926–) – John Owens, formerly Reader in History, Massey University, author, Oxonian (Merton College) ^[35]
• His Honour Judge Pullinger – Judge John Elphick Pullinger (1930–2000), scholar of the London School of Economics and also of Lincoln's Inn, Judge Advocate General for the Near and Far East 1972–1975, Circuit Court Judge on SE Circuit 1982–1990, Croydon Law Courts 1982–2000 ^[36]
• Colonel Arthur Oliver Samson CBE (1888–1955) – Middle East Force ^[37]
• L F Smeeton (1889–1975) ^[38] – Leslie Fred Smeeton, Official Secretary, Tasmanian Government Office, London ^[39]
• Michael Ugwu (1980–) – Music Producer and Businessman ^[40]
• John Williams OBE (1941–) – Classical guitarist, Sky member ^[41]

Notable staff

• Mr F J C Gustard (1902/3–1938) who was a master at the school, Frederick Gustard – cricket journalist and statistician, contributor to Wisden, author England v. Australia. A guide to the Tests, 1934 & Somerset County Cricket. Facts and figures from 1891–1924. ^[42]
• The founder, The Rev. Frederick Hall MA of Jesus College, Cambridge. ^[43] Rector of Friern Barnet, Rural Dean of Hornsey ^[44] and Prebendary of St Paul's. ^[45] Died 1902. ^[46] The author of, A Short Historical Account of the Collegiate Church of St Peter – Wolverhampton, 1865; A Simple Service Book for Children, 1866; ^[47] Fasting Reception of the Blessed Sacrament: A Custom of the church Catholic, 1881. ^[48]
• Headmaster A B McFarlane, Alexander Bruce McFarlane (1861–1921), latterly Headmaster, Allahabad High School, India, and Principal, Mico Training College, Kingston, Jamaica. ^[49] Portrait – Alexander Bruce McFarlane (1861–1921)
• Headmaster Edward Hugh Pritchard, latterly Alderman E H Pritchard, Mayor of Fulham (1924–25). ^[50]
• Headmaster Charles Deane Punchard (1861–1940), the author of Tales from Shakespeare: With Introduction and Notes by C.D. Punchard (Charles Lamb, Mary Ann Lamb, Charles Punchard, 1899), Pitman's English Grammar Revised (1911), Helps to the Study of Addison's Essays (1898), Helps to the Study of Leigh Hunt's Essays (1899), A Summary of Johnson's Milton. ^[51]
• Mr W G Urry (1913–81) who was a master at the school, later Dr William G Urry, mediaeval historian and Canterbury Cathedral Archivist and Librarian (1948–1969). ^[52]

References

1. Kelly's Directory of Essex, Hertfordshire & Middlesex, 1894: p148 http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/pageviewer.asp?fn=0000c7cw.tif&dn=LUL19025tif&zoom=s Archived 11 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
2. The Buildings of England – London 4: North, Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, 1998: p131 & The Dictionary of Art, Jane Turner,1996: p307
3. "The Charity Commission - GOV.UK".
4. National Archive File DRO/012/I/G8/3 (School Prospectus 1948)
5. Friern Barnet Parish Magazine, July 1961
6. The Schoolmasters' Yearbook and Directory: 1903 (p311), 1906 (p296)
7. The Schoolmasters' Yearbook and Directory, 1906 & Kelly's Directory of Middlesex, 1899: p154 http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/pageviewer.asp?pnum=163&zoom=-r%2B100&dn=BCL15021tif&fn= Archived 11 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
8. National Archive File DRO/012/I/G8/8
9. Kelly's Directory of Middlesex, 1914: p182 http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/pageviewer.asp?fn=00003ag0.tif&dn=BCL8016tif&zoom=s Archived 11 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
10. Kelly's Directory of Essex, Herts & Middlesex, 1937: p142
11. National Archive File DRO/012/I/G8/3 (Letter from November 1947)
12. Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1957/58
13. Church Times (8 August 2025) https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/8-august/gazette/deaths/deaths
14. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BvpKMPQ2a/
15. Langley School https://alumni.langleyschool.co.uk/news/default-general/37/37-In-Memoriam-John-Pearman
16. Education Year Book, 1990
17. Friern Barnet Grammar Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2257411274&v=app_2373072738
18. LinkedIn Profile
19. Who's Who
20. Who Was Who, Volume 8 (1981–1990)
21. Wreckers of Civilisation: The Story of Coum Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle, by Simon Ford
22. Manchester University Roll of Service, Manchester University Press, 1922 [available from: https://archive.org/stream/manchesteruniver00univrich/manchesteruniver00univrich_djvu.txt] http://www.military-genealogy.com/nameShow?war=1&sid=1037601 Calendar by Victoria University [Manchester],1918: p107
23. p45, Journal of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, 1955 & p333, Chemical and Process Engineering and Atomic World, 1954
24. Nice One Cyril: Being the Odd odyssey and the Anecdotage of a Comedian, Cyril Fletcher, 1978: p19
25. Admission Register Entry 1394 (National Archive File DRO/012/I/G8/6)
26. The Times, 3 March 1924
27. "OmnicomMediaGroup". Archived from the original on 28 November 2006.
28. "Ponti's - Newsletter - London Restaurants and Caffes". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012.
29. Admission Register Entry 1489 (National Archive File DRO/012/I/G8/6) & Grandson of Rovers Legend Visits Stark’s Park http://www.raithroversfc.com/cgi-bin/latestnews.cgi?id=1565%5B%5D
30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
31. Who's Who in Art
32. Who's Who, Obituary (The Times), 24 February 1962
33. Who Was Who & http://www1.salvationarmy.org Archived 17 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
34. Admission Register Entry 1429 (National Archive File DRO/012/I/G8/6) & Legislative Council Votes and Proceedings 28 March 2000 http://www.tynwald.org.im/papers/votes/1999-2000/cv28032000.pdf Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
35. Merton College Register 1900–1964 (Oxford, 1964), pp349-350
36. Who's Who 1983–2001
37. Who Was Who, Volume 5 (1951–1960)
38. St Helen's General Cemetery, Tasmanian Family History Society http://eheritage.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/resources/detail.aspx?KEYWORDS=smeeton&ID=LFH_23922 Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
39. The Stateman's Yearbook, 1937 & Who's Who in Australia, 1947
40. LinkedIn Profile
41. The International Who's Who 1984/85, 2004
42. Wisden 1934 http://content.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/151774.html & Obituary, Wisden, 1938/39 http://content.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/233808.html
43. The Oxford & Cambridge Yearbook, Arthur William Holland, 1904:p272
44. p6 The Times, 8 January 1902
45. p10 The Times , 18 January 1902
46. Walford's County Families of the United Kingdom: p624
47. Crockford's Clerical Directory. Church House Publishing. 1868.
48. British Library Integrated Catalogue: http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/MK7ASUXSQ982B8NUQ7CU64BY1CD27H7T6L64VVIC5SS9J6RGTA-52686?func=full-set-set&set_number=142927&set_entry=000001&format=999
49. The Daily Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica, 1 March 1898 (p4), 1 April 1921 (p7)
50. http://www.sloanegrammar.co.uk/class_custom6.cfm Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 March 2009 & Obituary The Times 16 November 1928:p18
51. British Library Integrated Catalogue: http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/CLENNDPQ1MTDL1X7KPS3MESJB1U3RQR7VTGJY3T2JR3H9B6F6R-21578?func=find-b&request=charles+deane+punchard&find_code=WRD&adjacent=N
52. Obituary, The Times, 27 February 1981, p16

• National Archives: Saint James the Great, Friern Barnet DRO/012/I/G8
• 'Friern Barnet: Education', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 29–32, 33–36. Available from www.British-history.ac.uk
• Who's Who

External links

• Friern Barnet Grammar School Old Friars
• 1930s School Building