About Us
History of our school
Saint Cecilia’s Church of England School stands on the site of the former Wandsworth School, a beloved institution with a long history. Formerly known as The Wandsworth Technical Institute, it was founded in 1895 with just two teachers and 34 boys. In 1927, a new building was opened in Sutherland Grove and the school was renamed Wandsworth Boys’ School, with up to 500 pupils. In 1957 the site was developed and a new building was opened, changing its name to Wandsworth School. By 2027, a school will have been on our Sutherland Grove site for 100 years.
Once one of London’s largest grammar schools, Wandsworth School was renowned for its exceptional academic and musical achievements. It boasted a Grammy-winning 200 strong choir and state-of-the-art facilities, including its own planetarium. At its peak, it taught 2,000 pupils. Wandsworth School merged to become John Archer School in 1985 to 87, before finally closing in 1989.
Wandsworth School’s legacy lives on through The Old Wandsworthians Memorial Trust, which remains an important part of our school community. The Trust’s main purpose is to provide sporting and educational activities and the provision of welfare benefits for former members of the Old Wandsworthians Association and associates and former pupils and teachers of Wandsworth school. They also provide us with funding for special projects, further education grants, sponsors gym memberships and proudly awards the HR King prize, named after the school’s former Headmaster, H. Raymond King, a decorated war hero and inspirational leader. The Trust also holds an annual Remembrance Service, in collaboration with our Chaplain, to honour former pupils who gave their lives in service to their country.
In 2003, Saint Cecilia’s Church of England School opened with its first 150 pupils and has continued to grow ever since. We opened our Sixth Form in September 2008 and grew to a six-form entry for Year 7 in 2021. We now have 1,070 pupils and students and a teaching/support staff body of 120. Saint Cecilia’s is renowned for its specialist teaching in Maths and Music. We are aptly named after Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians.
Current Headteacher, Renata Joseph, joined in 2019 and under her leadership the school has gone from strength to strength with pupils and students consistently performing well above average in GCSE and A Level examinations. In 2021, Saint Cecilia’s opened a new wing with dedicated science and computer labs and teaching rooms. In 2023, we signed a partnership with Premiership Rugby club, Harlequins and established a hugely successful netball academy enabling us to offer competitive rugby and netball opportunities to our top performing Sixth Form athletes.
Since opening in 2003, Saint Cecilia’s has grown into a vibrant, diverse and welcoming school community where children meet their full potential. Never forgetting our rich heritage, we celebrate our links to the past, while embracing innovation and change, ensuring our pupils and students are prepared for the future with confidence and ambition.
All pages in this section