In 1690, Robert Aske gave the Haberdashers' Company £20,000 to set up a hospital and home for 20 elderly men and a school for 20 boys at Hoxton, just north of the City of London. The school came decidedly second to the home for elderly men. There were no new boys between 1714 and 1739 because the foundation was short of funds. The Hospital was rebuilt during 1824–26 and the foundation was reorganised in 1873 when four schools were established: two at Hoxton, and two at Hatcham, New Cross in south-east London. Boys and girls were taught separately at each site. All four schools opened in 1875, the Hoxton schools offered a basic English education and the Hatcham schools covered a wider syllabus. In 1891, Hatcham girls moved to new premises half a mile away, while Hatcham boys took over the girls’ buildings. Early in the 20th century, new sites for the Hoxton schools were purchased in Cricklewoodfor the Boys and Acton for the Girls. Both these schools became Direct Grant in 1946 and then fully independent, day, fee-paying schools in 1976. The need for expansion saw the Boys’ School move again to Elstree, Hertfordshire in 1961, followed by the Girls in 1974. The previous site of the girls' school, in Acton, became the Japanese School in London.
The School
School nomenclature
The Junior School ranges from Reception to Year 6. The Senior School is divided into the Middle School and Upper School. In the Middle School, the years are known as Lower 4, Upper 4 and Lower 5 corresponding to Years 7, 8 and 9. In the Upper School,Years 10 and 11 are known as Middle 5 and Upper 5. There are typically 5 forms in each senior year group, but the use of 6 is occasionally needed. They are identified by variants of the letter A in different alphabets, including A,Aesc, Aleph, Aske Alpha, and Anzus, which is the additional form if a sixth one in needed. The sixth form years are known as Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth. There are also houses in the school: Powell, Millar, Gilliland, Sprules, Harold, and Gillett, named after the first six headmistresses of the school, respectively. Both teachers and students are placed into a house.
Admission to the School
Admission to the school is competitive. Entrance exams have to be taken and passed in order to secure a place at the school, as well as an interview for the 11+ and 16+ candidates and parents. Years which you are allowed to enter the school are Reception, Year 1, a small number at Year 3, Year 7 and Sixth Form, or Year 12. The school provides financial assistance with fees; the majority of support available from the Haberdashers' Aske's Charity helps those in most need, giving them a bursary. Scholarships are also awarded for academic or musical excellence.
Academic achievement
97% of girls achieve grades A* to B at A Level, and over 99% achieve A* - B at GCSE.
Former pupils are referred to as Old Girls. Their alumni association is called Haberdashers' Aske's Old Girls' Club which was created on 6 May 1904 by Headmistress, Miss Margaret Gilliland. In 2014, they celebrated their 110th anniversary at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Notable Old Girls:
