The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls

[EduCativ]

EWS is a wonderfully diverse school, a microcosm of multi-cultural London with students and staff from a range of different backgrounds, faiths, and cultures. We have gained a variety of awards recognizing our strengths in areas from our success in adding value (Specialist Schools Award) to Investor in People (since 1999). We are particularly proud of the SSAT Gold Award for Cultural Diversity, the assessors noting that “the ethos of the school is an outstanding feature” and that there is “a highly cohesive and mutually supportive community where everyone feels valued and enjoys learning”. Our recent Ofsted report also recognized the girls’ outstanding personal development and well-being.
The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls exists to provide the best possible education for all the girls that come here. The School is dedicated to providing excellent learning experiences for all pupils. Every pupil matters to us. All the resources of the School are focused on this end.
Our School has a philosophy that everyone, irrespective of age, has an infinite potential for learning and a capacity for change. Within our school, there is an atmosphere that ensures that each person's worth and dignity are recognized. The School particularly values all adults that contribute to our pupils' achievements. The School prizes quality in all aspects of its members' lives.
Girls leaving the School will have achieved outstanding personal success and have developed a love of learning. They will wish to continue education for life. Equally, they will leave confident and self-aware, and ready to take their place in society.
The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls was formed in 1974 as a comprehensive school for girls. It was the result of an amalgamation of four schools: Ealing Girls' Grammar, Wood End, The Grange, and St Ann's Secondary Modern.
It was named by the London Borough of Ealing after Miss Ellen Wilkinson. Ellen Wilkinson was the first female Minister for Education in the Post War Labour Government - she is remembered as the MP for Jarrow who led the Jarrow Marches to London to draw attention to the plight of the unemployed in the North East following the closure of the shipyard. She also introduced free school milk and raised the school leaving age to 15.
The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls is Ealing's only all-girls comprehensive school. We currently take pupils from ages 11 to 18. In 1991, under the LEA's reorganization plans, it was proposed that we would become an 11-18 school in September 1992. It was as a response to these plans that the School sought Grant Maintained Status. This was accepted and we became Grant Maintained in April 1992. The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls was one of five Grant Maintained Secondary Schools in Ealing. In September 1999 we became a Foundation School.
Pupils were admitted at the age of 12 years ie. into Year 8 until 1993. In that year, along with all Ealing Schools, we applied to the Secretary of State for a significant change of character to admit girls aged 11 (Year 7). This came into effect in September 1993 when the School had a double intake - 200 Year 8 pupils and 200 Year 7 pupils. In September 1999 we were granted Beacon Status. In 2002 we were awarded Science and Mathematics Specialist College Status. This award enabled us to develop our curriculum, extend and enhance our facilities, and continue to grow both in size (over 1400 students) and as a successful school.

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