Our History Department and Reps launched the second NHEHS History Week with an assembly focused on four historical figures with connections to Ealing who made their names in very different ways; Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (the first Jewish MP) who had his home in Gunnersbury Park; Ada Lovelace (mathematician and the first computer programmer) and her mother, Lady Byron; Ho Chi Minh (President of North Vietnam) who worked in the Drayton Court Hotel during his time in London and finally Freddie Mercury who studied at Ealing Technical College (now the University of West London in Ealing) where he met his Queen bandmates.

There followed a week of exciting activities, which kicked off with a popular lunchtime scavenger hunt around the school based on local historical figures. Mid-week, three were two decoding challenges – one to decode local dialects and another about the school’s own history.

During the week all KS3 groups carried out project work in lessons where students were asked to investigate their own histories – “My History, My Story.” These wonderful stories will feature in the next edition of The Aiken, our History Department newsletter next term.

The NHEHS history theme continued on Thursday with Mr Shoults’ assembly about our founder and longest-serving Headmistress, Miss Harriet Jones. To give some context, her 27 years in post even surpasses the likes of Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United. Later that day we enjoyed a break time tea party with local historical bakes in the Atrium and a lunchtime film showing of Oliver Twist.

On Friday we celebrated our own school’s history with “Move to Ealing Day,” marking 92 years since the move from Notting Hill to our current location in 1931, with the traditional Notting Hill play performed by students, ceremony, a rendition of the Notting Hill & Ealing song and a special afternoon tea in the atrium for Year 13 students and staff.