MENU
  • 020 8266 1700
  • office@habsboys.org.uk
Return to Normal View
  • Home
  • Prep&Pre-Prep
    • Prep&Pre-Prep Home
    • About Us
    • Admissions
    • Academic
    • School Life
    • News&Events
    • Contact Us
  • Senior School
    • Senior School Home
    • About Us
    • Admissions
    • Academic
    • Pastoral
    • Co-Curricular
    • News&Events
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Introduction
    • Request a Prospectus
    • Key Dates
    • Apply
    • 5+ Admissions
    • 7+ Admissions
    • 11+ Admissions
    • 13+ Admissions
    • Examination Results
    • Terms and Conditions
    • ISI Inspection Reports
  • School Portals
    • Parent Portal
    • Habsnet
    • School E-mail
    • School documents
  • Foundation
    • Introduction
    • Why give to Habs?
    • Code of Ethics
    • Making a donation
    • Annual Appeal
    • Telephone campaign
    • Wills and bequests
    • Donors in the USA
    • The Aske Report
    • Habs Community (Alumni Platform)
    • Lost Boys - keep in touch
    • Forthcoming Events
    • Reunion Gallery
    • OH Return to School
    • Headmasters since 1695
    • School Captains (1961-2019)
    • Obituaries
    • Old Haberdashers' Association
  • Links
    • The Company
    • Aske Board Strategy 2023
    • Girls' school
    • ISC
    • School Box Office
  • Video Gallery
  • School Shop

The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School

Nurturing Excellence Headmaster: Gus Lock MA (Oxon)

  • 020 8266 1700020 8266 1700
  • SearchClose
  • Prep&Pre-Prep Home
  • About Us
    • Welcome
    • History of Habs Boys
    • Our Aims & Ethos
    • Values
    • Governors & Staff
    • Privacy Notice for Parents
    • ISI Inspections
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Overview
    • Request a Prospectus
    • Prep Key Dates
    • Apply
    • Arrange a Visit
    • Entrance Examinations
    • Fees
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Prep ISI Inspection Report
    • Scholarships
  • Academic
    • Curriculum Overview
    • Pre-Prep
    • Art
    • Computing & ICT
    • Design & Technology
    • English & Drama
    • Geography
    • History
    • Learning Outside the Classroom
    • Modern Foreign Languages
    • Mathematics
    • Music
    • Physical Education & Games
    • Science
    • Theology and Philosophy
    • Key Stage 2 Exam Results
  • School Life
    • School Life Overview
    • Typical School Day
    • Prep and Pre-Prep Catering
    • School Shop
    • School Coaches
    • House System
    • Co-curricular Activities
    • Charity Matters
    • Gallery
    • Publications
    • Bad weather advice
  • News&Events
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
    • School Notifications
    • Blogs
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Information
    • Location/Map
    • Staff Vacancies
  • Home
  • Prep&Pre-Prep
    • Prep&Pre-Prep Home
    • About Us
      • Welcome
      • History of Habs Boys
      • Our Aims & Ethos
      • Values
      • Governors & Staff
      • Privacy Notice for Parents
      • ISI Inspections
    • Admissions
      • Admissions Overview
      • Request a Prospectus
      • Prep Key Dates
      • Apply
      • Arrange a Visit
      • Entrance Examinations
        • Sample 7+ exam papers
      • Fees
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Prep ISI Inspection Report
      • Scholarships
    • Academic
      • Curriculum Overview
      • Pre-Prep
      • Art
      • Computing & ICT
      • Design & Technology
      • English & Drama
      • Geography
      • History
      • Learning Outside the Classroom
      • Modern Foreign Languages
      • Mathematics
      • Music
      • Physical Education & Games
      • Science
      • Theology and Philosophy
      • Key Stage 2 Exam Results
    • School Life
      • School Life Overview
      • Typical School Day
      • Prep and Pre-Prep Catering
      • School Shop
      • School Coaches
      • House System
      • Co-curricular Activities
        • Sport
        • Speech and Drama
        • Forest School
        • Prep School Clubs
      • Charity Matters
      • Gallery
      • Publications
        • Skylight
        • Skylark
      • Bad weather advice
    • News&Events
      • Latest News
      • Calendar
      • School Notifications
      • Blogs
    • Contact Us
      • Contact Information
      • Location/Map
      • Staff Vacancies
  • Senior School
    • Senior School Home
    • About Us
      • History of Habs Boys
      • Our Aims & Ethos
      • Values
      • Governors & Staff
      • Library And Archives
      • School Catering
      • School Shop
      • School Coaches
      • School Policies
      • Cookie Policy
      • Privacy Notice for Parents
      • ISI Inspections
      • Bad weather advice
      • Typical School Day
      • School Rules
    • Admissions
      • Admissions Overview
      • Request a Prospectus
      • Senior Key Dates
      • Apply
      • Arrange a Visit
      • Entrance Examinations
        • Sample 11+ exam papers
        • Sample 13+ exam papers
      • Fees
      • Examination Results
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Senior School ISI Inspection Report
    • Academic
      • Curriculum Overview
      • Art & Ceramics
      • Biology
      • Chemistry
      • Classics
      • Computing & ICT
        • BloodHound Gallery
      • Design & Technology
      • Economics
      • Enhancement & Enrichment
      • English & Drama
        • Upcoming Performances
      • Geography
      • History
      • Mathematics
        • JMC practice papers
        • JMC Solutions
      • Modern Languages
      • Music
      • Physical Education & Games
      • Physics
      • Politics
      • Theology & Philosophy
      • Information for Universities
      • University applications and destinations
      • Careers & Work Experience
      • Individual Needs
      • Examination Results
    • Pastoral
      • Pastoral Care
        • Junior School
        • Middle School
        • Sixth Form
      • Houses
        • House Officials
        • Competitions
      • PSHCEE
        • Personal
        • Social
        • Health
        • Citizenship
        • Economic
      • Medical Centre
      • Counselling
      • Assemblies
        • Themes
        • Religious Assemblies
        • House Assemblies
    • Co-Curricular
      • Music
        • Jazz Summer School
          • Jazz Application Form
      • Drama
      • Sport
        • Association Football
        • Athletics
        • Badminton
        • Basketball
        • Cricket
        • Cross-Country
        • Golf
        • Hockey
        • Orienteering
        • Rugby
        • Shooting
        • Swimming
        • Tennis
        • Water Polo
        • Sports Tours
      • Clubs
      • Trips
      • CCF
    • News&Events
      • Latest News
      • Blogs
        • Headmaster's Blog
        • Head of Prep's Blog
      • Calendar
      • Term Dates
      • Live Twitter
      • Publications
        • Skylight
        • Skylark
        • Habs Geographical
        • Scribe
        • Veritas
        • The Score
        • Scope
        • Occasional Papers
        • Timeline
        • Speaker Programme
        • Sixth Form Handbook 2018-19
    • Contact Us
      • Contact Information
      • Location/Maps
      • Staff Vacancies
        • Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning) - Girls' School
        • Marketing Officer
  • Admissions
    • Introduction
    • Request a Prospectus
    • Key Dates
    • Apply
    • 5+ Admissions
    • 7+ Admissions
    • 11+ Admissions
    • 13+ Admissions
    • Examination Results
    • Terms and Conditions
    • ISI Inspection Reports
  • School Portals
    • Parent Portal
    • Habsnet
    • School E-mail
    • School documents
  • Foundation
    • Introduction
    • Why give to Habs?
    • Code of Ethics
    • Making a donation
      • Donation Form
      • Gift Aid
      • Other gifts
    • Annual Appeal
    • Telephone campaign
    • Wills and bequests
    • Donors in the USA
    • The Aske Report
    • Habs Community (Alumni Platform)
    • Lost Boys - keep in touch
    • Forthcoming Events
    • Reunion Gallery
      • New York Reunion (22 June 2017)
      • CCF Annual Reunion Dinner 2017
      • 1960-61 Reunion (5 June 2017)
      • Boarding House Reunion (15 July 2017)
      • 1967 Reunion (1 November 2017)
      • CCF Remembrance Parade 2017
      • CCF Cenotaph Parade - Whitehall
      • 2008 Reunion (13 November 2017)
      • 2013 Reunion (20 November 2017)
      • ISRAEL REUNION (23 NOVEMBER 2017)
      • 1967 Prep Reunion (4 December 2017)
      • Pre-1961 Reunion (5 March 2018)
      • Class of 2017 Reunion (19 April)
      • CCF Dinner (29 June 2018)
      • New York Reunion (5 June 2018)
      • CCF Annual Act of Remembrance & Parade 2018
      • Class of 1978 Reunion
      • Class of 2009 Reunion
      • Class of 2014 Reunion
      • Class of 2018 Reunion
      • HABS Foundation History Careers Afternoon & Reunion
    • OH Return to School
      • Greg Steckelmacher (5 December 2017)
      • Andy Miller & Christopher Watts (7 December 2017)
      • Sohum Patel & Ashvin Kuri (1 December 2017)
      • Josh Treon (14 March 2018)
      • Matt Lucas & Ashley Blaker (27 March 2018)
    • Headmasters since 1695
    • School Captains (1961-2019)
    • Obituaries
    • Old Haberdashers' Association
  • Links
    • The Company
    • Aske Board Strategy 2023
    • Girls' school
    • ISC
    • School Box Office
  • Video Gallery
  • School Shop
Pages in this section
  • Welcome
  • History of Habs Boys
  • Our Aims & Ethos
  • Values
  • Governors & Staff
  • Privacy Notice for Parents
  • ISI Inspections

History of Habs Boys

Prep&Pre-Prep About Us History of Habs Boys

The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School is a large independent day school for boys aged 5-18. The institution owes its name to Robert Aske, a merchant and member of the Haberdashers’ Company, whose will bequeathed an endowment for the maintenance of retired members of his profession and for the education of their children. The School started life in Hoxton, then in the late 19th century moved to West Hampstead, where it remained until 1961. Dr Tom Taylor, the then Headmaster, masterminded both its move to Elstree and its elevation into the front rank of independent day schools. 

Hoxton, 1690 - 1898

The story of Haberdashers’ begins with Robert Aske, whose will set out to build a school to educate ‘Twenty poore Boyes, who shall be freemens Sonnes’. The school opened in 1690 in Hoxton.

The School began humbly, with the Schoolmaster instructed to teach ‘the Rudiments of Grammar, and give such moderate correction as shall be agreeable to prudence’. A Writing Master was also employed to teach the boys ‘to write fair and all manner of needful Arithmetick’. Boys were not taught Latin or Greek.

Entry requirements were strict. The School would only admit a boy of proven poverty. Boys already had to be able to read, and were dismissed if they inherited £100 or more. Lying, swearing or being absent without leave were grounds for expulsion. Boys left the School at the age of 15.

Hampstead, 1898 - 1961

By the late 19th century it was clear that the Hoxton site was no longer suitable for the needs of the School. The neighbourhood had deteriorated, and only 17% of pupils lived locally. Classes were overcrowded, and many of the buildings were in dire need of repair.

The decision was therefore made to move out of the old buildings and construct newer, better facilities at Westbere Road, Hampstead. The new School was much enhanced, with new courses teaching Greek and boys permitted to stay until their 18th birthday. Academic standards improved greatly, with many boys going on to become architects, barristers, doctors and engineers.

Many boys were called up to fight in the First and Second World Wars. Of them, 107 died in the First and 87 in the Second. Their names are immortalised in plaques around the School.

Elstree, 1961 - Present

In 1949 the Ministry of Education issued a report on the Hampstead School. It concluded that, while standards were adequate, the school hall, gym, art room and library were too small and desperately needed improving.

The Governors took the advice to heart, and in 1959 purchased Aldenham House and 61 acres of land from the BBC. The move took part in the summer term of 1961 under the leadership of Headmaster Dr Tom Taylor, who employed staff, students and a fleet of removal vans to transfer everything to Elstree.

The new School was opened in October 1961 by the Lord Mayor of London. The School’s hard work paid off, with the next inspection report praising every aspect of the facilities and teaching staff.

Haberdashers’ now has the facilities you would expect of a school of its stature: a cutting-edge sports centre, swimming pool, gymnasium and school shop; dedicated ICT suites, a Science and Geography Centre (the Aske Building); a fully equipped Art Studio and Design & Technology Centre; an Assembly Hall with stage and flytower, a Drama Studio, a Music School with concert hall, a multi-purpose Library, and dedicated classrooms for all subjects. Outside there are grass pitches for rugby, football and cricket (as well as two all-weather pitches which become tennis courts and hockey pitches), a climbing wall and an assault course (which straddles the moat of a long-gone manor house). We like to think that we are a modern structure on traditional foundations. We have come a long way since the days of Robert Aske, but our dedication to education and nurturing excellence remains as strong as ever.

  • © The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
  • High Visibility View
  • Cookie Policy
Websites for Schools By Finalsite UK