The County School for Boys, Wallington recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. It opened on 19th September 1927, the 33rd birthday of Mr. W. T. Hutchins, its first Headmaster. There were initially just 71 pupils at the School’s original site in Queens Road, Wallington; it moved to its present site in 1935. Pupils won a county scholarship or passed the school’s entrance examination and paid the not inconsiderable sum of £3 per term.   The outbreak of war led to a time of crisis for the School. In February 1944, a bomb exploding outside the senior cloakroom demolished a section of the building, and four months later a flying bomb landed near Bunker’s Alley, breaking nearly every window in the School and causing widespread damage. The Headmaster refused to close the School and emergency repairs made it possible for a few rooms to be used. Additional accommodation was provided at Carew Manor, which was to be the home of the Lower School until 1972.	School entrance
Queens Road 1927; The first School photograph 1927; Bomb damage; Wartime prefects' plaque; Headmasters; School memorial	Following the introduction of grammar schools in the 1944 Education Act, the School became known as Wallington County Grammar School for Boys. In 1959 the New Block was opened, providing extra laboratories, classrooms, canteen and dining room. 1973 saw the completion of the Sixth Form Block. In 1996 the School’s new Science Block was opened by Chris Woodhead, an Old Boy of the School and Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools. The second phase was completed in 2000 and is well equipped with specialist provision for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Facilities have been further enhanced since 2004, when the School was awarded Science College status.   The Old Boys of Wallington County are ‘Old Walcountians’. The Association was formed in 1933 and retains close links with the School. The ‘Old Walcountians’ 1930s Dining Club’ meets twice a year. It was formed following a dinner held in 1967 to commemorate the knighthood conferred on a distinguished Old Boy, Douglas Allen, later elevated to Lord Croham.   The Old Walcountians’ Association leases the school’s 30 acres of sports grounds at Clock House in Woodmansterne, which include a floodlit, all-weather hockey pitch. The Association attracts mainly Old Boys, and more recently, Old Girls, who wish to remain active in a wide range of sports, although social membership is welcomed. Friendships made over the years at school are rekindled at reunions and Old Boys, of whatever age, remember their old School with affection.   The School is blessed by the long service of its Headmasters. Mr. Hutchins, the founding Headmaster, opened the School in 1927 on his 33rd birthday, and served for 32 years. He was succeeded in 1959 by Mr. Hitchin, who served for 17 years before handing over to Mr. Harrison, whose 14 year stint has already been exceeded by Dr. Haworth, who began his headship in 1990. It is curious that the surnames of all its headmasters start with the letter ‘H’.