History and Heritage of WCGS

The County School for Boys, Wallington opened on the 19th September 1927, the 33rd birthday of Mr. W. T. Hutchins, its first Headmaster. There were just 71 pupils when the school opened at its original site in Queen's Road, Wallington. We moved to our present siet in 1935. To join the school, boys had to pass the entrance examination, or win a county scholarship. Parents had to pay 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.

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 it is well equipped with specialist provision for Science. Facilities have been further enhanced since 2004, when the School was awarded Science College status.

In 2010 the school completed the building of a new Sports Hall. This welcome addition provides excellent changing facilities, a large indoor sports area and a weights training room. On the horizon is a new building project for the school, to provide the new classroom and facilities for the teaching of Food Technology from September 2011. In 2009 the school was awarded High Performing Specialist School status and gained a second specialism in Applied Learning.

In early 2011, the school became a Leading Edge Partnership School and, in June 2011, an Academy.

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' Dining Club" meets annually. 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 Walcountians, 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 was exceeded by Dr. Haworth, who began his headship in 1990 and served for twenty years. Mr. Smart has been Headteacher at WCGS since 2010.