South Hampstead Junior School celebrates 60 years at Netherhall Gardens

This term, South Hampstead Junior School celebrated 60 years since the school moved into its own separate site at 12 Netherhall Gardens, NW3. 

As part of the celebrations, pupils from reception to year 6 listened to special guest alumnae speakers Joan Arnold (class of 1966), Linda Carter (class of 1966) and Debbie Cumming (class of 1971) talk about what it was like to go to school in the 1950s and how they prepared for the move from the Senior School in Maresfield Gardens in 1957. 

Thinking back on her school days, Linda Carter told the pupils, “from the age of 7 until 18 years, South Hampstead taught me and my sister Ann to be creative in our thinking, resilient when things didn’t go to plan and gave us the confidence to speak in front of large groups of people. Most of my closest friends today are the ones I made at school.” Linda went on to be a teacher and was the Headmistress of Christchurch Primary School in Hampstead for 14 years before retiring in 2007. 

Commenting on Netherhall Gardens’ 60th anniversary, Junior School Headmistress, Mrs Gabrielle Solti said, “Education and how we teach has changed in 60 years but what stays the same at South Hampstead Junior School is our real sense of community. Then and now, our pupils leave for the Senior School happy, confident and with lots to say about the world they live in.” 

In 2017, 12 Netherhall Gardens houses classrooms for the Junior School’s youngest pupils from reception to year 4, the school’s main hall, a library, art room and science lab. The remaining classrooms for years 5 and 6 are located across the road at 5 Netherhall Gardens, purchased in 1993 to take in 100 extra pupils in response to the school’s popularity. The site also houses the school dining room, music room, another library and a DT room.