A Selhurst Education
A new booklet commemorating the centenary of the foundation of the Selhurst Schools was published last month by the Old Croydonians Association.
Image: Upper left the girls laboratory 1922. Neither the equipment or furniture has changed much in 50 years.
The book looks at the changes at both the girls' and boys' schools since 1904 through an impressive collection of photographs.
From the modest beginnings in 1904 until closure in 1988, nearly 12,000 boys and more than 11,000 girls received their education at the schools. Over the years the schools suffered a number of changes, problems and setbacks but, despite these, achieved high educational standards.
Image: School prize giving in the Civic Hall in 1952.
The story culminated in the closure of both schools in 1988. Subsequent developments, the reopening of the boys' school and use of the girls' school as a performing arts centre, the Brit School, have resulted in both buildings remaining in use, in modified form, for more than 90 years after they were first built.
Edited by Croydon historian John Gent, The Selhurst Schools 1904 to 2004 is published by the Old Croydonians Association and was officially launched at their centenary lunch in November.