About the Location

The school is located in Northolt in the county of Middlesex. In reality, Northolt is an outer suberb of London, lying about 10 miles from its centre and to the North West. The A40 London to Oxford road is very close by and, historically, Northolt was a very important staging point along the route. 

The archaelogical history of Northolt dates back 1300 years to Saxon times and it is mentioned in the Doomsday book as nord healum [meaning northern neck of land] and as northall in later documents. City merchants built manor houses in Northolt and as a result of archaeological excavation work, the foundations of such have been found behind St Mary’s church in Northolt village, together with the remains of a moat. Some of Northolt’s roads are named after some of its former landowners, such Mandeville Road named after Geoffrey de Mandeville [from Norman times] and Islip Manor Road and Park, named after the Ruislip family from the 15^th century.  

Northolt comprised mainly farmland for much of its history [haymaking for London in particular] and small farms occupied parts of Northolt right up to the early 1970’s, for example occupying all the land that is now Smith’s Farm estate and part of the Northolt and Greenford Countryside Park up to the Grand Union Canal and the A40 road.    

The strategic importance of Northolt to London was demonstrated by the military authorities stationing  a major depot of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on what is now the Racecourse estate during World War 2; an army barracks was located close by what is now Northalia Park near Kensington Road; also an Italian prisoner of war camp was established near to it and many fighter squadrons flew from RAF Northolt, just two miles to our west. Today, Northolt airport is still in operation by the RAF and expanding as it is used to transport VIP's and other private air traffic also use it.  

So Northolt today is a blend of the old and the new; its suburbanisation, which started in the 1930’s, now slowed right down. The old is reflected in the preserved character of Northolt Village and its open, green spaces which lie within the conservation area of the Northolt and Greenford Countryside Park. The new is reflected in schools such as ours and modern housing developments which they serve as well as in the close proximity of a fully integrated public transport network. 

All in all, the school is fortunate to be located in such a very pleasant area which has both modern amenties nearby and considerable open, green spaces to enjoy.