The former Christ Church School
 

Christ Church had a church school with which it was associated. Christ Church School, latterly referred to as The Finchley Campus of St Mary's CE High School, was located about half a mile from the church, in Hilton Avenue. Until 2005, the church was represented on the school's board of governors, although the school continued to have links with the church right to the end. The school finally closed at the end of the 2005-06 academic year, but there are hopes that a new school or academy may open on the site in September 2007.

In January 2004 the school had been under special measures (special scrutiny) from schools inspectors OFSTED for nearly four years, and the announcement was made that the school would close. Despite this, headmaster Paul Salter (who had only recently been appointed at the time) succeeded in turning the school round with the result that OFSTED gave it a clean bill of health in October 2004. This was, however, too late to save a school that, by then, was already beyond the point of no return having lost the confidence of local parents and become a political football volleyed between the various political factions within Barnet council. The final pupils at the school are the 2005-06 year 11 although they are 'annexed' to St Mary's School.

The school was founded by the first vicar of Christ Church, Rev Henry Stephens, and the current vicar and church council of Christ Church are keen to be involved in discussions about the future of any new school that may rise from the ashes.

Remembering 140 years:

On 3rd July 2005 there was a celebration of the almost 140 years that the school had served the community. Special events in the school's life were remembered, such as the opening of the "new teaching block" in 1968. Students and teachers were remembered and the opportunity was taken to thank God for the final year of excellent achievements.

Articles from the local paper and elsewhere:

Hendon & Finchley Times - Plans for new Jewish secondary school offer hope for Christ Church site (9 Feb 2006)

Hendon & Finchley Times - School closure will hurt local parents (22 Dec 2004)

Hendon & Finchley Times - Failing School will close next year (10 March 2004)

Hendon & Finchley Times - More schools may fail (18 Feb 2004)

Hendon & Finchley Times - Anger at single-sex schools merger plan (18 Feb 2004)

Letter to Hendon & Finchley Times - Will school and land be sold for housing? (17 Feb 2004)

Hendon & Finchley Times - Parents consulted on failing schools future (11 Feb 2004)

Hendon & Finchley Times - Schools set for merger (21 Jan 2004)

Anglo-US drive on failing schools (4 Oct 2000)

Failing schools face closure (2 June 1998)

The school was a mixed voluntary aided school taking pupils from the ages of 11 to 16. Since the school did not have a sixth form, many pupils went on to nearby Woodhouse College or Barnet College or other colleges of Higher Education within the borough. 

Further details about this and other schools can be found on the Good School Guide web site. Additionally the Barnet Council site and Education Guardian site have some useful information and Yahoo has web page links of many schools and Sixth Form colleges in the area, particularly useful if you are looking for schools or if you are a school leaver looking for a college in the area.

If you want to trace old school friends or want to arrange a school reunion, then the Friends Reunited web site is a good place to start. Another place worth trying is LookupUK.com.