The School

After the London County Council (LCC) purchased a site in Hilldrop Road, Islington, north London, the School opened its gates in 1907 as Camden Secondary School for Boys, a grammar school. The first headmaster was Mr Augustus Kahn who has been followed by many distinguished headteachers.

In 1912 the school changed its name to Holloway County Grammar School.

The original school crest was probably the eagle of St John’s College, Cambridge, from which the first headmaster came, and which owned most of the property in the Brecknock Road area.

The original school motto Persequere is a Latinised version of the refrain of the Harrow School song which was adopted by the school.

The first colours were red and blue but confusion with another school led to a change in 1922-23 to black and white.

During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Rugby, then onto Towcester before returning in 1943 when the buildings were shared with the primary and junior schools from Hungerford Road.

The school became Holloway Comprehensive School in 1956. It lost its sixth form in 1986 and it remained a boys’ school until 2002, when it became co-educational.

In 2005 the school attained Specialist Sports College status.

In 2018 the governance of the school was taken over by Islington Futures, a federation of four community schools, and in the same year, Alan Streeter, our President, became Headteacher.

In 2019 the school was renamed Beacon High School and the school motto became ‘Believe, belong, become – where dreams inspire futures’.

Football Club

The Old Camdenians Football Club, was founded in 1919 and after having a long and distinguished record in amateur football, it folded in 2011-12. The club provided football for many hundreds of former students, won numerous trophies and regularly ran seven teams on a Saturday, a Vets XI, along with a number of youth teams at different times.  In 1963-64 the club won five League Championships, 3 Cup Finals,  including the AFA Cup, and the AFA Magazine nominated the Old Camdenians Club as the AFA Club of the Year.

Players from the club hold regular reunions. Contact John (Fitzy) Fitzgerald (email:  john@fitzlegal.co.uk) if you want to attend or get in contact with other players.

Cricket Club

The Old Camdenians Cricket Club was formed in September 1930, and it currently runs two Saturday XIs that play in the Hertfordshire Cricket League. The 1st XI play in Division 6A, whilst our 2nd XI play in the Regional B West Division. There is also a Sunday XI and there are regular midweek fixtures. If anyone wants to play cricket for the Old Camdenians contact Ian Salter (07515 386595, email: ian@bcs-ltd.co.uk, website: https://oldcamdenians.play-cricket.com/home ).

The home ground is at the Old Camdenians Sports Ground, Burtonhole Lane, Barnet, London NW7 1AS. Lifts can usually be arranged from London, and always from the nearby tube station Mill Hill East. All Old Camdenians are welcome to attend the ground and enjoy the facilities, clubhouse, bar etc. If you want to hire the ground or clubhouse for functions, contact Jodie Gravett (020 8103 0088, email: camsevents@outlook.com).

The first colours were red and blue but confusion with another school led to a change in 1922-23 to black and white.

During the 2nd World War the School was evacuated to Rugby, then onto Towcester before returning in 1943 when the buildings were shared with the primary and junior schools from Hungerford Road.

In 1955, the School changed its name once again from Holloway Grammar to Holloway Comprehensive and, became co-ed in 2005, when the School attained Specialist Sports College status.

You will find out more about the history of the school ‘Holloway School Jubilee Retrospect 1907 to 1957‘ & ‘Holloway School and Old Camdenians’ Club Centenary Retrospect‘(2009) below –