# Westcliff High School for Boys

Westcliff High School for Boys (WHSB) is an 11–18 selective boys academy grammar school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. In September 2001 the school was awarded ‘Beacon’ status for its breadth of achievements and quality of work. The school was classed as a humanities college in early 2007 and received a further specialism in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) on 1 April 2009. The school converted to academy status in 2010.

## History

During the 20th century, members of the local community in Westcliff–on–Sea began a drive for the establishment of a new school in the area. The new school was known as The Commercial School and was based in a converted building on Victoria Avenue in Southend-on-Sea. The Commercial School was a co-educational school for the town’s rapidly expanding population. Two years later, the school's name changed from The Commercial School to Westcliff High School and by 1926, boys attending the school had moved to the school's present site on Kenilworth Gardens, becoming Westcliff High School for Boys. The accompanying girls' school, Westcliff High School for Girls, remained on the Victoria Avenue site until 1930, following their relocation to the same site as Westcliff High School for Boys on Victoria Avenue.

## Overview

Westcliff High School for Boys performs well in regards to academic attainment, with academic performance in Key Stage 4 consistency being above 90% in various areas. Westcliff High School for Boys is in the highest 16% and highest 20% for all schools in progress and attainment scores respectively.

## Headmasters

* 1920 – 1942, Herbert Glynne Williams
* 1943 – 1946, Eric Ayres
* 1947 – 1970, Henry Cloke
* 1970 – 1990, Peter Clarke
* 1990 – 2012, Andrew Baker
* 2012 – present, Michael Skelly

## Notable Old Westcliffians

* Maajid Nawaz, activist and former radio presenter
* Alf Adams, professor of physics at the University of Surrey from 1987 to 2008
* Peter Bone, disgraced former Conservative MP for Wellingborough
* Ian James Brackley, former bishop of Dorking
* Gary Brooker, lead singer of the band Procol Harum
* Chris Clarke, leader of Somerset County Council from 1993 to 2000
* Alan Cook, physicist
* Geoffrey Crawley, photographic expert and journalist, and exposer of the Cottingley Fairies hoax
* Edward Greenfield, music critic working for The Guardian from 1977 to 1993
* Benjamin Grosvenor, musician
* Neil Harman, chief tennis correspondent, The Times
* Joshua Hayward, musician
* Alan Hurst, former Labour MP for Braintree (1997–2005)
* Jon Hutton, former Labour cabinet minister, now a life peer
* Stuart Jack, Governor of the Cayman Islands from 2005 to 2009
* Wilko Johnson, rock musician, guitarist/vocalist, and songwriter, for Dr. Feelgood
* Nigel Maddox, station commander of RAF Bruggen from 1996 to 1999
* David Nixon, magician
* James O'Donnell, organist and choirmaster of Westminster Abbey 2000-2022
* Julian Parkhill, Professor of Bacterial Evolution at the University of Cambridge
* Bob Parr, Emmy Award-winning television producer, MBE, Doctor of Philosophy and Associate of King’s College London (AKC)
* Jamie Reeves, two-time FA Vase winning semi-professional footballer and football pundit
* Eric Sams, musicologist and Shakespeare scholar
* Derek Wyatt, Labour Member of Parliament for Sittingbourne and Sheppey 1997–2010. Played rugby union for Oxford University and England