Downhills Central School in Tottenham, North London, is no longer with us. It succumbed to the introduction of the Comprehensive system - and now it has been flattened! However the spirit of the school is still very much alive and resides in its former students.

This site is aimed at all those who started at Downhills Central School on or before 1964, when it occupied the Philip Lane site, or joined one of those classes during the period of amalgamations in the mid '60s. We also have a FaceBook group.

Seeing again the buildings, the old school badge and other items of uniform is very evocative. The design of the badge is a stylised representation of the Water Tower that stood at the top of Downhills Park Road. The school colours were maroon, gold and black and the school motto was taken from the school's initials "DCS" - "Duty, Courage, Success." There are pictures of badges, scarves, etc in the Photo Album section of this site, together with photographs of the buildings.

The Central School system was created after the First World War to provide selective secondary education outside of the existing Grammar Schools. Grammar Schools provided a "classical education," Central Schools had a vocational bias to suit the needs of industry, which was beginning to require large numbers of skilled professionals and managers. They provided a unique opportunity for able students to achieve academic qualifications, which otherwise would have been denied them. Downhills, like all other Central Schools, had all the features of a fee-paying school; a special identity of its own and a house system to encourage friendly competition in all aspects of student activity, academic and sporting - elements all sadly lacking today.

[This is largely the original website designed by Jim Franklin (who wrote the words above) and Roger Beckwith in 2002. Some "modernisation" may occur but the perfect colour and design of the original will be retained. Current webmaster is Eric Jukes (1958-63)]

We have built a list of each year's new intake of pupils. Check you're included!

Memories and messages from former students.

The school's adopted ship, lost with all hands in 1940.

A report on the original dedication service is reproduced on a second page covering the "Beaverford".

A diagram showing a plan of the school as it was c.1961 can be seen here. The school must have changed a lot over the years and contributions showing its layout in former times are sought.

A collection of historical documents including a history of the school 1919-1955 and several issues of the school magazine.

Pictures of the pupils, the school buildings, uniforms and badges

Photos, programmes and reviews of school theatrical productions

Photos and articles about DCS staff.

The sporting achievements of DCS students are depicted with photos.

Photos of 'awaydays' and shool holiday journeys.

A photograph of a
Semmons house badge.

More photos and anecdotes from your time at the school.

Updated 8/2/2020:00.25