Head of Geography

George Greens’ School was founded 184 years ago by George Green, a local businessman and philanthropist. The site on which the school now stands – and a number of other properties in the area - are owned by the charitable trust, established by George Green. The trust uses the income that derives from its properties to support enrichment opportunities for students attending the school.

At the time the school moved to its current site in 1976, it was very much smaller than it is today and much of the current building did not exist. Over the years, however, with the numbers of prospective Year 7 parents putting George Green’s as their first preference regularly outstripping the numbers of places available, the school took the decision to embark on a building programme - which not only increased its overall capacity but also maximised disabled access.

A number of years ago now, George Green’s also welcomed into the school a number of students with complex and additional needs, from a local special school, which was closing – ensuring, through judicious use of the additional funding made available at the time, that these students were and remain fully integrated into the daily life of the school.

The school is very ambitious for its students. The school is part of the ‘Teach East London Teaching Schools Alliance’ (Morpeth and Bonner Group) as well as ‘The Isle of Dogs Collaborative’ comprising GGS and all the primary school on the Isle of Dogs. This enables us to be actively involved in education debate and development on a wider scale.

At the core of the school is the ‘Rights Respecting’ status. Pastoral care is excellent at George Green’s School. Students receive high levels of care, guidance and support from both the school and outside organisations resulting in strong personal development.

In addition, the school has also, over more recent years, enjoyed very good financial and other support from the many businesses operating out of nearby Canary Wharf – and from the many community organisations with which it has partnered. Local companies, such as Barclays, provide us with reading partners, mentors and allow us to take students to their HQ to see work environments. We work closely with many partners, such as ‘Think Forward’, who awarded us Best School/Firm Partnership, commending us for ‘some of the best examples of business engagement within the programme’.