History of Our School

The school was built in 1935 and known as Dagenham County High. This was just the Shaftesbury building. In 1970 it joined with several schools to form Parsloes Manor. In 1990 there was another change when three schools joined Parsloes Manor to form the Sydney Russell School.

So who was Sydney Russell? He was a minister warden for 56 years at Kingsley Hall. This is a church and community centre just over the road from the school, which was visited in the 1930s by the world famous Indian pacifist Mahatma Gandhi. Sydney Russell was honoured for his social care work in this part of Dagenham by naming the school after him.

One of the school's most famous former students was the famous film star and comedian Dudley Moore, who sadly died in 2002. Dudley was a talented musician who won a place at Oxford University. He then went on to become a famous T.V. personality and Hollywood film star. He visited the school about ten years ago and played the grand piano in the hall. Other students who rose to fame were George Carey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury and footballers Martin Peters and Terry Venables. Roy Greenslade who is now one of the top journalists in the country also came to the school.

Of course many others have gone on to successful careers in business, the performing arts and law to name but a few. One young man is now in charge of security at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden! As you can see, the school has had an eventful history and we hope that your child will play a full and active role in the school's future development.

Press 'play' to hear the history of our school.

Dudley Moore

George Carey

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