College History

Presented here and compiled from various sources is a history of the Sixth Form College, Colchester, for the interest of visitors to the site.
The information presented here is a work in progress and will be expanded when new information becomes available.

On the evening of Saturday, 6 July 1985 over 700 former pupils and teachers attended a reunion at the Gilberd School, North Hill, Colchester. This was a remarkable expression of affection for their old school, now due to become a Sixth Form College in 1987.

Since their opening on 12 July 1912 the North Hill buildings have seen many changes, although the exterior structure is almost unaltered. Built at a cost of around £13,000 on a site bought in 1908 for £3,500, they originally housed The Junior Technical School, The Secondary for Girls (later The County High School), The School of Art, as well as the Area Education Office. In the evening the buildings were used for adult classes.

During the thirties the School became known as The North East Essex Technical College and School of Art. In 1957 The County High School for Girls moved to new premises in Norman Way. When the new Technical College in Sheepen Road was completed in 1959 the Art School and day release classes moved there.

In 1959 the School took the name Gilberd for the first time and was called The Gilberd County Technical School, after Dr. William Gilberd, 1544-1603, the "father of electricity" and medical adviser to Queen Elizabeth I.

During the fifties and early sixties, under the guidance of Mr. Sprason and Miss Twyman, the School gradually changed from a technical to a selective school. The first 11 plus entrants were admitted in 1949, coming from the whole of North East Essex. In 1957 the first pupil to go to University started her studies at Hull University.

The first Headmaster was Mr. H. Wilson, 1914-1935. He was succeeded by Mr. M. Garside, 1935-1942, Mr. E. Enoch, 1942-1953, Mr. R. Sprason, 1953-1967, Mr. J. Glazier, 1967-1971, Mr. K. Dodsworth, 1971-1972, and the present Headmaster, Mr. D. Rowe.

In 1966 the first plans were announced for the School to go comprehensive. This process did not begin until 1980 and the move to the new site at High Woods was completed in September of that year.

The Gilberd at North Hill was a happy school which managed to combine good academic standards with a liberal and relaxed atmosphere. As a "foreigner" who came to Colchester in 1966 and who has remained here ever since, I consider myself privileged to have taught there. I hope that this information will help former pupils of the School to recall happy memories of their days at North Hill.