The school was built between 1953 and 1954 on the site of the disused Hendon Metropolitan water treatment works, part of the original Clitterhouse Farm.

This gave pupils transferring from other schools in the then Borough of Hendon and surrounding areas an extra three weeks summer holiday.

In 1954 the school grounds extended only as far east as the Clitterhouse Brook, a small tributary of the river Brent.

This area was the overgrown disused site of the settling ponds of the old water treatment works which were transformed into school playing fields.

Mr Brenig Lewis joined the school on opening as assistant head and science teacher.