A mixed school, the pupils were divided into four houses: Keller (Yellow), Curie (Blue), Einstein (Red) and Scott (Green).

Many suggestions were put forward by pupils and staff and eventually it was decided to draw up a list of men and women who, by their lives and work, epitomised the school motto, 'Fellowship is Life', and after a campaign, to have an election of four candidates.

From 17 international figures Scott of the Antarctic, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller and Marie Curie were selected and gave their names to the four school houses.

In its earliest days it was regarded as a model school, and a contemporary newspaper article even advocated that Princess Anne attend the new comprehensive, to see its state-of-the-art teaching at first hand.

Theo Paphitis of television series Dragon's Den also attended, while the band Bad Manners were formed at the school in 1976.