The North Finchley school took in new pupils from 1944 to 1978 at which time the final intake of first years entered and it was called Woodhouse College.
The first mention of buildings on the site of Woodhouse Grammar School is in 1655, in the probate of the will of Allen Bent of Friern Barnet.
The third tenement was in the possession of John Bateman, a wine merchant, who in The List of Finchley Freeholders lives at "Woodhouses".
In his will, proved in 1776, he orders his executors to sell his house and gardens as soon as possible; and it was sold in 1778 to John Johnson who in 1784 transferred it to Thomas Collins; this is described as "one of the messuages one of the Woodhouses".
A blue plaque commemorating Thomas Collins hangs on a wall outside the present college office (see picture).
Middlesex County Council agreed to buy the house in 1915 but only "when peace was restored" which unfortunately meant that the building suffered some neglect before becoming a school in 1922.
The change was triggered by the introduction of the Education Act 1976, which effectively killed off grammar schools in favour of non-selective comprehensives.
The names of the forty-seven former pupils who died during the Second World War are recorded in a hand illuminated Roll of Honour which hangs at the foot of the main staircase near the front entrance to the existing college.
The original School Song celebrates the motto and the four houses: "By field and track, by pitch and court, Hygiea beckons active youth, A welcome call, a bracing call, For graceful poise and strength of frame, And nature nods approving smile, On gallant struggles lost and won.
In daily round and common task, Our aim to take a cheerful part; To those in need an out-stretched hand; And when there comes the last great call, For some may be the scroll of fame, For all "Well done, you played the game"."
Despite leaving school at 14 with no qualifications, Mr Whitaker devoted much of his life to ensuring future generations received a high-quality education.
However, he relaxed and showed humour as times, notably when he once took an assembly wearing the scarf of his beloved Burnley Football Club.