Wimbledon School of English is one of the oldest English language schools in England. The school was founded in 1964 in Wimbledon Village by Mrs Marjorie Housden to provide quality English language courses for overseas students who were living and working locally. By the mid 1970s, its continued success meant that the school needed to find larger premises. It moved from the Village down the hill to number 41 Worple Road, which had previously been a nursery school for very small children, run by a group of nuns who lived on the top floor of the building (which is why one of the top floor classrooms is called ‘the flat)’. As the years progressed, the expansion continued with the purchase of the house next door, an extension at the back, and a second extension in 1994.
In the mid 1970s Marjorie’s son, Christopher, and his colleague, David Rodgers, became partners in the business. David became the school Principal and took over the overall running of the business, though Marjorie continued at the school until she retired in the late 1980s. Mr Rodgers was both loved and feared by his students, and was famous for his cries of ‘Yes please!’ and his Great Dane, Philippe. He retired in 1999.
The school became a centre for the Cambridge Examinations in 1979 and was first accredited by the British Council in 1983. In 2008, it became an IELTS test centre and in 2010 the exam centre was renamed to The London Exam Centre. In the years since 1964, WSE has developed a reputation as one of the best schools in England.
The school is still owned by the Housden family who remain dedicated to ensuring that Wimbledon School of English is a centre for academic excellence and quality service provision.
Proprietor: Sheila Housden
Wimbledon School of English Ltd
41 Worple Road
London SW19 4JZ
Mission Statement
We are a serious, academic school employing highly professional staff. Our purpose is to provide a quality service to all our customers in a friendly and caring environment. We aim to ensure that every student’s stay is both profitable and enjoyable and that all our students will improve their English language skills, gain an insight into British life and culture and also enhance their knowledge and understanding of other cultures.
In everything we do we aim to:
- Ensure our service provision in all areas is of the highest possible quality
- Be fair, honourable, ethical, responsible and professional
- Show value and respect for everyone we deal with: students, agents, host families, other clients, and staff
- Provide a secure environment for work, study and relaxation
- Be respectful of and responsive to the needs and expectations of our customers
- Provide staff with opportunities for training and development
- Follow good professional and business practice
- Provide value for money
- Maintain the commercial viability of the school
- Enhance the reputation of English language provision in the UK
