Our History and Heritage

Pride in our name

Our school is named after Ian Mikardo (1908 – 1993), a committed reformer of social inequality and injustice. Our school building was previously a Barnados home and sanctuary for vulnerable women and children. It is in the spirit of our namesake’s and our building’s past that we work to build positive futures for our students.

Mikardo, or Mik, as he was fondly known, was the son of Bluma and Morris (originally Moshe), two Jewish refugees who had fled Tsarist Russia at the turn of the twentieth century. When he arrived in the East end of London, Morris possessed only the clothes on his back (plus a change of shirt and underclothes), his prayer things, and a single rouble. Mik grew up in the shadow of displacement and, beset with the challenges of integration, had first-hand experience of what it is like to “not quite belong”.

Mik went to his first school aged three, but, armed with only a handful of words in English, he struggled to fit in. His early experiences informed a lifetime of compassion and understanding for those who don’t meet the mould of out-dated social expectation, and those who fall foul of discrimination. He served as a Labour MP in East London from 1964 to 1987 and, during that time, fought hard for the rights of the impoverished and for those struggling on the periphery of society.

Ian Mikardo was a man of integrity. He was deeply community-minded and celebrated difference. His values continue to be a source of inspiration to us, and we are proud, as a school and a community, to bear his name.

Read Ian Mikardo's Obituary Here

Pride in what we do

At Ian Mikardo High School, our reputation for supporting young people with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties led us to being the subject of a two-part documentary asking whether some students may simply be deemed ‘Too Tough to Teach?’ (2014).

With careful consideration, we decided to let cameras into our school not only because we firmly believe that no individual is “too tough to teach”, but with the hope that our example may demonstrate to other educators and caregivers that there are always alternatives to sanctions and punishments. We wanted to celebrate who we are as a school, what we do as educators, and what our remarkable students achieve in the face of adversity.

We were sincerely touched by the huge cross-section of families, young people, and educators who got in touch following the documentary to tell us how our school spoke to their own experiences and challenges. We also received many pledges of support for the work we do from charities, psychiatrists, business people and prison governors.

We take great pride in our school, and hope, in our small way, to have as big a positive impact upon how we as a society approach the needs of our vulnerable young people.

Pride in our name

Our school is named after Ian Mikardo (1908 – 1993), a committed reformer of social inequality and injustice. Our school building was previously a Barnados home and sanctuary for vulnerable women and children. It is in the spirit of our namesake’s and our building’s past that we work to build positive futures for our students.

Mikardo, or Mik, as he was fondly known, was the son of Bluma and Morris (originally Moshe), two Jewish refugees who had fled Tsarist Russia at the turn of the twentieth century. When he arrived in the East end of London, Morris possessed only the clothes on his back (plus a change of shirt and underclothes), his prayer things, and a single rouble. Mik grew up in the shadow of displacement and, beset with the challenges of integration, had first-hand experience of what it is like to “not quite belong”.

Mik went to his first school aged three, but, armed with only a handful of words in English, he struggled to fit in. His early experiences informed a lifetime of compassion and understanding for those who don’t meet the mould of out-dated social expectation, and those who fall foul of discrimination. He served as a Labour MP in East London from 1964 to 1987 and, during that time, fought hard for the rights of the impoverished and for those struggling on the periphery of society.

Ian Mikardo was a man of integrity. He was deeply community-minded and celebrated difference. His values continue to be a source of inspiration to us, and we are proud, as a school and a community, to bear his name.

Read Ian Mikardo's Obituary Here

Pride in what we do

At Ian Mikardo High School, our reputation for supporting young people with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties led us to being the subject of a two-part documentary asking whether some students may simply be deemed ‘Too Tough to Teach?’ (2014).

With careful consideration, we decided to let cameras into our school not only because we firmly believe that no individual is “too tough to teach”, but with the hope that our example may demonstrate to other educators and caregivers that there are always alternatives to sanctions and punishments. We wanted to celebrate who we are as a school, what we do as educators, and what our remarkable students achieve in the face of adversity.

We were sincerely touched by the huge cross-section of families, young people, and educators who got in touch following the documentary to tell us how our school spoke to their own experiences and challenges. We also received many pledges of support for the work we do from charities, psychiatrists, business people and prison governors.

We take great pride in our school, and hope, in our small way, to have as big a positive impact upon how we as a society approach the needs of our vulnerable young people.