There was little need for state education in Forest Hill during the 19th century, when the numerous private schools catered for the middle classes and the church schools for the working classes.

However, the many smaller houses built south of Stanstead Road in the 1890s, of which these in Elsinore Road are typical, overstreched the churches.

The London County Council stepped in with the Kilmorie Road School, built in 1903. It was damaged during World War II, but has been restored under the new name of Roger Manwood School.