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15 July 2019
The event was attended by over 500 pupils, parents, staff, governors and alumni, who enjoyed afternoon tea in the garden, tours of the Victorian Manor House that now houses the Senior School, and a special commemorative piano recital from current Year 10 student, Jessica Ellis. One alumna travelled all the way from South Africa to attend the event, and another, who was a pupil at the school from 1957 to 1968, commented, “The School is quite magnificent and how it has changed since my day.” The art exhibition featured work from across the Kingsley community, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography and textiles work.
During the garden party Headteacher, Ms Heather Owens, took the opportunity say a fond farewell to two long-serving members of staff – Jo Bailey, Deputy Head and Teacher of Geography, and Marlys Wright, who has been integral to the running of the school office for 26 years. The event also saw the launch of the school’s new book, ‘135’, which offers an insight into the history of the school, with images and other rarely-seen materials from the Kingsley archives, including photographs from the late 1800s, the wartime fire-watch log, and notable alumni. The 200-page book was written by staff alumna and historian, Rebecca Dyson, and created in-house by Kingsley staff.
The Kingsley School (originally ‘Leamington High School for Girls’) was founded by Rose Kingsley, daughter of the famous Victorian clergyman, educationalist and writer – famously of ‘The Water Babies’ – Charles Kingsley, in 1884. Originally located on The Parade, Leamington Spa (in the building that is now home to Lloyds Bank), the school moved to its current location – Beauchamp Hall on Beauchamp Avenue – in 1922, where it has been ever since.
