Northampton High School commemorates 145 years of pioneering girls education

Northampton High School commemorates 145 years of pioneering girls education

5 May 2023

Northampton High School is celebrating its 145th birthday this year, a remarkable milestone that highlights the school’s long-standing reputation as a leading institution in girls-only education. Since its founding in 1878, the High School has nurtured generations of bright and ambitious young women, empowering them to achieve personal success and make a positive impact in the world.

Northampton High School dates back to the late 19th Century, when a group of visionary women led by Miss Mary Pearson came together with a mission to provide quality education for girls in Northamptonshire. Over the years, the school has grown in size and reputation, moving to several locations in Northampton; most notably the buildings in Derngate and Cliftonville, before settling in its current site in Hardingstone in 1992. Today, the school is a thriving institution with over 500 pupils from ages 2 to 18, offering a broad and rigorous curriculum that prepares girls for success in a rapidly changing world.

Celebrating in traditional Northampton High fashion, the GDST school held a whole school assembly, with the entire staff and student body in attendance. Leading the morning’s celebrations, Dr May Lee, Head, reflected on the school’s history and ethos, as well as looking ahead to many more years of brilliance.

Embracing the opportunity to have their entire school community together, staff and students sat proudly for a whole school photograph to commemorate the moment; a picture that is sure to have a proud place in the Northampton High School archives.

As is tradition in the Hardingstone-based school, the birthday assembly was concluded with the annual cutting of the celebratory cake. Accompanying Dr Lee and Miss Hair, Head of Junior School, for the special moment were Northampton High’s youngest and eldest students, as well as pupils who had also celebrated their own birthday the same week. The cutting of the cake marks another year of Northampton High’s legacy and its continued commitment to their core values and mission.

Commenting on the special anniversary of the school’s opening, Dr Lee said “Our 145th birthday is a cause for celebration and reflection. As we mark this milestone, we honour the school’s rich history and the thousands of young women who have passed through its doors, and we look forward to a future of continued excellence in girls’ education. Through the school’s modern motto, ‘We believe in our girls and they believe in themselves’, we hope that we remain true to the original spirit and ethos of the school. A school that proudly puts girls first and a place of diversity, inclusivity, and community. May our school continue to flourish and here’s to the next 145 years – Happy Birthday Northampton High!”

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