On Monday 23 September, we marked a major milestone in the school’s proud history, celebrating its 140th birthday. From Prep to Senior School and Sixth Form, the whole community came together to reflect on the past, enjoy the present and look ahead to the future of our much-loved school.
To mark the occasion, students and staff embraced the theme of ‘Through the Decades’, dressing up in styles from the school’s earliest days in the late 1800s right through to modern times. Corridors and classrooms were filled with everything from Victorian bonnets to bold 80s neon, bringing 140 years of history to life.
The day began with a special assembly led by Headteacher, Dr Howling (dressed as the school’s founder, Rose Kingsley), who reflected on Kingsley’s legacy and the shared values that continue to shape the school today. Her message was one of pride and optimism, encouraging students to honour Rose’s vision, while continuing to build their own future. “The legacy we celebrate today is still being written – by each of us, every day,” Dr Howling said. “As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’”
The birthday celebrations continued with commemorative cupcakes in the dining room at break. Throughout the day, students and staff shared stories of what Kingsley means to them. Lily, Head Pupil in the Prep School, summed things up perfectly, saying: “Kingsley is such a magical place to learn – every day is fun and exciting!”
In the run-up to the day, we delved into the school archives, finding old photographs that captured everything from early school life to historic drama productions. The Senior School had fun recreating archival images of two iconic Kingsley productions: ‘The Merchant of Venice’ (1900) and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (1897). Students put great effort into replicating the original costumes, poses and facial expressions captured in the historic photographs. Mr Lax, Head of Art and Photography, even photoshopped the original background onto his form’s image, making it very authentic. Mrs Morgan had the unenviable task of choosing the winning photo, and said the level of creativity and effort across the board made it “almost impossible” to decide!
We also produced a short ‘Then and Now’, video showing historical photographs of the school alongside footage of the same locations today. The video was shared on social media, prompting some lovely comments from members of our alumni community. One former pupil wrote, “I remember the science labs, cookery room, classrooms, main hall… all of it like it was in the 1960s. Such happy days.” Another commented, “Very fond memories of my time at Kingsley, and love the old photos which I remember so well.”
While we enjoyed spending time reflecting on the past, we were also keen to look to the future. Alongside the celebrations, we launched our ‘140 Acts of Kindness’ initiative, a year-long project designed to encourage students to spread positivity in the school and wider community. From helping younger pupils to volunteering in the local area, the campaign is already making an impact and will be a key part of our anniversary year. Learn more about the project.
Our birthday celebrations are more than just a party; they’re a reminder of what makes Kingsley special – its strong sense of tradition, supportive community and belief in every student’s potential to shape the future. As Dr Howling said: “We have so much to celebrate – and even more to build.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KINGSLEY! Here’s to the next 140 years and beyond!
