Students and staff at Nottingham Girls’ High School GDST made history for their 150th Anniversary celebrations by walking the length of Nottinghamshire in relays. From Roche Abbey to Stanford on Soar, they covered 125km in 29 hours!
On Saturday 6 September, Nottingham Girls’ High School GDST kicked off its grand celebrations to commemorate 150 years of girls-only education since its founding on 14 September 1875, making history in the process.
Students, parents and staff took part in a 150th Anniversary Relay Walk, walking the length of Nottinghamshire across the two days. Split into 18 legs, a Northern Leg starting at Roche Abbey on the border of South Yorkshire, and a Southern Leg starting at Stanford on Soar on the border with Leicestershire, the two legs converged at the right Lion in Market Square (where else!) before walking up to the school together on Saturday afternoon.
Carly Whitehead, Head of Outdoor Learning, Nottingham Girls’ High School said, “From our research, we don’t believe that anyone has ever attempted to walk the length of the county of Nottinghamshire, so as well as giving our students a challenge for our 150 Anniversary, we believe they’ve also made history! Our girls love being outdoors, so what better way to celebrate than taking in all that fresh air and enjoying the beautiful Nottinghamshire scenery.”
Two intrepid staff members, English Teacher Miss Furness, and Senior IT Technician Mr Clarke, managed to walk the whole of the Northern Leg of the route in 29 hours – a whopping 92km!
Aside from celebrations, the ambition behind the Relay Walk is to raise as much money as possible for the school’s Bursary Programme – giving more local girls the chance to experience an education at Nottingham Girls’ High School.
Julie Keller, Head, Nottingham Girls’ High School said “It gives me such pleasure to see our whole school community coming together to celebrate this truly amazing milestone. We’re not only celebrating the school’s existence, but the endurance and vision of the women who came before us, who put their belief in girls-only education and provided the foundations for this wonderful school I have the pleasure to lead. We’ve been educating girls for 150 years, and we’re certainly intrigued to see what the next 150 years will bring!”
At the end of the walk, the whole school community came together to enjoy a celebratory party on the school grounds, with a female DJ, facepainters, circus performers and bouncy castles.
Other events and celebrations across the week include:
The Junior School’s “150 Challenge”, creating projects based on the number 150. From a 150cm long cake, to 150 pieces of original artwork and 150 pieces of plastic cleared from the ocean, the Junior girls have certainly put their all into their 150 projects.
An Alumnae Reunion on Saturday 13th September
A concert celebrating musical excellence through the talent of past and present students at 7.30pm on Saturday 13th September
Service of Thanks: On the school’s official anniversary, a service at St Mary’s Church in Nottingham’s Lace Market at 2pm on Sunday 14th September.
