Netherhall is 150 Years Old!
On 9 January 1871, what was to become The Netherhall School welcomed its first ever pupil. It is fair to say that this first pupil would probably be somewhat surprised by the way the school is functioning on its 150th birthday. And yet, in spite of all that is going on, tremendous efforts are being made by a great number of people to ensure this great tradition of learning is continued. Although we are tired, frustrated by change and anxious about the challenges that we face as a community, we should be proud of our staff today. A collection of passionate and enthusiastic professionals who have come together to ensure that no matter how great the challenge, the young people in our care continue to receive an outstanding education that will form the foundations of their adult lives.
The plan for Friday 8 January, was to have hosted Bridget Kendall – the Master of Peterhouse College – for the afternoon. She would have planted a tree in honour of the occasion and then we were going to bury a time-capsule for a future generation to discover. We were supposed to have hot chocolate, brand new House Captains and invited dignitaries from the Trust – even biscuits had been ordered! But clearly events have somewhat overtaken us and so, for now, we mark the day in muted consideration of the thousands of pupils that have been inspired in the corridors, classrooms and fields of our school.
