Our new Junior School building was officially opened by TV presenter and local alumna Konnie Huq at a ceremony on Friday afternoon.

NHEHS staff past and present, architects, landscapers, engineers, project managers and representatives from all the contractors involved attended the ceremony, led by Girls’ Day School Trust CEO Cheryl Giovannoni. Guests then toured the new sustainable building to see the triple-height atrium, library with lantern roof, photovoltaic panels, sustainable wood cladding and acoustic insulation panels.

Kate Bevan, Head of the Junior School, said: “It was wonderful to gather together so many people involved in this complex and significant project to celebrate its completion.” 

Prior to the ceremony, Year 5 and 6 pupils attended an exciting ‘Building the Future’ careers  discussion with Carol Lees (Partner at Architects Hawkins Brown), Jade Pleass (Associate at Hawkins Brown), together with Cheryl Giovannoni, Cathryn Buckle (Director of Estates) and Laura Lincoln (Senior Project Manager) from the GDST. 

“We have been using the school’s construction as a learning opportunity for the girls,” continued Ms Bevan. “Our older pupils loved this afternoon’s panel discussion involving women who played key roles in the project. Pupils asked interesting and insightful questions and learned more about the challenges and joys of jobs in construction and architecture.”

Delivered in just 18 months, the GDST-funded project has sustainability at its heart. The GDST aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 and this project was a key part of that vision being carbon neutral with many sustainable elements.  

Cheryl Giovannoni, chief executive, GDST added: “Today’s official opening has brought to life the numerous ways in which sustainability runs through everything that we do at the GDST. I am confident that our investment in this ground-breaking carbon-neutral development, along with the female panel’s invaluable insights about the important role sustainability will continue to play in construction and architecture, will inspire even the youngest pupils of NHEHS to maintain a healthy interest in environmental issues.” 

The official ceremony was held on the School’s ‘Move to Ealing’ Day, a celebration of the day that the school moved from Notting Hill to its present site in 1931, 93 years ago; this year’s theme was the founding of the school 150 years ago. Senior pupils celebrated the day by performing in or watching a play written by Headmaster Matthew Shoults and staff were treated to afternoon tea in the main hall. Chair of Governors, Charlie Altman, and one of our oldest alumna, Madeleine Heggs, who left the school in 1948, were also in attendance. 

“Today gave us as a school community the opportunity to celebrate both our proud 150 year history, and the opening of our Junior School, which will allow us to continue to offer an outstanding education in the future,” said Headmaster Mr Shoults. “A significant focus of our anniversary has been on fundraising for more bursaries, improving social mobility and access to the opportunities we give our girls.”

We were also joined by members of our Parents’ Guild, including Chair Iain Fratter, who handed over a giant cheque to Ms Bevan. We are very grateful to the Parents’ Guild for all their continuing hard work and contributions towards the new building.

For more photos please see our Junior Instagram.

A number of other celebrations will punctuate the school’s 150th year. A birthday tea party for alumnae was held on the school’s birthday on 16th September and a book of 150 memories of the school is due to be published soon. Still to come, on 11th March, the school will hold a concert at Cadogan Hall, London, singing a specially commissioned piece by composer Kerry Andrews, and the Parents’ Guild Anniversary Ball will be held on 23rd March. All events will raise funds to support our new bursary appeal.