We celebrated ‘Move to Ealing Day’ on February 2nd with a series of events to commemorate the move from the school’s home in Notting Hill (Norland Square) to Ealing.

The original move was announced in Summer 1930 by the then new head, Miss McCaig, at the start of what was to become a twenty year long tenure. The School had its final Christmas celebration in Notting Hill that year before opening completely anew on 20th January 1931 in its new home in Ealing.

First up to mark the occasion was the annual candle swimming race with our  Year 5 and 6 girls who had to swim widths of the swimming pool, all while keeping their candles above the water. Even Junior School staff Ms Bevan, Mrs Cassar, Mr Sole and Mrs Beetge, got involved this year with their own race! 

The Senior School then enjoyed watching the ‘Move to Ealing’ performance, written by Mr Shoults and performed by our students, which featured the early days of the school in the 1870s and the founding of the Girls Public Day School Company. We were joined by Charlie Altman (Chair of Governors) and Madeleine Heggs (Alumna, Class of 1948), who enjoyed afternoon tea with staff and Year 13 afterwards.

Over in Junior School, the focus moved to the official opening of our brand new building. Proceedings got off to a lively start with a ‘Building the future’ careers panel discussion, where Year 5 and 6 pupils had the opportunity to ask questions of the female architects and managers who had worked on the project. The panel, chaired by CEO of the GDST Cheryl Giovannoni and our Junior School Head Ms Bevan, included Carol Lees and Jade Pleass, Partner and Associate respectively at Hawkins Brown, with GDST Senior Project Manager Laura Lincoln and Cathryn Buckle, Director of Estates at GDST. Questions from the girls included ‘When did you know what you wanted to do as your career?’ and ‘What’s been the most challenging thing about designing a new school?’

Finally, the new Junior School building was officially opened with alumna, TV presenter and author Konnie Huq unveiling the plaque.