Plymouth High community takes trip down memory lane to celebrate 150 years of education

Past and present students and staff of Plymouth High School for Girls have come together for a celebration event to mark 150 years of service to the community.

The school, based on St Lawrence Road and a proud member of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, is commemorating 150 years since it opened as a cornerstone of education for girls across the region, consistently fostering a culture of academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement.

The school, which was founded as a consequence of the growing pressure in the late 19th century to improve women’s rights and encourage girls to be ambitious, has welcomed hundreds of people through its doors for an afternoon talk, high tea, tour of classrooms and a chance to enjoy the specially created archive room.

Months of preparation went into this packed event, with a pupil and staff team formed to work collaboratively with a group of alumni, to make the 150th celebrations and event to foster reflection and look to the future with optimism. It achieved exactly that.

The event also welcomed two former Headmistresses Mrs RosemaryStoggall (1991 to 1998) and Mrs Sue Martin (1999 to 2007), who were welcomed onto the stage to offer reflections on their time leading the school. Laughter filled the air throughout their reflective moments, with the event concluding with a rendition of the school’s original song.

Simon Underdown, Headteacher at Plymouth High School for Girls, praised the success of the event, saying:

“It has been a wonderful occasion to bring members of this school community, old and new, together for this momentous achievement of educating girls (and latterly boys in the sixth form) across our region for 150 years.

“At Plymouth High, our motto ‘For Life, not school, we learn’ is the firm foundation of everything we do and it has been fantastic to see former students inspiring our existing pupils to live by that every day. In particular, it was a joy to welcome back two former headmistresses and hear their memories of Plymouth High.

“Our student leaders did a superb job of hosting and welcoming everyone to the event. Congratulations and well done to our current students, staff and the Alumni Committee for their hard work in making this moment happen.”

Heather Morgan, a former pupil at the school who joined in 1971, said:

“It has been wonderful walking down memory lane looking at the archives, finding photographs of ourselves and our yearbook and, most of all, I enjoyed talking to current students. It has been quite emotional to walk through the corridors and see the classrooms. We loved our time at school, and while some things look a little different there is also so much that is still the same, so it triggers those lovely memories of the times we had at school, we just loved our time at school and being back here to enjoy this day.”

Paula Roberts, who also attended the school from 1971, said:

“Today, we have been talking to the students and they have been asking us questions, and we have been asking them questions, and it’s really interesting to see how alike everything is, despite it being a very long time since we were at school. Nothing has really changed, and I think that is the beauty of Plymouth High School. The atmosphere is the same, that family feeling, the knowledge that you are supported and encouraged, and that came across speaking to the students today. Plymouth High brings out the best in you, so I encourage the current students to remember that and have a great time.”