King Edward VI School celebrates its heritage on Founders' Day
King Edward VI School came together this week to celebrate its annual Founders' Day, a long-standing tradition that honours the founding of the school in 1553 while bringing pupils and staff together for a day of celebration, creativity and friendly competition.
The day began with a special Founders' Day service, led by Head Neal Parker. Reflecting on the school’s rich history and enduring values, Mr Parker spoke about the importance of remembering the generations of pupils who have come before and the legacy that continues to shape King Edward's today.
The service also featured contributions from the six House Captains, who shared the stories behind the influential figures for whom each of the school's houses is named, helping pupils better understand the houses that they are part of. A musical performance from talented pupil musicians added to the occasion.
Following the service, pupils swapped their usual timetables for a morning of fun activities designed to encourage teamwork, creativity and healthy competition across every year group. Each year tackled a different challenge, with Year 7 creating original dance performances, Year 8 taking part in an art challenge, Year 9 competing in maths, computing and science activities and Year 10 preparing and performing dramatic productions. Lower Sixth students also played an important role throughout the day, supporting staff and younger pupils across each house.
The creative efforts of the morning culminated in a series of performances, with Year 10 pupils taking to the Dobson Theatre to perform their house drama pieces, while Year 7 pupils showcased their newly created dances in the sports hall. The performances highlighted not only the pupils' creativity but also the confidence and teamwork that had developed over just a few hours of preparation.
The afternoon then moved outdoors for one of Founders' Day's most anticipated traditions, the annual Staff vs Pupil cricket match. As players took to the field, the rest of the school gathered to enjoy the contest, with many choosing to cheer on the teams while others joined in a variety of sporting activities taking place around the grounds, including football, netball, volleyball and juggling. The Pupil team emerged victorious in a friendly-spirited match soundtracked by staff commentators.
The Staff v Pupil cricket match
Founders' Day once again proved to be a memorable celebration of King Edward VI School's history, and the day perfectly captured the spirit that has defined the school since its foundation over 470 years ago.
