May 6, 2025
“Our founders chose for their school, the motto ‘Ad Lucem’, towards the light – and through the endeavours of all in our community, our school continues to flourish and shine as a beacon of excellence for all of our pupils today in 2025, as it has done for 135 years.” Mrs Sarah Haslam, Headmistress
Withington’s 100th Founders’ Day commemoration was a joyous, uplifting occasion held at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall before an audience that on this special centenary anniversary included descendants of the school’s visionary founders.
Fourteen relatives representing the families of WGS founders Louisa Lejeune, Emily and Henry Simon, C.P. Scott and Adolphus Ward had travelled from as far away as Canada, the United States, Italy, and from across the UK, to join the Withington community on 28th April in marking both the school’s foundation 135 years ago and its first ever Founders’ Day in 1925.
This year’s theme was fittingly Memories and Milestones as pupils, parents, staff, governors, trustees and invited guests – including the new High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Mr Martin Ainscough – gathered together to remember our founders whose powerful legacy lives on in Withington’s ethos today.
“The character and values they wished for their school runs as a golden thread from 1890 to the present day.” Mrs Haslam, Headmistress
During an afternoon of inspirational speeches, poignant readings and wonderful musical performances, Withington’s pupils past and present were celebrated too. With the traditional presentation of books and a moving speech delivered by current Head Girl Arabella, there was a fond farewell to our outgoing Upper Sixth who have contributed so much to school life. Alumnae were recognised in our Ad Lucem Awards presentations – and our Founders’ Day guest speaker was one of our worthy Ad Lucem award recipients, Class of 1979 alumna and Wimbledon’s first female Championship Referee, Denise Parnell.
In keeping with the event’s historic theme, a video montage showcased WGS in action over the years, contrasting then and now with compelling archive photography. And two Year 12 pupils read extracts from Withington’s 1925 Newsletter which captured highlights from that inaugural Founders’ Day.
Throughout the speeches, Chair of Governors Mr Malcolm Pike, WGS Headmistress Mrs Haslam, alumna Denise Parnell and Head Girl Arabella, all spoke of the values and principles embedded in our founders’ original vision for the school and which have shaped Withington into the ‘extraordinary place of learning that it is today’ (Denise Parnell).
Opening the event, Mr Pike paid tribute to the eminent Manchester families whose ‘strength, courage and determination’ saw their aspirations for equal educational opportunities for girls become a reality with the opening of WGS in 1890; ‘a school dedicated to achieving not just academic success in which it more than excels, but importantly education in its wider sense.’
“Throughout its history the school has always remained true to its founders’ vision. It is a community where respect for oneself and for others and taking personal responsibility are core values. It’s a community which encourages and fosters resilience, and which generates real determination to succeed, qualities we have seen in abundance across the school once again this year.” Malcolm Pike, Chair of Governors
In her speech, Mrs Haslam spoke of her pride in the school and pointed to recent achievements including national recognition by the Sunday Times who, for the sixth consecutive year, named WGS as the North West’s top independent school for academic excellence; and by the Daily Telegraph for the third year running as one of their top two schools nationally for value for money. There were also positive reviews by Tatler, the Good Schools Guide, and the recent Independent Schools Inspectorate report, which described Withington as a place of ‘respect and inclusivity’ where thanks to the ‘in-depth knowledge’ of the staff, our pupils ‘demonstrate high degrees of self-motivation’.
“We are proud of what this school and its people, based on the vision of our founders, sustain and make possible for our pupils; a supportive, inspiring, empowering education which will serve as a strong foundation and compass throughout their lives.” Mrs Haslam, Headmistress
Guest speaker Denise Parnell – who presented each of our Class of 2025 with their book of choice – drew on similarities between the lauded Wimbledon Way and the way at Withington.
“Withington has helped mould my life and my career. At Wimbledon we have a set of principles which all of us that are involved in the championships try very hard to put into practice in our everyday work. Those principles are Heritage, Integrity, Respect and Excellence. And those principles, whether you realise it or not, will have been or are being instilled into you at Withington.” Denise Parnell
And to WGS pupils, Denise Parnell had a final message:
“Be big and brave and be true to yourselves. Ad Lucem.”
The final speech of the day was from Head Girl Arabella who addressed the auditorium but, in particular, her peer cohort, expressing her gratitude for their true friendship, their kindness, humour and honesty and for the memories and milestones they had shared throughout their unforgettable seven-year Withington journey together.
“Although the world beyond Withington feels uncertain, I take comfort in knowing that we are more than prepared for whatever comes next. Because if there’s one thing Withington girls do well it’s facing the unknown with determination, curiosity …. and the occasional dance routine.” Head Girl Arabella
Arabella also spoke of the wealth of extracurricular she had embraced during her time at the school. “I’ve had the freedom to throw myself into the things I love – whether that was teaching Latin at a local primary school, playing netball and lacrosse or attending SciSoc, Hepsoc, PhilSoc, PsychSoc or Medsoc. Put it this way, if there was a ‘soc’ at the end of it, I probably signed up. But that’s exactly what makes Withington so special. The sheer range of opportunities means that the best thing you can do is take full advantage of them.”
To the school’s Governors and Senior Leadership Team, Arabella added:
“Thank you for sustaining the legacy of respect, ambition and support that our founders envisaged 135 years ago when they dared to believe that girls deserved the same standard of education as boys.”
As always, Withington’s talented musicians and choristers made an impressive contribution. This year’s performances included a composition based on Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘Hope is the thing with feathers’ prepared by Year 12 pupil Emily for her GCSE Music exam and adapted as an ensemble arrangement for Founders’ Day.
Readings were Black Cherries, a poem by W.S Merwin delivered by Year 10 pupil Sadie and 1925 Newsletter extracts were read by Year 12 students Amy and Olivia.
