Pupils, parents, old girls and staff at Hanford School have come together to celebrate the end of the school year and the girls’ achievements.
The all-girls boarding and day prep school, set in an idyllic Dorset estate, has also been celebrating its 75th year, making Parents’ Day all the more special.
This year Hanford girls gained 15 scholarships to prestigious senior schools. The awards included academic scholarships to Oundle and St Mary’s Calne, Music to Wells Cathedral School, Art to Bryanston, Clayesmore and Monkton, Sport to St Mary’s Calne and Equestrian to Leweston.
The school was also able to celebrate girls in Years 7 and 8 recently being crowned National Prep Schools Champions in the high jump.
Headteacher Rory Johnston said: “We are extremely proud of this year’s leavers who, despite all the challenges thrown their way over the past two years, have flourished in all areas, as our number and range of scholarships show.
“We are equally proud of their broader contributions to the school, whether through their music, their drama, their leadership, their support for others.”
Rory added: “We will be sad to see them leave Hanford but we know the education they’ve received at Hanford will enable them to thrive at their senior schools.
“The girls themselves know they will always be welcome back here – our community of Old Girls is extremely strong and loyal, providing girls with a ready-made community for life.”
Speech Day started with a concert, including recitals on the piano and flute, orchestral pieces, a song written by the Leavers and a rendition of ‘From Now On’. This was followed by dancing and gymnastics displays on the lawn and a synchronised swimming display to ‘Mamma Mia’.
After picnics on the lawn, parents enjoyed a whole school play in the shadow of the cedar tree before ice creams and the end of term. The Leavers then headed to Chapel for their final service at Hanford.
The school has been shortlisted for Small Independent, Prep & Boarding School of the Year in this year’s Independent Schools of the Year Awards.