Archive Photo of The Month – January

This month, we reflect on the first female principal of the Girls’ School – Margaret Kennedy.

Appointed in 1927, Kennedy widened opportunities, established a kindergarten, began a Sports Day, brightened the uniform and organised overseas trips and dances with the Boys’ School.

Margaret Kennedy was considered one of the greatest headmistresses of her generation. However, she wasn’t called ‘headmistress’ because, being the first female head of the school, the rules and regulations only referred to a ‘master’ at Hutchesons’. The patrons believed the best way around that was to call her a ‘principal’.

She was also bestowed with the French honour of the Officer d’ Academie, a national order recognizing contributions to education, science, and culture.

This year, we mark the 150th anniversary of girls attending our school, and as we prepare to honour this extraordinary anniversary, we want to hear from our alumni, former staff, current pupils and staff, and community members. Were you a former pupil, or someone in your family? Do you know a former member of staff?

We invite you to submit personal stories, photos and memorabilia to be included in our 150th Anniversary ‘Celebration Day’ exhibition in May this year. Submissions can be held anonymously – every voice adds to the rich tapestry of our history. Please contact our School Archive at archives@hutchesons.org.

School Archive:

Committed to the collection, preservation and maintenance of the records of the school, its activities and pupils, the School strives to record the school’s history and memory and hold a range of archive material from class registers and magazines to photographs, trophies and uniforms. Pupils are encouraged at both Primary and Secondary School to engage with archive material, with the aim to provide a dynamic educational resource for the school and wider community.

Would you like to know more about the School’s History? Contact our School Archivist, Ms Devenney at archives@hutchesons.org with any enquiries.