Royal visit: the Duchess of Gloucester encounters some of Croydon High’s 2025 pupils as part of the school’s 150-year anniversary
The Duchess of Gloucester has marked the 150th anniversary of Croydon High School with a royal visit to the girls’ fee-paying school in Selsdon, marking “a poignant moment in the school’s rich legacy of empowering girls through education since its founding”.
Established by the pioneering Girls’ Public Day School Company (now the Girls’ Day Schools Trust), Croydon High was one of the earliest schools established with the radical vision of providing academic excellence for girls at a time when such opportunities were rare.
The school’s first headteacher, Dorinda Neligan, was a formidable leader and staunch suffragette, known for her activism in advancing women’s rights. “Under her leadership, Croydon High became a trailblazer in girls’ education, challenging societal norms and laying the foundation for generations of confident, capable young women,” the school says.
The visit of the Duchess last Friday continues a royal connection that dates back generations. Her mother-in-law, Princess Alice, alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, was part of the ceremonial laying of its foundation stone at its Selsdon site in 1964. As the royal patron of the GDST, she continued the legacy of Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s daughter, who was the Trust’s first patron.
Now and then: the Duchess of Gloucester on her 2025 visit to Croydon High last week, and the 1967 visit of a previous Duchess (top)
The latest Duchess to tour the school met pupils and staff, and explored a special exhibition showcasing Croydon High’s history. The royal visit took in the portrait of Neligan in the Senior Hall.
The visit also featured a heartfelt performance by Year 5 and 6 pupils, who sang a specially composed song reflecting Croydon High’s core values of aspiration, empowerment, pride and kindness.
Annabel Davies, the current head of Croydon High, said, “This celebration is not just about our history but about reaffirming our dedication to girls-only education, where every girl is empowered to aspire without limits.”
Flower power: some of Croydon High’s youngest pupils made a posy presentation to the royal visitor
For some unexplained reason, Jason Perry, the Mayor of Croydon, managed to blag himself an invite (was there free food on offer?). “Croydon High School is a cornerstone of our community,” someone wrote down on a piece of paper for Perry to read out.
The ceremony comes just months before another large girls’ independent school in Croydon, Old Palace, is due to close after being determined as “unviable” by its owners, the Whitgift Foundation.
Cheryl Giovannoni, the chief executive of GDST, said at the royal visit: “Today, as we reflect on our past, we are as committed as ever to delivering our vision of creating a more equitable world for all by equipping girls to be the leaders and changemakers of the future.”
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I think it is vital to empower girls and give them the tools they need to help overcome the obstacles they face in our patriarchal society. So, it seems an odd choice to invite someone to headline this event who only holds their position through marrying a man who inherited his wealth and title. Is this the example they want the girls to follow?
I’m assuming from this, that the Greens are not fans of titles and suchlike?
The loss of exemption from VAT must be offset for Croydon High School by:
a) the imminent closure of its main rival local girls’ school, Old Palace, in summer 2025, and
b) its pioneering history in the education of girls’ and women’s rights
I was particularly fortunate as I went to CHS without incurring fees: half of us won our places at the school through the 11+ exam and we all received the same standard of education and the same opportunities.