Could paper cups become telephones? Here at St Christopher’s School creativity meets curiosity. Imagination takes flight turning everyday objects into extraordinary tools.
St Christopher’s School inspires girls. It fosters an enduring desire to explore learn and grow. This is the foundation for a meaningful and fulfilled life.
Visitors often comment on the palpable energy at St Christopher’s School. It fizzes bubbles and erupts into bursts of song laughter and shrieks of delight. The word bored simply does not exist here.
The school values every pupil’s opinion. Its assessment process allows quieter children to shine. The curriculum supports them ensuring their contributions are heard and recognised.
Pupils at St Christopher’s School love learning. Teachers love teaching and learning from the girls they teach. They learn early on that some questions don’t have answers. This doesn’t stop them continuing to look for one.
St Christopher’s School was once called the Garden City Theosophical School. That was back on January 20 1914. Pupil numbers quickly expanded and new buildings were acquired. The re-named Arundale School found its home on Barrington Road. These buildings still form the heart of St Christopher’s School today.
Sport became more widely played at the school from 1915 to 1916. Football hockey cricket and athletics teams were founded. Cultural societies also emerged like the Guild of Arts & Crafts. The Scientific Society was also founded at this time.
The school played its first football match on February 18. They played against Hitchin Boys’ School on their new field. The school won 4-3.
The first athletic sports events were held on July 15 1916. Almost every pupil in the school took part.
In March 1916 Beatrice Ensor became the Organising Inspector. A senior group of students founded ‘The Moot’ on November 25 1916. It took on governing functions debating and legislating on school issues. This included things like the care of library books or policies on bullying.
The Guild of Arts and Crafts had its first meeting in June 1917. It was formed by the school’s arts and crafts master Ludwig Van der Straeten. He was the son of a music professor and an excellent cellist.
The Arundale Magazine started in Autumn 1917. It later became the St Christopher Magazine.
The Parents’ Circle was founded in Autumn 1920. It was one of the country’s first Parent-Teacher Associations. By the 1920’s the St Christopher School roll increased to 189 pupils.
Lyn Harris took over as Head in 1925 aided by his wife Eleanor. Lyn was a Quaker. Many of his beliefs and principles shaped the school. They are still in evidence today.
Music flourished under Director of Music Sidney Twemlow in the 1930s. Lyn Harris introduced Service Time.
The school decided to fundraise in support of relief work in Spain. This was in October 1937.
The onset of the Second World War transformed life at the school in 1939.
A correspondence link was established with a school in New Rochelle USA in December 1945.
The Film Society became the largest in the school in 1950.
Today St Christopher’s School continues to inspire. It encourages curiosity creativity and a lifelong love of learning.