2016 marked our 500th Anniversary and we really enjoyed celebrating our birthday and remembering how the school, the town and the surrounding community have developed over that time, what we have achieved as a school, and what our past students have achieved since.
Gallery
Evening event for sponsors | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/Supporters-Evening-Group-photo-CROP_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/Supporters-Evening-Group-photo-CROP.jpg | Evening event for sponsors | | | |
Former pupils visit the school | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/past-students-open-day_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/past-students-open-day.jpg | Former pupils visit the school | | | |
Festival of Ideas guest, Johnny Ball | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/Johnny-Ball_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/Johnny-Ball.jpg | Festival of Ideas guest, Johnny Ball | | | |
John Maine the sculptor | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/john-maine_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/john-maine.jpg | John Maine the sculptor | | | |
An initial sketch of John Maine's sculpture | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/gillingham-sketch1_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/gillingham-sketch1.jpg | An initial sketch of John Maine's sculpture | | | |
Guest speakers for our Festival of Ideas | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/festival-of-ideas_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/festival-of-ideas.jpg | Guest speakers for our Festival of Ideas | | | |
tree-trail | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/tree-trail_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/tree-trail.jpg | tree-trail | | | |
allum sidaway | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500%20Years%20Celebration/_t/allum%20sidaway_jpg.jpg | https://www.gillingham-dorset.co.uk/SiteCollectionImages/500 Years Celebration/allum sidaway.jpg | allum sidaway | | | |
Events Included:
- Ringing of the Gillingham Church Bells, including a full peal on Founders' Day
- Sculpture Commission - John Maine RA and exhibition
- 500 Postcards Art Exhibition
- Festival of Ideas - 9 guest speakers with a cumulative audience of over 1000
- Two commemorative histories of the school - authored by Dr John Porter and Mr Andrew Jenkins
- Music CD - 21 tracks by current and former students
- Community Tree Trail - complete with apple juice from our orchard
- Tree planting in conjunction with the Town Council
- Commemorative tree planting in the school quad
- A celebration of Creative Arts Alumni
- GiG500 - with Gillingham Chamber of Commerce, a weekend of music, food and local stalls
- Former students' Open Day
- Former colleagues' Open Day
- Founders' Day - with a host of special guests and speakers
- Picnic on the Pitches - community social event
- Summer Anniversary Ball
- Old Boys vs Gillingham Masters- cricket match
- 500 Learning Opportunities - over 36 different community workshops
- Digital Timeline project in conjunction with Gillingham Museum and Blue Flame Digital
- Le Cirque du Platzak as part of Dorset's Inside Out Festival
- 500 Sporting Wins across the year
- Closing Gala Concert including a community performance of the School Song.