As we celebrate Rosebery Day each year, we take time to reflect on our proud history and the values that continue to shape our school. Looking ahead, we are delighted to share exciting news: in May 2027, Rosebery School will mark its centenary, celebrating 100 years since the official opening of our Whitehorse Drive site and the beginning of the Rosebery story as we know it today.

This significant milestone offers a unique opportunity to honour our past while bringing together our entire community—students, staff, families, alumnae, and local partners—to celebrate the present and shape the future.

To mark this occasion, we are planning a year‑long programme of events and initiatives that reflect the spirit, creativity, and ambition of Rosebery School. Highlights of the centenary programme will include:

• A vibrant Centenary Festival Day, welcoming the whole community to celebrate together
• A spectacular Creative Arts Gala, showcasing student talent alongside contributions from alumnae
• A Centenary Exhibition, sharing the rich story of Rosebery across 100 years
• The creation of a Centenary Orchard and Rosebery Walk, leaving a lasting environmental and educational legacy
• A whole-school “100 Challenges for 100 Years” initiative, promoting kindness, ambition, and community engagement
• A time capsule project, preserving memories of today for future generations of students
• The launch of the Rosebery Foundation, supporting opportunity and aspiration for years to come

These projects have been thoughtfully designed to celebrate the remarkable achievements of generations of Rosebery students, while creating meaningful and lasting opportunities for those who follow.

We warmly invite you to explore our Centenary Brochure, which provides further detail about our plans and vision for this special year. Over the coming months, we will be sharing regular updates as preparations begin and opportunities to get involved are announced.

Our centenary is more than a celebration - it is a moment to recognise the strength of our community, the richness of our history, and the exciting future ahead. We look forward to marking this historic occasion together and making it a truly memorable chapter in the Rosebery story.

View our Centenary Brochure

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Centenary Digital Archive

Please find below our growing digital archive which contains newspaper clippings, photographs, illustrations and poems from Rosebery School's 100-year history.

View our Centenary Digital Archive

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The Story of Rosebery School

The school first opened in the academic year of 1921/22 as Epsom County School. The school’s founding headteacher, Miss J. K. Hall, envisioned it as “a society evoking the loyalty and devotion of a lifetime alike of girls in which and by which the essential basis of civic virtue would be inculcated in the rising generation more by practice than by precept.” These values have remained central to the ethos of Rosebery School throughout its history.

Initially located at the Technical Institute on Church Street, the school could accommodate just 150 girls. In 1927, construction was completed on the new site at Whitehorse Drive, where the school still thrives nearly a century later. The new school was officially opened on 7 May 1927, coinciding with Lord Rosebery’s birthday, by the Lady Mayoress of London—marking the birth of Rosebery School.

Miss Hall retired in 1946, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and inspiration. To honor her memory, a magnolia tree was planted outside her office, which continues to bloom as a living symbol of her impact.

As we approach our centenary, Rosebery School remains deeply committed to the values established by its founders, shaping generations of students with the same principles that have guided us since the beginning.

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Iris

This year, I am looking forward to working with the other Senior Prefects and the Junior Prefect Team to make Rosebery Day as fun and memorable as possible. I also hope to build our understanding of the school’s history in the lead-up to our 100-year anniversary in 2027.

Another key focus for me is strengthening our connections with the wider Epsom community, our alumni, and the 8th Earl of Rosebery.

I applied for the Senior Prefect Team because my experience at Rosebery has been amazing, and I find it fascinating to learn about the experiences of others from different generations. At the same time, I want to prioritise making the experience of current students in our pillar school even better.