Manchester High School for Girls was proud to welcome the Princess Royal on Wednesday 17 September 2014. Dignitaries including The Lord Lieutenant and The Rt Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Manchester and her consort were in attendance at the ceremony along with guests from the school community
HRH The Princess Royal toured the facilities of the Sixth Form Centre which include the 120-seat Zochonis Lecture theatre and the Carole Nash Café Area. Her Royal Highness spent time talking to staff and A Level and International Baccalaureate Diploma students before unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening of the building.
In a short speech, The Princess Royal said she appreciated the opportunity to return to MHSG to see how well the school is continuing its traditions and its strengths. Her Royal Highness referred to her role as Patron of Women into Science and Engineering and expressed gratitude for the school’s consistent support of science subjects. She commented on the value of looking back and remembering why schools such as Manchester High were started, noting how well the current pupils respond to the strong traditions in place.
Mrs Claire Hewitt, Head Mistress at Manchester High School for Girls, said: “We were delighted and privileged to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to officially open our new Sixth Form Centre during our 140th anniversary year. When Manchester High was founded, in 1874, it occupied two converted Victorian houses in Portland Terrace. The School has come a long way since those early days and we continue to develop our purpose built, state of the art facilities to benefit successive generations of Manchester High students.”
Mrs Hewitt concluded: “On behalf of all members of the MHSG community, I should like to thank Her Royal Highness for sharing this occasion with us. The new Sixth Form Centre is an exciting development for the School and it will offer our students everything that they need to gain maximum benefit from their Sixth Form studies and prepare for life at university.”
