On Saturday 2 May, Northampton High School celebrated its 142nd birthday. Originally located in the heart of Northampton, before moving to the purpose-built Hardingstone home in 1992, the school’s birthday is a key date in the school calendar, with staff and students finding exciting ways to commemorate the occasion each year.
With the school currently closed to all but a few Key Worker children, this year’s whole school assembly to observe the birthday could not take place, but staff at school were determined to not let the milestone pass without marking the occasion. So, on Monday 4 May, pupils, staff and parents came together for a special ‘virtual birthday assembly’, looking back on special events in the school’s history and celebrating with students their own ‘lockdown’ birthdays.
The assembly concluded with Northampton High’s signature birthday tradition: With the Headmistress, the Head Girl and the school’s youngest pupil coming together to cut the birthday cake. This year, Headmistress, Caroline Petryszak, was joined by Daria in Year 12, and Elouise in Reception, who all cut cakes simultaneously in their homes to a chorus of Happy Birthday.
