Rupert House Centenary – Celebrating 100 years of excellence and enjoyment!
Over the course of 2024, we had a wonderful time celebrating 100 years of Rupert House School.
Founded in 1924 by Mr. Grugeon, who wanted a local education for his sons and initially opened the school, the school was originally called St Joan’s and located in New Street, Henley. Starting with just ten pupils, it moved to Bell Street in 1930 under Miss Hallett and Miss Verrall, who led until 1944. Miss Densham became Headmistress in 1947, renaming it Rupert House to honour Prince Rupert of the Rhine, a brave commander in the English Civil War and nephew of King Charles I, whose crown appears on the school crest. Prince Rupert, also a pirate and co-founder of The Royal Society, had connections to Henley, having been based nearby during the Civil War. The school, housed in a Grade II listed building, has expanded significantly behind its iconic blue door, including adding playing fields on the Fairmile at the end of the 20th century. More recently, the school has built an all-weather astro pitch and plans are underway to develop the school buildings further to expand and modernise the school environment.
To mark our 100th year, we created a calendar of events to celebrate the school’s milestone birthday. We began with a competition inviting pupils to design a commemorative badge. The winning design, selected by our Head of Art, Mrs. Poulter, was created by Zara in Year 6. Her wonderful design, inspired by the school’s iconic blue door, was transformed into pin badges for prep children to wear on their blazers and keyrings for younger pupils to attach to their bookbags. This meaningful keepsake set the tone for a year of celebrations.
School Celebrations
The centenary celebrations began on May 10th with a whole-school trip to Wellington Country Park. The day was filled with play, exploration, climbing, swinging, sand digging, sliding, and animal petting. Everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch under the shade of the trees, followed by refreshing ice lollies. With the sun shining and smiles all around, it was a truly memorable day for both children and staff.
On May 24th, we marked our 100th birthday with a historical extravaganza. Robbie from Past Productions brought history to life with jousting and dancing workshops, Maypole dancing, crest designing, and trebuchet aiming, all while dressed as Prince Rupert of the Rhine, our school’s namesake. The school came alive with 20th-century costumes, with prizes awarded to pupils for their portrayals of Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart, Sir Steve Redgrave, and David Bowie. Staff joined in the fun, with Mr. Williams as Freddie Mercury and Mr. Blades as Steve Irwin, complete with an alligator at running club! The day concluded with a BBQ lunch, ice cream, and the FoRH May Fair on the school fields.
In June we celebrated our centenary through Maths with activities centered around the number 100. Reception children counted and built with 100 Lego bricks. Year 1 explored 100 steps and 100 seconds with physical challenges, made the number 100 on the grass, and found hidden French numbers, learning “cent” means 100 in French. Year 2 completed number squares to practice times tables and played French Bingo. Year 3 created a rainbow with 100 colours. Year 4 creatively found 100 ways to make 100 using various mathematical operations and mastered French numbers up to 100. Across the school, children added French numbers totalling 100 to Madame Sheriff’s number board!
In September we held our annual Picnic Concert, making it an extra special occasion to celebrate our 100th birthday. We took the event from its usual spot on the lawn to the school playing fields where we had even more space to spread out, picnic and enjoy the wonderful musical performances from across the school.
Alumni Celebrations
We hosted a wide range of centenary events to bring together the Rupert House community, providing alumni, past parents, staff, and governors with opportunities to reminisce about their time at the school while allowing current parents and grandparents to join in the celebrations.
Over 60 alumni from the classes of 2018 to 2023 attended a lively party on the lawn. Local DJ John Johnny broke the ice and got everyone dancing, making it a joyful evening of laughter, shared memories, and a chance to revisit their prep school days. Guests delighted in exploring classrooms and reconnecting with friends.
To celebrate our unique setting by the River Thames, we paired the excitement of Henley Regatta with our centenary festivities. On the sunniest day of the regatta, we hosted drinks and nibbles in the Leander Club grounds. Under gazebos, the Rupert House community – past and present – gathered for a relaxed and cheerful event. Current and former parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and staff joined us for this lovely occasion, which we hope to make an annual tradition.
In September, we held a sparkling Centenary Ball in the school grounds. Open to current and former parents, staff and alumni over 18, the evening featured a live band, a delicious three-course meal, and an auction which raised funds for local and international charities. It was a fantastic opportunity for current parents to celebrate with friends and for alumni to reconnect with old classmates and the school.
We concluded the year with an Open Morning, welcoming not only prospective parents but also the Henley community. Guests were invited to step behind our iconic blue door to meet the Head, staff, and pupils and get a glimpse of daily life at Rupert House.
A highlight of the centenary celebrations was the display of photo albums kindly loaned by past pupils and staff, documenting decades of school history. These cherished memories were enjoyed by visitors at both the ball and the open morning, adding a poignant touch to a truly special year.
Ongoing Celebrations
To celebrate the school’s centenary, we launched an online shop featuring Rupert House items to commemorate the past 100 years. Every new pupil starting in 2024 received a special centenary edition Rupert Bear, which was also available for purchase. Other items included mugs, umbrellas, gin, and the most popular choice—a centenary hoodie available for both children and adults. These items remain available in our online gift shop: Rupert House School - Gift Shop
We also invited Rupert House alumni to contribute to our "100 Faces" feature, a project documenting the school’s rich history through the stories and memories of its community members. While we’ve received some fantastic contributions, we’re still aiming to reach 100 stories. If you’re an alumnus or know someone who is, we’d love to hear from you. Help us celebrate a century of history by adding your voice to our growing tapestry of memories.
We had a great time celebrating our wonderful school throughout the course of 2024. Now in our 101st year, we will continue to celebrate the past and look to the future. Rupert House strives to remain a vibrant and forward-thinking community, preparing its pupils for the challenges and opportunities of an ever-changing world. Embracing innovation while upholding cherished traditions, the school aims to enhance its curriculum with cutting-edge technology, a focus on sustainability, and programmes that nurture creativity, resilience, and global awareness. By fostering a culture of curiosity and inclusivity, it seeks to empower every child to discover their passions, develop their talents, and build the confidence to thrive in their next educational journey and beyond. As a cornerstone of the community, the school aspires to inspire lifelong learning and values that will guide its pupils for generations to come.