The Meaning of Founders Day at Pipers

Historian and accomplished author, Elizabeth Waghorn (former Piper’s History teacher), was asked in 2000 to chronicle the rich history of Pipers Corner School. As we gather today to celebrate Founder's Day in 2023, immersing ourselves in the vibrancy of the 1970s, it’s a perfect opportunity to revisit her work and reflect on the profound significance of this occasion, particularly in the context of Pipers Corner School's transformative journey throughout that eventful decade.

Elizabeth eloquently captures the essence of Pipers Corner School's history with her words: “The history of Pipers is inextricably linked with the life and idea of a truly remarkable lady, Jessie Cross. A mathematics graduate from London University, Jessie Cross had been a teacher for twenty years before starting her own School driven by a remarkable passion to educate girls in a single-sex environment, for eleven senior girls, at Grove Park Chiswick in 1930.  Within a year the numbers had grown to twenty-five so the School moved to bigger premises at Richmond Hill.” Here, Jessie Cross left an indelible mark on her students and laid the foundation for what we now know as Pipers Corner School. The School subsequently expanded to a second location in Prestwood, Buckinghamshire, before finally finding its permanent home at Pipers Lane, Great Kingshill, in the winter of 1945.

By 1955 the number of Students had doubled and there were 162 girls attending the School. Additions to the School took place throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s included the Chapel, an outside swimming pool, the new building and subsequently Founders Wing and the Landau Hall.

The 1970s marked a period of immense change for Pipers Corner. As the global landscape shifted and more parents found themselves working abroad, notably in the Services due to the proximity of both Strike and Bomber Command, as well as in various international business ventures, Pipers Corner School's strategic location near London and Heathrow Airport intensified competition for coveted boarding places. In the late 1970s, construction commenced on the aptly named Founders Wing, which would provide much-needed classrooms on the ground level, accompanied by Sixth Form study rooms and dormitories on the first floor.

During this era, the School's ethos was succinctly articulated by the then headmaster, Mr. H.J.P. Maas: “Education is not restricted to academic knowledge, essential as it is, but School should be so that every child may be able to develop their abilities to the full and learn courtesy and consideration for others”. The School Magazine at the time, echoed this sentiment as it published “There are two things which we all hope will never change at Pipers Corner. One is the pursuit of excellence, the ambition that every girl should aim high and achieve distinction… in whatever she chooses to do. The other is the friendliness of the School which comes from the respect for other people… These are the precious things of Pipers Corner which, despite all changes of faces and scenery, must be handed on from each generation to its successor”.

These timeless values stand as a testament to the spirit of our founder, Jessie Cross and the unwavering commitment of those who have steered Pipers Corner School through the winds of change. Indeed, in her recent Speech Day address, our Headmistress, Helen Ness-Gifford, reaffirmed our educational mission: “At the heart of our educational mission lies the profound belief that education is not confined to the mere accumulation of knowledge; it is a holistic journey towards the development of character, the nurturing of creativity and the cultivation of a profound sense of joy and purpose."

As we celebrate Founder's Day in 2023, let us not only commemorate our illustrious history but also embrace the enduring values that continue to guide us on this remarkable educational journey at Pipers Corner School.

In memory of our Founder Jessie Cross, Students laid flowers this afternoon at her graveside at St Mary’s Church Prestwood.