NEWS

A visit from our sister school

The Ladies’ College welcomed its sister school, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, to Guernsey last week for a hockey tour. The two Colleges have been connected since 1872 when Cheltenham teacher, Miss Susan Eaton, came to Guernsey and started as the first Principal of The Ladies’ College.

The College began with just 12 students and the early prosperity was a result of the model of education brought over from Cheltenham Ladies’ College. This unique model of girls' education still thrives over 150 years later.

The weekend tour reunited the two Colleges through sport, which would have been unthinkable in the mid 1800s. Cheltenham Ladies’ College brought 24 Year 8 students for a weekend full of hockey, activities and building relationships with their peers.

Their Guernsey experience began with a trip to see the Big Band and enjoy the fireworks in St Peter Port on Liberation Day. On Friday they met with The Ladies’ College Lower Four students for a hockey training session run by coaches from both schools. Not only did their visit coincide with Liberation Day, but also Valedictory Day for our Upper Sixth Leavers. We were delighted that they contributed a poem to the service, beautifully delivered by Alice and Temi.

Mrs Montague gave the Lower Four and LC2 a brief history of the two Colleges before they enjoyed a tour of the College site. In the afternoon the teams played two 11-a-side matches to give the Year 8 students experience of full-pitch matches ahead of next season. Many goals were scored and the A-team match ended in an impressive 2-2 draw.

After the match, all players involved over the weekend socialised over dinner in the Core.

Everyone woke up to warmer and sunny weather on Saturday for a 7-a-side tournament against players from Guernsey Hockey Club, Blanchelande and players from Remove, Lower Four and Upper Four from The Ladies’ College.

There was another very close final in Pool A where LC1, a mix of Year 8 and 9 players, narrowly beat the CLC 1 students, all of whom were in Year 8.

Cheltenham Ladies’ College students were very fortunate with beautiful weather throughout their tour. The girls also experienced classic Guernsey activities like coasteering and a trip to Herm.

It was a memorable weekend, which we’re all looking forward to repeating in the future.