Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Celebrates Official Opening of New Helen Keen Building and Visitor Centre
On Friday, 27th February, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) marked a significant milestone in its history with the official opening of the new Helen Keen Building and the Visitor Centre to support visits to MGGS’ wartime tunnels.
The Guest of honour was The Lady Colgrain, Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, who performed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The day brought together a distinguished group of VIPs to celebrate both the school’s forward-looking academic expansion and its deep-rooted historical heritage.
The new building is named in honour of Helen Keen, a dedicated and beloved Art teacher at MGGS from 1935 to 1952. During the darkest days of the Second World War, Helen used her artistic talent to provide a unique and enduring record of school life. While students and staff sought refuge in the underground shelters during air raids, she produced a series of evocative sketches and paintings capturing the resilience and spirit of the MGGS community under fire.
These poignant works of art were later compiled into a beautifully illustrated book titled “Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, War Diary 1939-1946.” This publication serves as a vivid historical narrative, allowing readers to see the war through her eyes. By naming this building after her, the school ensures her story remains a living part of MGGS.
While the event celebrated the school’s heritage, it also showcased student learning at MGGS. The Helen Keen Building is a state-of-the-art academic facility that now serves as the new home for the History, Science, and Music departments.
The building features high-specification science laboratories, sound-insulated music suites, and modern classrooms. By bringing these core disciplines together in a bespoke building, the school continues to provide its students with the very best resources for 21st-century education.
The school was particularly honoured to welcome Helen Keen’s family to the ceremony, including her nephew, David Keen, and her great-niece, Sarah Keen, making the dedication a deeply personal celebration.
The school extended its thanks to Kent County Council (KCC) for their essential support in the school’s expansion, and to the project’s delivery partners; Baxall Construction, the lead contractors.
Other notable guests included representatives from several Charitable Foundations and Trusts whose generous funding was vital to the project’s success. These include the William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust, the J & C Findlay Charitable Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and The Rochester Bridge Trust. The event also saw a strong presence from alumni, reinforcing the lifelong bond between the school and its former students.
In tandem with the new building, the school officially opened its War Tunnels Visitor Centre.
MGGS is delighted to announce that bookings will shortly be open for Primary Schools to visit the Wartime tunnels. Students will have the unique opportunity to experience lessons in a specially designed wartime-themed classroom, bringing the curriculum to life in an immersive environment.
In due course, these facilities will also be available for the public to book as an exclusive heritage experience. This will offer the wider community a chance to explore the tunnels through a dedicated guided tour, together with a visit to the themed classroom.
Speaking at the event, Headteacher Miss Deborah Stanley expressed deep gratitude to all those involved. “Today is a day of immense pride for MGGS. By opening the Helen Keen Building alongside our Visitor Centre, we are bridging our past with our future. We are honoured to have The Lady Colgrain, the family of Helen Keen, and our many partners join us to mark this special occasion.”
The official opening concluded with guided tours led by Sixth Form students, showcasing the new laboratories and music facilities together with the atmospheric experience of the tunnels.
