History of our School

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls was founded in 1887 with funds provided by the Wardens of Rochester Bridge. The school opened in 1888 in a new building called Albion Place which was sited in Sittingbourne Road in Maidstone. The first headmistress was Miss Pope. She was so important to the running of the school that if she was absent, the school closed for the day! She hoped for a school of: “mixed girls of all ranks and classes…No matter what their position in society…provided they behave themselves, they may all enter.”

By 1900, the school had 100 pupils and was now housed in four different buildings. In 1912, Miss Kidd became Headmistress and, as Freda Cornell, a student from 1918 – 1925, tells us, pupils

“were absolutely terrified of her…but the best thing was to keep calm and in the end you found she was human and quite funny.”

One of the school’s rules advised that:

“Amusements or social engagements are not accepted as an excuse for neglected homework.”

However, by the late 1920s, the school was very overcrowded and plans were underway for a move to a new site……