One of the highlights of the school year took place in the glorious setting of Ely Cathedral this week, acknowledging the hard work and outstanding academic achievement of 12 of its Year 12 students.
Watched by proud parents, their teachers and the school, these talented young people received their distinctive red gowns, the colour traditionally associated with royalty, as they were admitted as members of the Cathedral Foundation, strengthening the special link between King’s Ely and the Cathedral.
At a special service of installation, these high-achieving students became King’s and Queen’s Scholars, providing a continuing connection to the foundation of the school by Henry V111 in 1541 and the introduction of co-education in 1971, soon after which our current Queen instigated Queen’s Scholars, granting equal academic honours to both girls and boys.
One of the new Queen’s Scholars, Rosamond Van Wingerden, reflected, “It was a great honour to be installed as a Queen’s Scholar and to become part of the Cathedral Foundation. The tradition of King’s and Queen’s Scholars shows the commitment of King’s Ely to academic achievement and I’m proud to be able to represent the school as a scholar.”
In addition to the twelve, two International Scholars are also appointed each year, and that honour this year went to Berke Demirci originally from Russia and Eris Guo from Taiwan, who will receive their gowns next week.
The Installation Service was followed by Evensong and the evening ended with a splendid ‘Visitor’s Feast’ when staff of the school, Governors and families came together to celebrate the achievements of the newly appointed Scholars.
The Principal, Sue Freestone, commented, “Our King’s and Queen’s Scholars are young people who achieve really highly on many fronts; they offer an example to which all aspire. In their red gowns, the school sees vibrant symbols of honour on almost a daily basis as a constant celebration of the success that is key to our culture”.