Salisbury Cathedral School marks 40 years of Pre-Prep with joyful alumni celebration
Saturday’s sunshine set the perfect scene as Salisbury Cathedral School (SCS) welcomed alumni, families, and friends to a very special Garden Party celebrating 40 years since the opening of its much-loved Pre-Prep department. This anniversary comes in the same school year that SCS extended its Nursery provision to welcome children from the age of two, instead of three.
Sally Moulton, Head of Salisbury Cathedral School, said:
"It was a truly wonderful day — a celebration of our Pre-Prep’s rich history and its bright future. Seeing so many former pupils, staff, and families come together was incredibly special. This year, as we extend our Nursery to welcome two-year-olds for the first time, it feels especially fitting to reflect on how the Pre-Prep has evolved while keeping its joyful, creative spirit at its heart."
More than 100 alumni joined current Pre-Prep families for a day that brought together past and present with a palpable spirit of community. Guests travelled from as far afield as America to be part of the occasion, with former pupils spanning the decades — from those who attended SCS in the 1950s to 14-year-olds who only left last year.
The celebrations began with a vibrant performance from the children, who delighted their audience with singing, dancing, and recorder playing. Dressed as bugs, insects, sunshine and rainbows, they filled the stage with colour, confidence, and smiles — a joyful testament to their love of the creative arts. The dedication of the Pre-Prep team shone through every moment.
A particularly special highlight came when Penelope, the first pupil in the new two-year-old Nursery provision, took to the stage with infectious energy, dancing freely across the beautifully prepared set. She later took center stage again when she helped to plant a ‘Penelope Rose’ to mark the beginning of this new chapter in the school’s Pre-Prep department.
Guests enjoyed a buffet or picnic lunch, followed by a special exhibition of photographs capturing life in the SCS Pre-Prep since 1985. The exhibition, presented by original members of the Pre-Prep team, offered a trip down memory lane filled with laughter and a few happy tears. The school extends particular thanks to Mrs Brenda Whitehead, who founded the Pre-Prep in 1985, for her work in bringing the exhibition to life.
Adding to the day’s festivities was a closely contested school vs alumni cricket match, run by former Head of Sport Mr Christopher Bass. The match could have gone either way, but on this occasion, the alumni team secured victory.
