Founder’s Day at Berkhamsted School

Today, Berkhamsted Schools Group celebrates Founder’s Day, which commemorates the opening of our School in 1541.

The School was founded by John Incent, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. The recorded act stated:

“The Deane obtained of the King’s Majesty a Licence to purchase £40 in Lands by the year, to found a school with an incorporation at Berkhamsted… whereof the Kings always of this realme should be founders for ever after the decease of the said Deane by the said License, and should name and place the Schoolmaster there as oft as that room should happen to be void.”

The school has since undergone transformative changes, with the merger of the boys’ and girls’ schools in 1996, and the welcoming of Heatherton School to the Berkhamsted Schools Group in 2011. However, our mission and ethos remain the same as Dean Incent’s original wishes in 1541.

At his last Founder’s Day as Principal, Richard Backhouse spoke on how Berkhamsted can preserve and enhance Dean Incent’s legacy in the modern day. He urged pupils to “guard the good deposit,” (2 Timothy 1:14) taking good care of the core values of our School community. Dean Incent’s dedicated mission to construct a free and successful school for poor scholars echoes today in our own values, Serve Others, Aim high with integrity and Be adventurous.

This celebration was accompanied by moving musical performances from Senior Brass Ensemble and Senior Choir. The community also heard from the Chaplain and Assistant Chaplain, who led prayers of thanksgiving and reflection.

On this 481^st Anniversary of Dean Incent’s foundation, we recognise the illustrious history of the Old Berkhamstedians before us, the inspired pupils that currently walk our halls, and the bright future that lies ahead of Berkhamsted School.