Founder's Day at St Paul's Cathedral

Founded in 1850 by the pioneering Frances Mary Buss in her family home at 46 Camden Street, Camden Town, NLCS has long upheld a proud tradition of educational excellence and innovation. Our Founder’s Day service was a moving tribute to that legacy, as well as a celebration of our vibrant school community today.

The service began at 11am, with our sixth formers leading the traditional daffodil procession – a cherished part of Founder’s Day celebrations. The programme featured outstanding performances from the NLCS orchestra and choir, as well as a beautiful solo by staff member Lindsey James. Key speeches were delivered by members of the Big 6 and our Headmistress, Vicky Bingham, reflecting on the school’s remarkable journey and exciting future.

This is not the first time NLCS has gathered at St Paul’s to mark a milestone. We are proud to have a long-standing connection with this iconic venue:

• 1900 – 50th anniversary of NLCS

• 1950 – Centenary celebrations

• 2000 – Sesquicentenary (150th anniversary)

Now, in 2025, we were honoured once again to stand beneath the great dome, united in gratitude and purpose.

As NLCS continues to expand its global family, we are delighted that our international schools will soon begin celebrating their own Founder’s Days, echoing the traditions of our mother school in the weeks ahead.

In the lead-up to this year’s celebration, NLCS (UK) also held its third successful Giving Day, raising an extraordinary £277,538. These funds will support vital initiatives including:

• The Bernice McCabe Bursary Fund, making an NLCS education more accessible

• Raising Voices & Surge Academy, nurturing student leadership and entrepreneurship

• The Eureka Partnerships Programme, building strong local school collaborations

• The NLCS Hardship Fund, offering support to families facing unexpected financial difficulties

As we look to the future, we’re excited to see how Founder’s Day continues to evolve – and we’re already dreaming of the celebrations to come at our 200th anniversary.

Photography by Graham Ryder