Alumnae Stories
Aneka, a recent alumna of RMS for Girls (Class of 2024), recounts her "truly amazing" first year as a student-athlete at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, where she received a scholarship for both tennis and academics.
While initially "a bit overwhelming adjusting to a completely new environment," she quickly "began to find my rhythm" and has "grown so much both academically and personally."
Her "very busy" week includes "Monday to Friday at 6:15 am we have a workout session" and "from 2 to 5 pm, we're back on court for team practice," often followed by "a recovery session which includes ice baths, stretching, cupping for injuries and also needling."
Aneka highlights the importance of "discipline" and "resilience," stating, "There are many times where you don't have your usual support system around you during tough moments...so you learn very quickly how to problem solve on your own, bounce back from setbacks and keep pushing forward no matter what."
She credits RMS for Girls for preparing her, noting, "what stood out the most was the incredible support I received and still receive from my teachers." Their guidance "not only helped me stay on top of my academics, but also constantly reminded me to enjoy the journey."
Aneka advises prospective student-athletes to "have a clear goal or passion...and be ready to give it all." She concludes that it's "one of the best decisions I've ever made," emphasising, "You grow so much academically, athletically, and personally."
We wish Aneka all the very best as she continues her remarkable journey, both on and off the court.
An inspiring trip to McLaren Racing, home of the current F1 Constructors' Champions.
Students had the incredible opportunity to tour the site with RMS alumna Meghann (class of 2021), gaining insights into the fast-paced world of Formula 1 and what it’s like to be part of the industry.
From the vast range of careers in F1, both engineering and beyond, to the reassurance that it’s normal not to have your whole career mapped out.
Huge thanks to Meghann for helping faciliaite the visit. Meghann has been working at McLaren since 2021 and regualry keeps in touch with us at RMS.
Aneka playing tennis during a trip to Dubai.
Aneka during a recent return visit to RMS in June 2025.
RMS students at McLaren HQ (above) and Meghann with Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Freeman (below).
Year 10 and Year 12 students enjoyed an inspiring visit to Balliol College at Oxford University.
The visit included a campus tour, an insightful admissions talk, and lunch in The Great Hall.
They also caught up with RMS alumnae Hattie and Grace, both current first-year Oxford students, for a walking tour of the city’s iconic sights. It was a pleasure to catch up with Grace and Hattie and hear how RMS has helped shaped their future journeys. Read
rmsforgirls.com/news
Sisters Issie (class of 2024) and Katie (Year 12) represented Great Britain at the 2025 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships this year, an exceptional achievement.
Issie competed in the U20 age group, while Katie, nationally ranked number one in U17, was invited to join the U20 GB team due to another member's injury.
Both were integral to the four-strong U20 women’s foil squad, showcasing great skill and composure by securing an impressive 6th place out of 33 global teams.
Their joint participation at such a high level is something that brings great pride to the RMS community.
RMS students in Oxford with Hattie and Grace.
Issie and Katie, along with Team GB teammates, competing at the 2025 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships.
We loved welcoming alumna Pippa Corry back to RMS earlier this term.
Head of Sixth Form, Clare Freeman, shared these lovely reflections on the visit:
“It was wonderful to show Pippa around the School. She left RMS 20 years ago, but was one of the first students I taught when I arrived at RMS in 2005. She reminded me today that I had loaned her my prized signed copy of 'Going to Extremes' which she took on holiday to read, only for it to blow into the swimming pool!
Showing her around, she commented on how much the school has changed and modernised and recollected how lucky she felt to have come to such a wonderful school with the opportunities that it gave her.
Now living in Sydney, having started up her own sustainable packaging consultancy, philo & co, Pippa is still friends with many students I remember fondly from my early days at RMS. Seeing Pippa again reminded me once more what a privilege it is to be a small part of so many people's journeys into adulthood and their future lives.”
Pippa commented about her visit: "Thank you for taking the time to catch up with me and take me around the School. It was so fabulous to have a trip down memory lane and see all the wonderful initiatives that the team have put in place over the years."
and sessions.
RMS for Girls recently hosted alumna Viktoria Wiggins for a captivating afternoon, split into two engaging sessions.
Viktoria first shared her inspiring career journey, tracing her path from early aspirations in journalism to studying History at Exeter University, and ultimately finding her calling in engineering at British Airways. She emphasised the importance of embracing opportunities and trusting one's inherent skills, reminding students not to overthink every step of their career development.
Later, Viktoria joined our Sixth Form for a compelling roundtable discussion on "AI in the workplace". The students demonstrated maturity and offered insightful perspectives on this complex topic. It was particularly eye-opening to hear their concerns: unlike those who experienced a pre-AI world and view it as an enhancement tool, many students fear AI could hinder the development of fundamental skills for young people.
The debate sparked crucial points and highlighted the vital importance of ensuring young people's voices are heard on the topic of AI.
Pippa with Clare Freeman during her visit.
RMS students with Viktoria during her visit
School News
RMS for Girls is delighted to announce its shortlisting as a finalist for the Independent Boarding School of the Year 2025 award.
This recognition, part of the annual Independent Schools of the Year awards, celebrates the school's long-standing commitment to providing an exceptional boarding experience.
The Independent Schools of the Year awards, presented by Independent School Parent magazie, highlight the remarkable success stories and compelling student experiences within the independent education sector. With 25 diverse categories, the awards aim to showcase the breadth and depth of life as a student in independent schools across the UK.
The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony in October.
RMS has been awarded the Eco Schools Green Flag Award, with Distinction, for the third year running.
A huge congratulations to our amazing Eco-Committee and everyone involved for their incredible work including reviving our school greenhouse and inspiring positive change across the school.
Sustainability isn’t just a goal at RMS, it’s a mindset.
Read more news: rmsforgirls.com/news
Year 13 students enjoying their final days at school in fancy dress (left), and enjoying the day's entertainment (right).
Year 13 students at RMS celebrated their final week before exams with a series of memorable events.
Festivities included an alphabetical fancy dress day, an apocalyptic muck-up day, and shirt and yearbook signing. The fun-filled week culminated in a magical leavers' breakfast featuring a magician, followed by an emotional Leavers' Dinner shared with parents, pupils, and staff.
We wish the Class of 2025 the best of luck as they move onto the next stage of their journey - becoming part of the RMS alumnae family.
We recently held two significant events to celebrate the remarkable achievements and growth of our pupils: Cadogan House Prize Day and Senior School Celebration Day. Both provided us the chance to celebrate the dedication and talent present across our school community.
The Cadogan House Prize Day was a wonderful testament to the hard work, perseverance, and joy embedded within our younger pupils' learning journey. Featuring musical performances and speeches, the event showcased the spirit and accomplishments of every student. Congratulations to all pupils for their commendable efforts this year.
Following this, our Senior School Celebration Day, held on Saturday, July 5th, gathered the entire senior school community to acknowledge and celebrate the academic and personal successes of our senior students throughout the year. The day was highlighted by our annual prize-giving ceremony. Beyond the formal awards, families were invited to experience various aspects of school life through engaging workshops, further musical showcases, an excerpt from "The Three Musketeers," and poetry readings.
These events collectively showcased the vibrant spirit and outstanding capabilities of our students at all levels. We are immensely proud of their contributions and achievements.
What a weekend we had celebrating Garthella, our annual summer boarding festival!
Our community came together for an memorable day filled with tie-dyeing, movie nights, pizza, and toasted marshmallows. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the strong bonds within our boarding houses.
We also took the opportunity to share heartfelt farewells with our Year 13s and other leaving students, wishing them well on their next adventures. Our incredible boarding staff deserve a huge thank you for making these special moments happen and creating such a nurturing environment all year round.
As we celebrated National Boarding Week, we were reminded of the joy and belonging that boarding brings to RMS. This event also provided a wonderful opportunity for our boarders to say farewell and thank you to our Director of Boarding, Mrs. Jones, who will be moving on from RMS this summer.
Awards and performances from both events.
Fun activities (above) and Mrs Jones with boarders (below).
It's been a fantastic term for sport at RMS, with three incredible Sports Days bringing our entire school community together. From our youngest pupils to our senior students, everyone had the chance to shine.
Our Ruspini House (Nursery) kicked off the celebrations with an absolutely adorable Sports Afternoon. Our little champions ran their hearts out, cheered on by enthusiastic parents and families whose support was truly amazing.
The excitement continued at our Cadogan House (Prep and Pre-Prep) Sports Day, where house spirit was in full force. Topaz, Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby all gave it their all, displaying brilliant teamwork, determination, and plenty of spirit. A special well done goes to Emerald for winning the Cadogan Sports Day Cup!
Finally, our Senior School Sports Day was a spectacular display of talent and encouragement. Students participated in a wide array of events, from rowing, shot put, javelin, and trampolining to long jump, volleyball, and various track races. The ever-popular teachers' and parents' races added an extra layer of fun (and laughter) to the day. After all the points were tallied, Moira proudly took home the trophy this year.
These events highlight the vibrant and active spirit of the RMS community, celebrating participation, effort, and achievement across all age groups.
You might remember that RMS is home to a fascinating piece of history - an air raid shelter built right on our campus in 1934. This hidden gem offers a unique insight into life during wartime.
Earlier this term, our Year 2 students had an memorable experience exploring the shelter, stepping back in time as they learned about the realities of living through an air raid.
During their History lessons, our students had a profoundly impactful learning experience as the Holocaust Educational Trust brought Manfred Goldberg's story to life through immersive VR.
This cutting-edge "Testimony 360" experience allowed pupils to virtually explore Manfred's hometown of Kassel, a place tragically destroyed during the Holocaust.
Through this powerful and modern approach to Holocaust education, students were able to engage directly with Manfred's testimony, even asking him questions which were answered through pre-recorded responses filmed over a full week.
We're grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for providing such an insightful and moving educational opportunity for our students.
Year 2 at the entrance to the RMS air raid shelter.
Our talented Cadogan House pupils delivered a truly spectacular double production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR this term as parents, friends and staff were brought into the whimsical world of Caractacus Potts, Jeremy, Jemima, and, of course, the magical flying car.
This production was the result of lots of hard work and the collaboration of our entire Cadogan community. Congratulations to every pupil in the cast and crew for putting on such a high-quality show.
Audiences were also captivated by the Year 7-9 production of The Three Musketeers, performed earlier in the term.
This bold retelling of Alexandre Dumas' classic reimagined d'Artagnan as a gritty girl, who teams up with the legendary Musketeers to defend Queen and country from Cardinal Richelieu. The talented cast delivered high-energy performances and dramatic duels, bringing a fresh, feisty twist to the timeless tale.
We're immensely proud of our Wings of Hope teams' achievements during this academic year.
Hands of Hope were crowned Overall Runners-Up, showcasing phenomenal creativity, resilience, and teamwork. Herts of Gold earned the Community Action Award for their dedicated service, making a lasting impact. Wings of Hope is a competition that encourages fundraising, public speaking, and community work. We couldn't be prouder of our RMS student teams!
Read more news: rmsforgirls.com/news
RMSTEM Edition 2 is out now, a STEM magazine created entirely by students at RMS for Girls.
This latest issue dives into a range of topics, from AI and cancer research to 3D bioprinting, space science, and Star Wars tech.
It's packed with original articles, bold ideas, and brilliant insights from the next generation of STEM minds.
Read the magazine by visiting this link: bit.ly/rmstem2
Our recent Year 9-12 Iceland trip has been incredible!
Students have visited the Blue Lagoon, admired Hallgrimskirkja, and stood at the Bridge Between Continents, observing the split tectonic plates. From glaciers to geysers, they're seeing classroom learning come alive.
Both RMS teams won awards for their dedicated work.
RMSTEM is created by students at RMS.
Rosalind Gray (née Griffith) (Class of 1951)
My sister Rosalind Gray (née Griffith) left school in 1951, the year I came up from Junior School in Weybridge. We had one year overlap together in Moira House. At the time I was very in awe of her, she a senior and I a junior, if I wanted to see her I would stand outside the Senior Common Room until someone noticed and ask me who I wanted to speak to! Later on we would reminisce about our House mistress (Miss East) and Matron (Mrs Frost) and some of the same teachers we had, which made a precious bond between us. We often went back together to Old Girls' Day, to the Southern Reunions (recently in Surbiton a stone's throw from her house!) and the service on Remembrance Sunday.
We appreciated the chance to have a good education and were proud of our school, and of course the School Drill of which we both had fond memories. Rosalind was brilliant at needlework and sewing and carried off the prize year after year, which made it hard to follow in her footsteps as it was not my forte! After school she went to catering college and became expert at sugarcraft and cake making, specialising in wedding cakes, mine, her own and many friends.
She settled in Surrey, marrying a WW2 pilot who excelled in rowing so their life revolved around local boat clubs and Henley Regatta, where my husband (who meanwhile carried me off to Strasbourg, Northern France to work at the Council of Europe) and I were regularly invited. We also met up often over the years in their caravan near Chichester and their flat in Madeira and our children were born in the same year.
Her last years were difficult, as she was more or less housebound, but I went to visit her as often as possible and she would smile and laugh and talk about our school days. She died on 5th May aged 91. She is very much missed.
Written by Claire Massie (sister of Rosalind).
Lily Dear (Atholl, 1946)
Lily (bottom right in photo) was born in 1929, and attended the School at Rickmansworth throughout the war years. She was a Prefect and sang in the school choir. She also enjoyed swimming in the pool and was awarded a lifesaving medal. Lily took her Cambridge School Certificate around the time of her 17th birthday in December 1946, and left school immediately afterwards, to begin her secretarial training at Denson’s College. However, she returned to the School for Prize Day 1947, to receive as a prize the Complete Works of Shakespeare, for her performance in the examination.
After leaving Denson’s, Lily had a succession of secretarial jobs in London. During the 1950s she began visiting Lee Abbey, the evangelical retreat centre in North Devon, and in 1957 she joined the staff there, first as Assistant Secretary, and then as the senior Secretary, remaining in post until the end of 1963. In January 1964 she was one of the team from the Abbey who went to Kensington to set up a Christian hostel for International Students - which is still flourishing today.
In 1967 Lily moved to Oxford, where she remained for the rest of her life, working for twenty-seven years at St Peter’s College, as Admissions Secretary and later as College Secretary. She became something of an institution there, and old students remarked on her ability to remember their names and faces, years after they had left. She continued to attend College reunions well into her eighties.
Retiring in 1995, Lily had more time to enjoy her house and garden in Headington – she was a keen gardener, and was very proud of her flowers, fruit and vegetables. In between visits to friends and seaside holidays, she was also very active in the local branch of U3A, keeping their records and organising outings for their members.
Lily continued to live independently in her home until shortly after her 93rd birthday, when she moved into residential care at St Andrew’s Home in Headington. She died there on 13th May, aged 95.
Written by Susan Barrington (friend of Lily).
BOOK ONLINE at rmsforgirls.com/rms-alumnae/events
Upcoming Events
Prize Giving 2025 (Year 11-13) followed by Drill
When: Friday, 17th October 2025
9.15am to 1.15pm
Where: The Great Hall, RMS for Girls
BOOK ONLINE at rmsforgirls.com/rms-alumnae/events
Celebration Day 2026
When: Saturday, 20th June 2026
8.30am to 12pm
Where: RMS for Girls
SAVE THE DATE. More information and booking available online soon.
Sports Day 2026
When: Wednesday, 24th June 2026
12.30pm to 4pm
Where: RMS for Girls
SAVE THE DATE. More information and booking available online soon.
If you have any questions please email development@rmsforgirls.com
