On 9 May 2019, BSN celebrates 40 years of having a senior school. To recognise this milestone, Mike Weston, BSN's Archivist shares his reflections since its inception. Read Mike's full blog post here
When I came to the English School (as it was then called) in 1972, the Senior Division was just six years old. There were a dozen teachers and about 150 students and we were accommodated in a single house in Scheveningen. It was, frankly, not a very impressive school. The exam results were poor, there was little in the way of extra-curricular activities, the building was overcrowded, the laboratories Dickensian, the finances precarious, the inspectors’ reports worrying. And yet, paradoxically, it was an incredibly happy little school and during the 1970s it expanded rapidly and began to improve. It improved so much that forty years ago, on 9th May 1979, a fine new Senior School was opened at Voorschoten. What a success that was! What a thing to have achieved. And what potential for the future.
That future is our present. So have we fufilled the potential? When I look around, an old chap with virtually the entire history of our school stored away in his head, I am impressed again and again by what is being achieved here, in the classroom, on the sports field, on the stage, in debating halls, in charitable work, here and abroad. The opportunity is there for every single student, whether the class genius or someone with special needs, to make the most of themselves, to enjoy themselves and to gain confidence, helped by some inspiring teachers. I was not surprised when, in the last inspection, the school (not just Senior School Voorschoten which I know but the entire BSN) was awarded an Excellent in every single category. We mustn’t be constantly patting ourselves on the back for what we have done but I think it is permissible on a 40th anniversary.
Mike Weston has put together a small exhibition about the opening of SSV. It will be in the atrium of the Senior School from Monday 6th until Friday 10th. The exhibition also covers certain events leading up to the opening and following on from it, such as life in the old schools, the laying of the Foundation Stone, the assassination of Sir Richard Sykes and the dedication of the school hall.
If anyone wants to, please feel free to get in touch with Mike Weston
