FOUNDED in the 19th century, Guildford Grammar is celebrating 130 years of history while looking to the future.

A Guildford Grammar spokesperson said the community is very excited about this year’s anniversary.

“Our staff and students celebrated through different activities within the school. The kids in both senior and prep school had an assembly and sang happy birthday,” the spokesperson said.

“We had cupcakes to mark the school’s 130th birthday for the students and staff and also different activities like quizzes about the school.”

The spokesperson said the school’s achievements throughout the years vary.

“Our school has produced 15 Rhodes Scholars, which is the most of any school in Western Australia, and from 1917 to 1920, we received the scholarship four years in a row,” they said.

“Another significant moment for us was when the school went co-ed. Girls were part of the school’s earliest students and we did have girls in the kindergarten in 1976, but it wasn’t until 2018 that girls commenced in the senior school. Now we’re a fully co-educational school from pre-K to Year 12.”

The school also has famous alumni, including the first person in history to circumnavigate the world in an amphibious vehicle.

“In 1958, former student Ben Carlin completed his circumnavigation of the world in an amphibious vehicle, which is now displayed on our campus. People come all over the world just to see it,” the spokesperson said.

“Another significant contribution to history was that during the Second World War, the chapel on the school grounds became a military hospital, and all of the students were evacuated to Fairbridge. Red crosses were painted on the roof of the chapel, which can still be seen today from the sky.”

Guildford Grammar currently has 1365 students and has plans to build a sports and aquatic centre, expand international opportunities and introduce non-traditional subjects for students.

“We’re focused on opportunities for our students to experience the world. We’ve recently become part of the Round Square group, which is a global group of schools that can connect with each other through tours, exchanges and digital meetings,” the spokesperson said.

“We also want to make sure that our pathways are relevant to our students, so we have a broad range of pathways outside of ATAR. Students can do non-traditional subjects like automotive and design technologies and we’re also introducing an entrepreneurial subject, which is new for the school and will start next year.”

The school will host a major event on August 14 from 7pm, inviting former and current students, staff, parents and others who have contributed to its history.

Tickets are $96 and can be purchased through the school’s website.