Saturday, 1st November saw the end of an era for the Buchan School and the start of an exciting new chapter in its history.
Nearly a hundred past and present pupils, staff, parents and others members of the School community, along with His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Lady Lorimer, the Bishop and the Mayor of Castletown, processed through the town to mark the transfer of the Buchan School from Westhill, its home since 1940, to its new premises at King William’s College.
Starting at 10.30am from Westhill and blessed with sunshine, the parade, complete with the Buchan banner, wound its way through the streets, passing en route each of the former homes of the School, starting with Stanley House opposite the Castle, then Reef House, Derby House on College Green, which backs onto and was at one time attached to numbers 8 to 14 Bowling Green Road, finally 8 The Promenade, before reaching Hango Hill and turning up The Hundred towards King William’s College.
Once the new premises of the Buchan School were reached, His Excellency raised the Buchan flag and made a short speech thanking all those who had worked so hard to pull off the move. Guests had time to admire the new “Rooted in Legacy” pathway, paved with bricks bearing the names of the School’s benefactors, before the procession moved on to St. Thomas’ Chapel, for a service to commemorate the School’s founding 150 years ago and to bless the banner as a symbol for the School’s past, present and future. The stone plaque depicting Lady Buchan, made especially to be inlaid in the wall at Westhill by Frank Mowbray Taubman, one of the leading sculptors of his day, was waiting in Chapel for the procession to arrive. A buffet lunch in the Barrovian Hall concluded proceedings which saw warm reminiscing about school days at the Buchan’s previous homes, donations of memorabilia, and excitement about the new learning spaces.
A Visionary Beginning
It all began with a bold and generous act. On 22nd April 1875, Lady Buchan pledged £1,200 “for the provision of higher-class female education in this Isle.” At the time, it was a progressive and visionary gesture. Three years later, in 1878, the Castletown High School for Girls opened at Stanley House – opposite Castle Rushen, now Stanley’s – with just eight pioneering pupils. It was established as a sister school to King William’s College and represented a new era for girls’ education on the Isle of Man.
Laura, Lady Buchan was a remarkable character. The daughter of Colonel Mark Wilks – Governor of St Helena and Speaker of the House of Keys – she travelled with her father to St Helena and famously met Napoleon Bonaparte. The exiled Emperor was so charmed by her intellect and poise that he gave her a bracelet as a parting gift. Described by contemporaries as a woman of “sweetness, intelligence and distinction,” Laura’s legacy continues to reflect those qualities. She was 78 years old when she founded the School – her final public act, carried out with the support of friends and allies such as Sir James and Lady Gell.
In 1928, the School was formally renamed The Buchan School in honour of its formidable founder.
A Spirit of Innovation and Progress
From the very beginning, The Buchan defied expectations. Its curriculum featured science and political economy alongside the more conventional needlework and drawing. It was among the first girls’ high schools to be established following the Girls’ High School Association’s foundation in 1872. The School also opened one of the earliest kindergartens in the British Isles, introduced a hockey team by 1911, and later offered an extraordinary range of modern and classical languages – including Russian, Swahili, and Classical Arabic.
By the 1960s, The Buchan had blossomed into a truly international school. Pupils came from over 30 countries and the curriculum reflected a global outlook. Boarding life expanded across Castletown, supported by generous benefactors such as Sir Mark Collett who donated Westhill to the School in 1940.
The School has always been shaped by its commitment to community, charity and global awareness. It welcomed those fleeing conflict, raised funds for causes both near and far, and cultivated a culture of kindness, service and compassion.
Extra-curricular life was equally rich and occasionally eccentric, including beekeeping, car maintenance, lifesaving and debating. Water skiing and pet rabbits also featured in certain decades. Alumni fondly recall the intensity of public speaking and performance traditions, which prepared many for careers in the arts, media and politics.
Part of a Bigger Family
In 1991, The Buchan School formally joined King William’s College, becoming its co-educational preparatory School. The relationship between the two schools has continued to grow stronger over time, underpinned by shared values, a common ethos, and a commitment to academic and pastoral excellence.
Now, as the School looks to the future, it is preparing for its next great chapter.
After half-term, the Buchan School re-opened on the King William’s College campus, uniting the whole School community on one site. The move offered enhanced facilities, specialist teaching spaces and expanded opportunities for collaboration, while retaining The Buchan’s distinctive identity and spirit.
Headteacher Janet Billingsley Evans described the move as a natural evolution of the School’s proud heritage:
“This anniversary is not just a celebration of our history, but a moment to look forward with confidence and pride,” she said. “We are honouring the legacy of Lady Buchan by continuing to provide a forward-thinking, values-led education that prepares children for the world beyond the classroom. The move to the King William’s College campus symbolises our ambition and our unity as one School family.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, the impact of The Buchan School is felt around the world. Its alumni include Olympic athletes, international business leaders, actors, educators, doctors, and the current Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. What began as a School preparing young women for life in Victorian society now launches young people into global careers across science, law, politics, medicine, design and beyond.
Laura, Lady Buchan could scarcely have imagined the scale and scope of the School her vision created. Yet her values – integrity, generosity, and belief in the power of education – continue to shape every child who walks through The Buchan’s doors.
As we mark 150 years of The Buchan School, we not only celebrate a proud and pioneering past – we carry it with us into a future filled with promise.
Here’s to the next chapter in a story rooted in legacy and built for the future.
