Foundation Day 2026

Following our annual Chapel Service of Commemoration for Founders and Benefactors, the School gathered on The Quad to mark Foundation Day. This year, we were honoured to welcome Major Jake Pounds MBE as our Guest of Honour. Since joining the Parachute Regiment in 1998, Major Pounds has had a decorated career with elite units across the Five Eyes Defence and Intelligence community. In 2017, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his contribution to countering threats to the UK. In an inspiring and personal speech, Major Pounds - who is also a Mill Hill parent - encouraged pupils to find their own compass and to dare to fail; reminding us all that success often begins with the willingness to learn.

With Mr Benson, Head, presiding, Major Pounds and Stephanie Miller.Vice Chair of the Court of Governor, awarded pupils with our annual prizes; this year including the inaugural Alastair Graham Prize, kindly donated by the family of our erstwhile and late Headmaster.New Senior Monitors Daisy N(Weymouth), Benji L (Cedars), Noor B (Winfield) and Maj-Britt OB (Collinson) shared thoughtful reflections on the year past, their own experiences of Mill Hill, and hopes for the future, before Prizegiving concluded with a poignant reading by Ben C (Fifth Form Poet Laureate), who delivered his original poem The Turning Page.The perennially popular Foundation Day Luncheon was served on the Head’s Lawn, accompanied by a stirring CCF Corps of Drums display and hotly contested Athletics Finals. Cedars retained the Athletics Trophy, whilst Atkinson won the much-coveted Inter-House Shield.A day of reflection and recognition, in celebrating both our heritage and present day achievements, Foundation Day once again captured what makes Mill Hill School so special.

The Turning Page

Today we reach the end of this long road,
But really, it's the start of something new,
We've carried dreams and lessons as our load,
And now new possibilities come into view.

These halls have seen us change and learn and grow,
Through every challenge, setback, win, and try,
The people that we've become now start to show,
Prepared to spread our wings and learn to fly.

Ahead are paths we cannot fully see,
New places, people, chances still unknown,
Yet every step will shape who we will be,
As confidence replaces what we've outgrown.

So as we leave, let's see how far we'll go;
The seeds we planted here are set to grow. 

Written by Ben C, Fifth Form Poet Laureate