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We all know that snow at Christmas can be a rare sight, practically across most of Britain. In Dorset, it is not a likely spot in the country to see snow. When snow appears, it is a pretty sight for …

In 1998, the first - The Canford Festival took place. It was organised by John James, as part of the Candford’s 75th anniversary celebrations, taking place from 15th to 21st October 1998. Various eve…

This week, the Canford Community looks forward to the Music School's annual FCS Jazz Concert. Always a spectacular affair, this concert continues Canford's longstanding tradition of jazz music, showc…

We are very much looking forward to welcoming the class of 1985 to Canford for their 40 year reunion.

In Canford's early years, long before Canfordian's had the luxury of a purpose built swimming pool for swimming lessons and recreation, pupils used the area just within the bursars arch entrance to s…

In 2014, contingents from the CCF set off for the weekend long competition involving a series of gruelling tasks testing their teamwork and leadership skills. The CCF Royal Marines section made up of…

Every year, the music school celebrates the extensive musical talents of Canford pupils in the annual summer concert. 1975 was no different, but that year, the music school decided to host the concer…

Since Canford opened its doors as a new school for the first time in 1923, there has been continued development going on around the school site. At present, the new Sixth Form centre and boarding hou…

10 years ago, a small team of five lower sixth pupils and three members of staff set off for the first trip to Awutu-Winton High School in Ghana on the first day of the summer holidays. During the vi…

On the 14th May 1999, the official opening of The Layard Theatre took place. The opening was a grand event, with former Artistic Director of The Royal National Theatre, Sir Richard Eyre, formally ope…

As the Art Department is busy preparing its end of year exhibition of GCSE work and the A Level Summer Show, we take a look back at the Art Shows of years gone by. Back in the summer of 1952, the Art…

This Saturday, Canford Boat Club will be hosting its annual House Regatta and Boat Club Dinner, a formal Canford event for at least the past 50 years in which the houses go head-to-head to battle it …

On 20th March, Canford's rowing teams headed up to London for the School Heads of the River Race, which Canford have been taking part in for over 60 years now! Whilst this year wasn't a winning one f…

Last week, the Canford CCF held their annual parade, which takes place in March each year. The parade is an opportunity for the CCF to display the professionalism and smartness of the unit as a whole…

On Speech Day 1959, Lord Lyle and Sir Hugh Beaver formally opened two new blocks of Laboratories and Classrooms, which cost nearly £50,000 (nearly £1.5 million in today's money). These labs stand in …

As the school celebrates another successful year at the Rosslyn Park 7s with several of the Boys rugby teams playing in the tournament, lets take a look back at 1997. Canford played several gruelling…

PE at Canford looks a little different nowadays in comparison to 60 years ago… Here are a few great shots of whole school PT on and around the sunken lawn in 1961. I think it's safe to say that the v…

Canford pupils were very fortunate to have had the schools first computer centre created in 1985! Whilst there are no records in the archive detailing the exact price that the school paid for the new…

This evening, Friday 15th March 2024, each house will go to John of Gaunts Kitchen to take part in the annual House Debating Competition. The use of John of Gaunts for debating continues a school tra…

The annual Careers Convention (formerly known as the Careers Symposium) is taking place tomorrow, as we look forward to welcoming back OCs, current and former parents to speak to pupils, we took a lo…

This week, Lancaster House hosted their annual charity concert, the last one with Housemaster Mr Parkin, as he prepares to step down after 10 years in Lancaster! In honour of this event, we took a lo…

As we prepare for the annual celebration of World Book Day, held on the first Thursday of March each year, we take a look back at the fun and interesting ways that pupils have entered the yearly extr…

Last weekend,  6 teams of Ten Tors hopefuls braved the elements for a weekend on Dartmoor training for the Ten Tors challenge coming up, led by Mr Hooker. We took a look back at the training weekend …

On Saturday, we welcomed the Class of 1994 back to Canford for their 30 year reunion lunch. It was wonderful to see the OCs being reunited - some who had not been to Canford since their speech day in…

Over the February half term, the 4th form CCF set off on a cross-country skiing trip to Norway, and the Lower Sixth CCF spent a week mountaineering in the Cairngorms.  We took a look back at previous…

In December 2023, the Canford Sphere was officially unveiled. The sphere was created by award-winning sculptor Zoe Wilson to commemorate the Canford Centenary. To celebrate this, we took a look back …

In April, pupils took part in a special stone carving workshop with award-winning sculptor Zoe Wilson. Zoe Wilson was commissioned to create a sculpture to commemorate 100 years of Canford School. It…

In November 2005, Canford held its annual Fame Academy competition. The acts who made it through the auditions meant that the final performances were of such a high quality that the teachers judging …

On 7th December 2023, the Canford Sphere was officially unveiled by the Lancaster Lawn. To commemorate Canford’s centenary, award-winning sculptor Zoë Wilson was commissioned to create a sculpture fo…

In May 1993, Canford School hosted a charity family fun day, opening its grounds to the public for a day-long country fair style show. Staff and pupils helped host and run the event which included jo…

In March 1999, the Canford School Girls’ under 16s Hockey team travelled to the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes to take part in the U16 Womens’ British Aerospace School Championships. After …

This week, the Canford School Chamber Choir were honored to have been invited to sing at Winchester Cathedral as part of the special Evensong for one of Winchester Cathedral's Patron Saints. What a s…

Scouts operated at Canford from about 1930-9 with most pupils going on to join the OTC (CCF). The Scoutmaster was Mr Timmis who had been joined as ASMs Rev Brook (1934) and Mr Harthan (1935). Accordi…

Canford's first Cricket team in 1923

This is Canford School's very first Rugby XV, from 1923.   

Beaufort House opened ready for the Winter term of 1929, construction having concluded earlier that year, and housed just 28 boys in its first term. On Speech Day in 1930, Beaufort House was official…

Princess Margaret visited Canford School on 11th October 1966 to open the newly built Pavilion building. View the gallery of photos from the visit below:

In July 1992, 16 Canford pupils set off for five weeks trekking in South America. With a group of 14 boys and 2 girls, the trip was designed to let the team members do the organising and running of t…

In the 100 years since Canford Manor became Canford School, the library has grown and moved several times.  When Canford School opened its doors to the first 147 pupils in 1923, there were no purpose…

In September 1988, ten pupils from Canford visited Sukhumi in Georgia, near the Black Sea, and were joined by pupils from Moscow and Tbilisi - the Georgian capital, forming the first Anglo-Soviet Sch…

Wow - this is the very first whole school photo in our archive from 1923.  In 1923 there were just 109 boys on the school role aged between 11 and 18.  The entire photograph collection can be found h…

The greatly increased number of trout in the river (and out) is the most promising feature in this term's fishing activities. This is probably the result of returning to the water many young trout ca…

Squash this term has been carried on with ever increasing enthusiasm by all parts of the School. The team itself has maintained a high standard of play throughout the term, and shows much promise for…

C. S. R. C.Captain : J. C. K. Campbell. Secretary : D. Cooper. SHOOTING on the Open Range could not, be continued this term owing to the Ammunition shortage. We began practice on the miniature range,…

WE are most grateful to Captain Carruthers for all the time and trouble he has devoted to our swimming this term, and as a result enthusiasm has been more marked than in previous years. The swimming …

On October 12th, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater was sung by the Wimborne Ladies' Choir, conducted by Mr. Leonard. The soloists were Miss Horsey and Mrs. Leonard. On October 27th, a Lecture on Purcell was g…

Many enjoyable evenings have been held this term, and the arrival of the new school gramophone excited much interest. Mr. Simpson gave an interesting talk, illustrated with records, half-way through …