The School continued to excel during 1988 when the new GCSE examinations were brought in nationally with a pass rate of 86%; Oxford and Cambridge places were being won most years in a variety of subjects, from Medicine to Law, from English to Engineering. In the 1990s the new Headmistress, Miss Marlene de Villiers encouraged the girls to widen their horizons and to take-up opportunities offered for visiting and studying overseas. This connected to the School’s offering of Modern Foreign Languages, which included: French, German, Spanish, Chinese (for Chinese speakers), and briefly, Italian. Fundraising for charity was increasingly becoming an integral and important part of school life as large fashion shows for charity took centrestage. In 1994 pupils raised funds for Christian Aid, Bosnian Refugees, a school for the blind in Malaysia, Moorfield Eye Hospital and the RSPCA. In 1996, the School architect, John Biswell, transformed old classrooms and common rooms in the main building into a new Library and Resource Centre using design features favoured by Alfred Waterhouse back in 1895. Also in 1996, St Margaret’s became completely independent from the Clergy Orphan Corporation. In 1999 the School marked its 250th anniversary with a grand Service of Thanksgiving in St Paul’s Cathedral in the presence of HRH Princess Alexandra. As the School moved into the 21st century, it was graced with the presence of more royalty as HRH Princess Alexandra paid St Margaret’s a private visit in February 2000 and the John Owen Sports Centre was opened in 2005 by HRH Princess Anne. Today St Margaret’s is a modern co-educational all-through school. Its history has left an indelible mark on its character and ethos. Here you will find a happy school that places emphasis on being kind and encouraging a sense of service, whilst offering a broad and transformative education
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