England's 'Oldest' Primary School Marks 350 Years

Children at Lady Boswell's School
Children at Lady Boswell's School
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England's 'Oldest' Primary School Marks 350 Years

Children at Lady Boswell's School
Children at Lady Boswell's School

A primary school in Britain’s Kent thought to be the oldest in England is celebrating 350 years since it opened, BBC reported.

Lady Boswell's School, in Sevenoaks, had just one teacher when it was set up for “the 15 poorest children in the parish” in 1675.

Now it is a school of 437 pupils, who led tours, showcased artifacts and enjoyed a picnic last Friday to celebrate the school's history, BBC said.

Kate Phillips, chair of governors at Lady Boswell's, said: “Here we are in 2025 celebrating our school's 350th anniversary, and we think we are the oldest [primary] school in the country.”

Lady Margaret Boswell was wealthy and well-connected.

Her husband, Sir William Boswell, was an important diplomat and she lived at Bradbourne House, a place frequently visited by Queen Elizabeth I, who was said to be fond of the Boswell family.

But in 1675, Lady Boswell transferred her estate to a trust and instructed that £30 of it, the equivalent of about £5,220 today, be spent each year on educating the 15 poorest children in the area.

State education was not readily available until the 1800s, meaning Lady Boswell put the children of Sevenoaks more than 100 years ahead of the rest of England.

Even today, the school still receives roughly £6,000 each year from the Lady Boswell Foundation.



‘The Destination’ Documentary Explores Recent Developments Across Saudi Arabia

The film's title, “The Destination,” embodies the concept of looking to the future and advancing the achievement of goals. SPA
The film's title, “The Destination,” embodies the concept of looking to the future and advancing the achievement of goals. SPA
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‘The Destination’ Documentary Explores Recent Developments Across Saudi Arabia

The film's title, “The Destination,” embodies the concept of looking to the future and advancing the achievement of goals. SPA
The film's title, “The Destination,” embodies the concept of looking to the future and advancing the achievement of goals. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Media’s Konoz initiative has launched “The Destination” documentary film exploring recent developments across Saudi Arabia’s political, economic, medical, sports, cultural, media, and artistic fields while highlighting progress toward Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s transformation into a global destination.

The film's title, “The Destination,” embodies the concept of looking to the future and advancing the achievement of goals, reflecting the Kingdom’s transformational path toward realizing its ambitious plans.

The Kingdom has now become a destination the world aspires to, owing to the mega projects it is implementing across various fields, with their impact already being felt worldwide.

The start of the film’s production was announced on the sidelines of the Impact Makers Forum (ImpaQ). The initiative also includes several other films and documentaries being produced by the Konoz initiative in cooperation with nine national companies, involving 80 specialized firms and more than 2,600 talented individuals across various fields.

This effort demonstrates the Ministry of Media’s commitment to supporting local production and promoting national content.

The Konoz initiative is part of the Human Capability Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030. It aims to document Saudi Arabia's cultural richness and civilizational contributions, while also highlighting the success stories of Saudi citizens at all levels through the production of documentaries, short films, and animated features.