Laying Claim to Our Heritage

The College held its inaugural Heritage Assembly on 29 May, marking what we hope will become an annual tradition and celebration of the College’s unique roots, history, and continued success. This event was initiated by the House Leaders and Head Prefects as part of the Make a Difference legacy project, designed to establish a lasting tradition honouring the school’s Scottish and Presbyterian foundations.

The assembly began with the skirl of bagpipes as the Pipes and Drums welcomed the College from the bridge above Gym 1. Wearing his own McQueen family tartan, Associate Principal Duncan McQueen invited students to reflect on the significance of tartans at Saint Kentigern, from the formal dress tartan of the Prefects, to the MacFarlan hunting tartan of the Pipe Band, and the College’s own blue-and-white sett officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans in 2009. He described tartan not only as a pattern, but as a representation of identity deeply tied to clan tradition and heritage.

Our Scottish roots were further honoured with a theatrical and well-received performance of Robbie Burns’ Ode to the Haggis by Year 13 student Luka Manley. He was flanked by Ari Taylor and Ryan Jiao bearing traditional Scottish basket-hilt swords, while Luka Evans carried the Haggis and Shu Kay Wong carried the ceremonial dram of Scotch whisky (apple juice, in our case), completing this time-honoured ritual. The performance was followed by a Highland Sword Dance delivered with grace and precision by Year 8 student Sienna Lee.

These rich cultural moments, framed within a broader reflection on heritage and progress, gave students a tangible connection to the past and a clearer vision of the future. This student-led assembly now stands as a formal marker in the College calendar, offering a meaningful occasion to pause, acknowledge our shared legacy, and celebrate another chapter in the life of Saint Kentigern.