Blue plaque unveiling ceremony

On 22 April, students and staff from St Paul’s Girls’ School joined English Heritage and leading figures in science to celebrate the unveiling of a Blue Plaque at the childhood home of pioneering astronomer and alumna Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. Despite widespread tube strikes, a large crowd gathered to honour Cecilia’s extraordinary legacy.

 

Two senior students, Orla and Twisha, represented the School, speaking alongside distinguished figures including Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Professor Michelle Dougherty (Astronomer Royal), and Dean Hoekstra of Harvard. Reflecting on Cecilia’s time at SPGS and her enduring influence, they also shared their own experiences as aspiring physicists. The occasion not only recognised Cecilia’s groundbreaking contributions but celebrated the continuing strength of science education at SPGS and the vital role of women in advancing the field.