On Monday 8 July, St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School in Barnet celebrated its 10 Year Anniversary. After a rousing Pentecostal chant from the School’s Byzantine choir, His Grace Bishop Iakovos gave a speech outlining the importance of the Orthodox Christian values, so important for the school’s life and mission.
Head teacher Dr Philip Hills gave thanks for all the recent blessings on the school, including record GCSE results in 2023, a glowing Ofsted report published in June 2024 and the state-of-the-art new school buildings on Brunswick Park Road, which will be finished by Summer 2025. He emphasised the centrality of the Orthodox church to the spiritual life of the school. Representatives from the Russell Education Trust including Chair, Mrs Karen Lynch, and CEO Mr Colin Mackinlay offered their recollections of the founding of the school and their work with the founding Greek Orthodox community.
Dr Hills presented Mrs Lynch and school Chair of Governors, Mary Karaolis, as well as founding governor Marina Pareas, with beautiful bouquets of flowers, before the ceremonial cutting of the anniversary cake.
Bishop Iakovos, accompanied by Archdeacon Dr George Tsourous, Archimandrite Damianos Constantinou and Deacon Gregory Fraser, then proceeded to lead the party to the outside of the completed new Sports Hall, where he conducted an Agiasmos complete with prayers and chanting.
Pupils, teachers, governors and support staff then shared in a celebratory tea with the priests and Barnet Mayor, Tony Vourou, as they looked forward to the opening of their brand new school buildings next year.
St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School celebrates 10th Anniversary
