Our History
2026
St Gabriel’s becomes a fully co-educational nursery, junior and senior school
2024
Year 9 and Year 12 co-educational entry points
2022
Start of the Senior School’s co-educational journey with boys welcomed in to Year 7
2019
90th Birthday and restoration of Oval Room and Library
2018
Garland Science Laboratories and Theatre refurbished
2017
Opening of Sandleford Farmhouse as the new Sixth Form Centre
2014
The Junior School became fully co-educational; The nursery opened its doors to children from the age of six months
2012
Dance Studio opened
2011
Opening of the North Block (MFL & Technology Rooms)
2002
Opening of the Sports Hall
1989
Dining Room and Technology building opened
1984
Science Block built
1983
The Junior School, Falkland St Gabriel's, previously sited at Wash Common moved to Sandleford Priory
1974
A Board of Governors became responsible for the school after the Sisters left
1948
The Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd (CJGS), an order of Anglican nuns, bought Sandleford Priory and moved the school to its current site
c1946
To accommodate growing numbers following the war the Junior School moved to Falkland Lodge, Wash Common, Newbury and was known as Falkland St Gabriel's
1943
St Gabriel's relocated to Ormonde House, Newbury in January 1943. A house on Donnington Square was also used to accommodate the growing school community
1939
The school (80 pupils and staff) evacuated to West Ogwell Manor in Devon
1938
From September to December the school evacuated to Wantage, utilising facilities at the former St Katharine's School site
1929
St Gabriel's was founded in Mill Hill, London
18th Century
Sandleford Priory acquired by the Montagu family. Mrs Elizabeth Montagu, the founder of the Blue Stocking Society, employed James Wyatt, to make the 13th Century chapel into a dining room, which was then joined to the house by Wyatt's remarkable Oval Room. The grounds were landscaped by Capability Brown
12th Century
Sandleford Priory founded for the Austin Canons by Count Geoffrey de Perche and his wife, Matilda, niece of King Richard I