The following article about our school was found in Ashford Library. It is so good we thought you would like to share in it:

From KENT COUNTY JOURNAL 1952

Here is a school which owes its present high reputation and obvious success to the inspiration of two women, one of whom is the present Headmistress who has been at the school for forty years and is still going strong.
To mention Ashford School for Girls is as Likely as not to invite the remark"Oh, you mean Miss Brake's school!" for there can be no doubt this school, which has always been an independent school, owes its present high position as an educational institution to
Miss Lilian Brake J.P.  F.R.G.S., the present headmistress who has seen girls come and go for forty years. The school was established in 1898 and in 1910 it was taken over by Mrs. Edwards and Miss Brake. In 1919 the school was placed by the Ministry of Education upon its list of Efficient Private Secondary Schools. In 1931 it was formed into a company limited by guarantee, with a School Council. In 1940 it became an independent public school. Today with some 300 boarders and upwards of 250 day girls it is recognised everywhere as a wonderful growth in the academic world, for when Miss Brake first knew it it had 3 boarders and 17 day girls. The numerous buildings of the school: class rooms (24 of them) laboratories, art room, craft room elocution room, reference library, gymnasium and so forth are pleasantly spread over the open spaces of the school's attractive grounds. Among the many outdoor facilities for sport there is a fine swimming pool and a roller skating rink which was being very enthusiastically used on the occasion of our visit.
There is a grand and happy spirit in the school and perhaps the School Verse best explains the mainspring of that feeling:

Build it well, whate'er you do,
Build it strong, and straight, and true;
Build it high, and clear, and broad,
Build it for the eye of God.

Moreover the official statement of the School's aim is short and to the point: "The aim of the School is to provide an efficient education meeting present-day requirements, in a cultured, Christian atmosphere.
"It especially meets the needs of those who wish to prepare for public examinations with a view to a professional career. The frequent extensions show that it has met a real need."
We must make mention of the fact that the school magazine 'The School Tie' is a great credit to its editor and the committee that produces it. It is a highly entertaining periodical, well calculated as its title is intended to remind us, to form a link with the school and its past members spread far and wide throughout the world.
The yearly list of academic distinctions obtained by present and past pupils is certainly an impressive one but what always strikes the shrewd observer is that real education is most impressively inculcated by the whole atmosphere of the school's corporate life. There is a freedom of spirit here which begins with the natural delight of the smallest pupils and runs right through the school to the very top where it finds expression in a courteous, cheerful demeanour which even a casual visitor must notice.
Nothing succeeds like success and here at Ashford is a wonderful testimonial to a public-spirited woman's life work. When the time comes for her to lay down this labour of love, it will live on and keep her memory green, for she has built upon firm foundations.
Mrs. Edwards with degrees in Classics and Mathematics and Miss Brake with a genius for the work of a headmistress took over this school 40 years ago. Today it is a monument to their labours.

There are 9 photos with the article; unfortunately they do not copy well. They are:

1) Alfred House with the cedar tree and girls chatting near 'A' tennis court.
2) Cherub and Hazel Byrne (Sch. Capt.) both smiling broadly.
3) The end of Somerville House and Coronation with girls on the lawn.
4) A Cookery lesson with Miss Johnson (who now lives in Wiltshire).
5) The Library (and someone looks as if she is talking!)
6) The Skating Rink, no longer there, with Jenny Riddell? having a wonderful time.
7) The Swimming Pool with girls diving off all the boards at the same time.
8) A Chemistry lesson with Miss Thompson entrancing the class.
9) The School Train Rank entering the main drive at the beginning of term to be greeted indivdually by Miss Brake.

If you want to see more, why not buy Pat Earlam's excellent book 'A Centenary History'?It is a really good read with lots of photos throughout the 100 years. Details here

Look out for a notice to come fairly soon of discs containing 1000's of scanned photos from the School Archive.