Celebrating Success: The Long Tradition of Prizegiving at The Portsmouth Grammar School

Prizegiving remains one of the most significant events in the calendar of The Portsmouth Grammar School (PGS), bringing together pupils, staff, parents and distinguished guests to celebrate achievement, dedication and contribution across the school. While the event continues to evolve, it is also one of the school's oldest traditions, with a history stretching back more than 140 years. As the school reflects on this rich heritage, it is also looking forward to this year's Prizegiving event, which will take place on 17 November 2026, continuing a long-standing tradition of recognising excellence and celebrating the successes of PGS pupils.

The PGS archive contains a wealth of material documenting the development of Prizegiving, offering a fascinating insight into how the occasion has changed over time. One of the earliest references dates from 1883, when the event, then known as Speech Day, was held in the Lecture Theatre on Pembroke Road. Demand to attend was so great that the venue became overcrowded, with many would-be spectators left outside. In response, a ticketing system was introduced, and several examples of entry tickets through the decades still survive in the archive today.

As the school grew, so did the scale of the event. Over the decades, Prizegiving has been hosted in a variety of Portsmouth landmarks, including the Town Hall (later the Guildhall), the Kings Theatre, the Theatre Royal, Victoria Hall, Portsmouth Cathedral and South Parade Pier. During the Second World War, when the school was evacuated, Bournemouth School kindly provided its hall for the ceremony.

The archive also reveals some memorable stories. In 1953, Prizegiving took place at the Kings Theatre between performances of a spectacular ice show described as "the world's first and most glamorous musical on ice". Governors, staff and guests of honour found themselves seated on stage in front of a backdrop of snow-capped mountains while a powerful generator roared nearby to keep the ice frozen, leaving them both very chilled and struggling to hear the proceedings. On another occasion, concerns arose that wartime rationing and limited facilities at South Parade Pier would prevent refreshments being served to distinguished guests. Fortunately, Portsmouth City Council, who were then based at the nearby Royal Beach Hotel, stepped in to help.

The format of the event has also changed considerably. During the first events, in the early 1880s, pupils performed dramatic scenes in Greek, English and French. In 1886, the occasion was known as the "Annual Recitations and Distribution of Prizes", reflecting a balance between performance and academic recognition. Later, the title was simplified to "Prize Giving", marking a greater emphasis on celebrating pupils' achievements through prizes and awards.

Until 1972, Prizegiving traditionally took place at the very end of the summer term. The decision was then made to move the ceremony to the autumn, an arrangement that has continued ever since.

The prizes themselves provide a window into the changing nature of education at PGS. In the nineteenth century, awards reflected a curriculum centred on subjects such as Mathematics, French, Scripture, Natural Science, Greek, German and Handwriting. By 1906, prizes were also being awarded for English, Science, Drawing and Elocution, alongside named awards including the Chairman's Prize for Latin, Sir William Crossman's Prize for Mathematics and the Old Portmuthians' Club Prize for English.

As the twentieth century progressed, the range of awards expanded dramatically. By 1930, form prizes and sporting awards for cricket batting and bowling had been introduced, bringing the total number of prizes presented to 42. The House Championship also made its first appearance. By 1969, more than 95 prizes were awarded, recognising accomplishments in academic study, sport, music and the Combined Cadet Force. During the 1980s, numerous cups were introduced to celebrate both sporting and academic success, many donated by or in memory of, Old Portmuthians in support of future generations. The changing world was reflected in new awards for subjects such as electronic systems and computing. By 2006, around 250 prizes were presented, although a rule had been introduced limiting pupils to a maximum of two awards each.

A key feature of Prizegiving has always been the presence of distinguished guests invited to present the awards. Over the years these have included senior military leaders, bishops, senior educationalists, politicians, Olympians and representatives from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Notable guests have ranged from Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein and Sir Anthony Eden to Chey Blyth, the first person to sail single-handed non-stop westwards around the world, to headteachers from leading schools including Westminster, Rugby and Charterhouse.

Today, while the venue, programme and prizes may look very different from those of 1883, the purpose of Prizegiving remains unchanged. It is a moment to recognise hard work, talent and commitment, while celebrating the achievements of individuals within the wider PGS community. The surviving programmes, tickets and records preserved in the archive remind us that generations of pupils have shared this experience, creating a proud tradition that continues to inspire and unite the school more than a century later.