Zaha Hadid Sixth Form building officially opened!

On 14 October 2025, Berkhamsted Schools Group celebrated the official opening of the Zaha Hadid Sixth Form Centre.

Named after renowned architect and Old Berkhamstedian Zaha Hadid, this building is purpose-built to foster independence and collaboration, preparing students for life beyond Berkhamsted.

The building was opened by Old Berkhamstedian, mouth artist and inspirational speaker, Henry Fraser. His thought-provoking speech discussed the building’s role in scaffolding Sixth success at Berkhamsted and beyond.

He shared:

“As much as we enjoy nostalgia, and wish things could always remain the same, change is inevitable. Thinking about the future can be extremely overwhelming and can feel like it’s a long time away but it can sneak up on us, and we all need to be ready for it.

This can be especially true for the Sixth Form students planning their futures beyond these school walls and on to a whole new world.

But change can be very overpowering and I’m sure this new building is going to do exactly that, empower and prepare students for life beyond school, in whatever they do next.

How can a building that is itself forward thinking and planning for its own and our sustainable future, not make anyone who steps inside think the same thing?”

We also welcomed other guests from the Berkhamsted community, including Old Berkhamstedian alumni, Governors, Representatives from the Berkhamsted Chamber of Commerce, Town Council and major community organisations to celebrate the building’s opening.

This was a wonderful way to recognise the addition of a truly innovative and forward-leading site to the Berkhamsted Schools estate. With its open-plan design, boardroom-style classrooms inspired by the Harkness Model and a dedicated ‘Future Zone’ to host local entrepreneurs, the Zaha Hadid building provides a tailored environment to support students as they transition from Sixth Form to their next endeavours.

Thank you to Henry for his inspirational words. We are excited to watch our students flourish in this dedicated space and as they step out beyond Berkhamsted.