School Shield

We now have a new, updated version of our school badge. It is still based on the original design by Basil Waterton, Petersfield's first 'Head Master' but now includes a symbol for Tadlow, the fifth parish to join our school community; presumably not included in the shield in the first place as Tadlow pupils started attending Petersfield a few years after the school opened in 1962.

If you would like to find out more about the history of our school, we produced a book to celebrate our Golden Jubilee in 2012. This can be consulted in school or there are a few copies left to buy.

A few designs for a new school logo were judged by our pupils, parents, staff and governors and the winner was fine-tuned into the beautiful design (top right).

We've kept a picture of the original shield so you can see how it's changed (below left).

Often we are asked by pupils and parents where the symbols originate and why they are used. We hope you will find the explanation below interesting.

The cross of St Andrew, represents both the church of St Andrew, Orwell and the church of St Andrew's, Wimpole, and it now runs across the middle of the shield. The pupils liked this idea as Orwell is the geographical home of Petersfield. The diagonal cross embraces the other parish symbols.

At the top of the shield is the anchor which symbolises the parish of St Nicholas, Arrington. The anchor represents the connection between St Nicholas and ships and sailors. (In some countries, St Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors).

To the right, the lily symbolises the parish church of St Mary's, Whaddon. The Virgin Mary, Jesus's mother, has many floral symbols, including the lily of the valley, the rose, the "English daisy", the pansy and the periwinkle. It couldn't be agreed which flower Basil Waterton had chosen to depict on his shield, so the lily, as depicted on our school banner was chosen as it is has been found on an old hanging in St Mary's, Whaddon.

At the bottom of the shield, the two heads of wheat symbolise the Church of All Saints, Croydon-cum-Clopton. All Saints Day is traditionally celebrated in November. Wheat is one of the traditional symbols of All Saints Day. It is also a fitting symbol for our school, which in the summer, is surrounded by golden wheat fields. As you can see, the wheat has translated over the years into what look like feathers on the old shield. This may have happened due to endless redrawing and someone mistaking the wheat for feathers. They seem to have stuck for a while!

Finally, the new symbol of an arrow has been added to the left on the shield, representing St Giles, Tadlow. Two symbols which represent St Giles are an arrow and a hind. To keep the simplicity and boldness of the shield design, the arrow was chosen. An arrow, shot at the deer, who in some stories sustained St Giles for many years in his solitude, wounded the saint instead. St Giles became the patron saint of people with physical disabilities.