RGS Pupils Help Celebrate Worcester’s Heritage

Last Friday, Headmaster, Mr John Pitt, attended the launch of the English Civil Wars Banner Project at Worcester Guildhall, celebrating a project in which RGS Worcester has played an important role.

The project is led by Mr Daniel Daniels, Chair of the Battle of Worcester Society, and brings together local history, education and creativity. RGS Worcester was a founding member of the initiative, which began in summer 2025 as a city-wide project celebrating Worcester’s role in the English Civil War.

Last year, RGS pupils joined students from across the city to design and create banners inspired by those carried by regiments during the Battle of Worcester in 1651. At RGS Worcester, Year Eight and Lower Sixth Art pupils worked on the project under the guidance of Ms Hasnat (Textiles) and Mr Pardoe-Davies (History), with the work linking closely to the Year Eight History curriculum and helping pupils to explore the symbolic power and historical significance of military banners.

As part of the project, RGS also held an internal design competition, with Kate named the overall winner and Moin and Summer receiving Highly Commended recognition. The finished banners were unveiled along Copenhagen Street last summer, transforming the area into a vibrant outdoor gallery and bringing Worcester’s Civil War history to life for residents and visitors.

This year, the project continues to develop, with 15 carefully researched banners representing Royalist and Parliamentarian regiments due to be displayed along Copenhagen Street this week. RGS Worcester pupils have once again contributed to the project, with this year’s internal design competition resulting in Vienna and James being Highly Commended and Abigail winning. Some of the banners have also been made by pupils in the RGS Worcester Textiles Department, giving pupils the opportunity to contribute their creative and practical skills to the next stage of this important local heritage project.

This year marks 375 years since the Battle of Worcester, which took place on 3 September 1651 and was the final battle of the English Civil Wars. The anniversary gives the project particular significance and provides an opportunity to celebrate Worcester’s important place in national history.

We are proud that RGS pupils have contributed to such a meaningful city-wide project and look forward to seeing the banners displayed once again in the heart of Worcester.