Photography, accompanying text & curation by Meg Khan © 2023
The first of a series of Plashet One Hundred, Assembled exhibitions began at Plashet School in its iconic South Hall. This first night brought together the one hundred participants, their friends and families, together with members from the school’s wider community.
The exhibition was kindly sponsored by POSA - the Plashet Old Students Association.
“Plashet is a large 11-16 comprehensive girls school that sits in the heart of East Ham and has since 1932. It was intriguing for me to find the original registers when I became Head Teacher and to read the 60 names on the school roll at that time when it was 2 forms of entry. Plashet expanded to ten forms of entry in 2017 to try to better meet the high demand for places and now over ninety years later Plashet welcomes 1,500 students each day.
Whilst we are a large school, students are genuinely known by their teachers and really value the sense of being part of a big family. We are fortunate in that we can offer a single sex education which allows students the space to grow confidently. One of the hallmarks of a Plashet education is the strength of the friendships you make here and our alumni are a testament to this with members of our Plashet Old Student Association, including some stretching all the way back to the 1940s, still coming back to see us in the summer every other year. Through the Plashet 100 exhibition we are excited to see Plashet alumni beyond our walls in their place in the world and to celebrate the success of generations of women.” - Rachel McGowan, Head Teacher, words written for the exhibition.
“Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) have a longstanding relationship with Plashet school – via Meg – dating back to 2014. We have run various programmes over the years, which have been attended by many impressive young women from the school. We are proud to continue our relationship with Plashet to do what we can to support and encourage both current and former students to fulfil their career and life aspirations. They are fantastic role models for the next generation.” - Alison Klarfeld, words written for the exhibition.
“Meg is able to see, and capture, good in everyone. You don't have to spend much time with her to feel her warmth and care.
I was struck by this when I first met her in 2017, when we were working with schools in Newham, and her ambition to spread this to as many people as possible has only continued to grow. Plashet One Hundred shines a small spotlight on each individual, perhaps helps them to unearth something not before understood, and also shows us all the unique stories of people who are somehow connected to this one place.
I have no doubt that this project will continue to change and grow in different directions...Meg's work has a tendency to take fantastically unexpected turns...but will retain at its heart the powerful focus on each person, from one to one hundred.” - Lauren Holmes, words written for the exhibition.
“This is an important project that captures our wonderful Plashet School. By showcasing both former and current students and staff, Plashet One Hundred celebrates the history of a school that has and continues to change the lives of young women, together with impacting upon the local community.” - Bushra Nasir
Exhibition open for the entire school community and beyond from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th September 2023.
“Plashet nurtured and facilitated an unapologetic sense of self. A desire to learn, strive and do more. This grounding made achievement indifferent.” - Iram Farooqi
The one hundred portrait and stories are now a permanent feature in the iconic South Hall.