Construction is well underway at Lilfordia School as the institution’s ambitious new Art, IT, and Curriculum Support Centre continues to rise, marking a significant milestone in a school with a history stretching back more than a century and a reputation built on nurturing the whole child.
Founded in 1910, Lilfordia holds the distinction of being the oldest independent primary school in Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe. Set on a 44-hectare site approximately 40 kilometres from Harare, the small, single-streamed rural weekly boarding school occupies a beautifully natural environment of miombo woodland — a setting that has long shaped its distinctive philosophy of organic growth, empathy and allowing children to be children. It is within this tradition that the new centre carries particular meaning.
Progress on the development has been steady and visible, with the building’s brick structure now standing in full form, timber roof trusses framed against the open sky and large aluminium-framed windows and doors already fitted along the expansive facade. Shaded by the mature trees that define the campus, the emerging structure promises to be a landmark addition to the school grounds — both in scale and in purpose.
The new centre is designed to serve as a dynamic hub where three critical pillars of modern education converge. The art facilities will give students a dedicated, purpose-built environment in which to explore and develop their creative talents, while the information technology component will ensure that learners are equipped with the digital skills increasingly demanded by a rapidly evolving world. The curriculum support element rounds out the vision, providing structured resources and spaces tailored to assist students across a range of academic disciplines.
For a school whose founding ethos centres on revealing and nurturing the talent in every child, and on building confidence through a rich blend of academic and extra-curricular activities, the new centre is a natural extension of values that have guided Lilfordia for over a hundred years. It is an investment not merely in infrastructure, but in the quality of experience that each pupil carries forward long after their school years are done.
The anticipation among staff, pupils and the broader school community continues to grow as the building takes on its final form. Once complete, the Art, IT, and Curriculum Support Centre is expected to enrich Lilfordia’s offering significantly — a fitting next chapter for Zimbabwe’s oldest independent primary school in Mashonaland West.
