Born in Gloucester in 1832, Herbert Vaughan, Bishop of Salford, was appointed third Archbishop of Westminster by Pope Leo XIII in 1892 and was enthroned in the Pro Cathedral of Our Lady of Victories in Kensington.

His achievements, before and after translation to Westminster, were of a remarkable nature. However, the greatest event of the reign of Cardinal Vaughan was undoubtedly the building of Westminster Cathedral, whose first stone was laid in 1895. The Cardinal died on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, 1903, and the Cathedral was opened for the first time for public service for the funeral of its great founder.

1914-1939

In response to an appeal in 1904 for funds to found a school as a national memorial to the Cardinal, some £20,000 was subscribed. The Vaughan School opened its doors in Addison Hall to twenty nine boys on 21 September, 1914. Canon Driscoll was appointed first Headmaster. The year 1926 saw the first Higher Certificates with Distinction, the first classical scholarship, at Christ's College Cambridge, and the first ordination of Vaughan boys to the priesthood, the first of a very long line of Vaughan priests, including two Auxiliary Bishops of Westminster, Bishop Philip Harvey, now retired, and the late Bishop Gerald Mahon.

Monsignor Canon J.G. Vance became Headmaster in 1928. In the next twenty years the Vaughan became established as a school of high repute. Dr Vance was a great Headmaster. With his devoted colleagues he kept the School together and in being through all the trials of the Second World War when it was evacuated to Beaumont College, Windsor.

1939-1952

The School's War Record, 1939-1945, includes the first V.C. of the War in the Royal Air Force (Flying Officer Donald E Garland, RAF), three O.B.E.s, two D.S.C.s, one M.C. and six  D.F.C.s. Thirty nine old boys are named in the School's Roll of Honour as having given their lives. The Vaughan returned to Addison Road in 1945. The decision was then made to abolish fees and to give the School more security by becoming a voluntary aided school under the provisions of the 1944 Education Act.

When Dr Vance retired in 1948, Monsignor Canon Butcher, the next Headmaster, began his own great work of giving to the School a broad cultural tradition in art, music and literature, as a background to its scholastic achievements. It came as a blow to the School when, in 1952, Monsignor Butcher was called upon to leave the Vaughan to become President of St Edmund's College.

1952-1976

The years from 1952-76, under Monsignor R.R. Kenefeck, who succeeded Canon Butcher, witnessed a striking growth of the Sixth Form. These were years of rapid expansion with the growth from a two form entry to a three form entry school in 1962. The New Building became available in 1963 to accommodate increasing numbers. In 1980, girls were admitted to the Sixth Form for the first time.

1976-1997

The School's first lay Headmaster, Anthony Pellegrini, was appointed in 1976. After the admission in 1977 of the first all ability intake, he guided the Vaughan's transition from a grammar school to a fully comprehensive school. Between 1981 and 1996, the School underwent two inspections. Both were extremely favourable, with the Vaughan referred to as a well organised, well ordered, caring and hard working community.

In April 1990, the Vaughan became grant maintained and so funded entirely by the Department for Education. This change of status had the effect of preserving the School as it is in the face of a reorganisation plan. The scheme would have removed the Sixth Form and it met with united opposition from parents and staff.

Once grant maintained status was obtained, it proved possible to make significant improvements and additions to the School's accommodation.  In 1992, a new administration block and library were built; in 1994, a new Art and Technology Block was opened, a new Pavilion built at our playing fields in Twickenham and in September 1998 a third phase of building was completed, thus enabling the School to cope with its ever-increasing numbers. This building, named after Anthony Pellegrini, was opened by the late Cardinal Hume in November 1998.  Happily, a greater number of children are benefiting from these changes: since September 1995, four forms of entry are admitted to the School each year.

1997- Present

An even more significant event was the retirement of Anthony Pellegrini, Headmaster of the Vaughan for twenty-one years, in July, 1997. Anthony Pellegrini was succeeded as Headmaster by Michael Gormally in September, 1997.

In September 2000 a mezzanine floor in the Main Building was opened to Sixth Form pupils as part of the School’s programme to improve Sixth Form facilities.  The School was granted Specialist Status as a Mathematics and Computing school in September 2003.  More recently, in September 2005, magnificent new Music Rooms were opened by Sir Thomas Allen in the Main Building.  First class facilities for Football, Rugby, Athletics and Cricket have also been provided at our playing fields, and specialist status has been conferred on the School for Science.