Seven children reported for school in October 1900 when the school was first started. At that time, it was called the Trinity Church School as the building was in the Trinity Church of
Gwelo. The first headmaster was Mr Watkinson while Miss Coates-Palgrave was the Assistant to the headmaster. The following January, 16 children moved to the current school grounds. In 1909, Mr A McDonald was appointed as the headmaster of the school which had been renamed the Gwelo Public School. He continued as the headmaster of the school until 1927 when he retired. In 1911, the government built a schoolhouse which was the first school hostel in the country. This schoolhouse was later renamed Duthie House after being opened by Mr
George Duthie FRSE. Also 1911 saw Chaplin playing rugby against other schools for the first time. They lost to both
Plumtree High School and
Milton High School but were later to improve greatly providing players for both
Rhodesia and
Zimbabwe. In 1914, the first school magazine was printed. In 1923, the first girls hostel Maitland House was opened by
Sir Drummond Chaplin and the school was renamed Chaplin. In 1928, Coghlan House was opened with Lenfesty being opened in 1950. In 1937, the seniors and the juniors were separated, which was the start of
Cecil John Rhodes Primary School. On 7 July 1953, The Queens Gate was opened by
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. ==Notable alumni==