Welcome
Our History
Students in the uniform of the 1890s studying in class at their desks
On 12 March 1878, Sheffield High School opened its doors to its first 39 pupils under the headship of Miss Mary Alger. This followed an earlier meeting at the Cutlers’ Hall in February, seeking support to establish a girls’ school in Sheffield.
Its founders, Lady Stanley of Alderley, Maria Grey, Mary Gurney and Emily Shirreff were also the founders of many of the other 29 schools now in the Girls’ Day School Trust group. At that time Sheffield High School occupied rooms in Surrey Street. It soon moved to purpose-built premises on the site where it stands today.
Notable Dates
- 1878 – Sheffield High School opens its doors to its first pupils in rooms in Surrey Street, Sheffield
- 1887 – The School moves to purpose-built premises at 10, Rutland Park
- 1909 – Trust teachers’ salaries were £100-£140 per annum
- 1917 – Sheffield High School purchases Moor Lodge which is used as a girls’ boarding house
A Physical Education class in the early 1900s performing drill
- 1922 – The Escott Memorial Prize is established to commemorate the life and work of our 3rd headmistress, Miss A. E. Escott. It is still awarded annually to Year 13 girls who have made an outstanding contribution to the School
- 1939 – With the onset of war, Sheffield High School is evacuated to Cliff College, Calver, Derbyshire
- 1944 – The School returns to Rutland Park
- 1978 – The School celebrates its centenary
- 1982 – Miss Lucas, the School’s secretary for nearly 50 years, retires
- 1991 – The Junior Department moves from Moor Lodge to Melbourne House
- 1999 – The new Sports Hall and Sixth Form Centre are opened
- 2007 – The School opens new facilities for Infants at No. 4 Melbourne Avenue
From those modest beginnings in 1878 under Mrs E Woodhouse, who was our first headmistress in effect, the school now boasts both a much expanded site and facilities to be proud of.
Sheffield High School competing in the 'Top of the Form' competition in the 1950s
From those original 39 girls, the School now has just over 1000 pupils on roll. What has not changed, however, is that the girls in School are still happy, hard-working, courteous, trustworthy, talented and full of fun!
Our founders and early headmistresses had an unshakeable faith in the value of education for girls and this spirit has been kept alive by succeeding headmistresses and members of staff. We are proud to continue Mrs Woodhouse’s work and to continue to serve Sheffield, South Yorkshire and beyond.
Every year on 12 March we celebrate the School’s birthday and girls are invited each to bring a daffodil, the school’s flower, into School and these remind us of the day when the school was first established.
Our Headmistresses
Miss Mary Alger – Headmistress from March to December 1878 |
Mrs E Woodhouse – Headmistress from 1879 to 1898 |
Mrs Annie E Escott – Headmistress from 1898 to 1917 |
Mrs A Doncaster – Headmistress from 1917 to 1919 |
Miss M Aitken – Headmistress from 1919 to 1926 |
Miss D L Walker – Headmistress from 1927 to 1936 |
Miss M E Macauley – Headmistress from 1936 to 1947 |
Miss M E A Hancock – Headmistress from 1947 to 1959 |
Miss C M Lutz – Headmistress from 1959 to 1983 |
Miss D M Skilbeck – Headmistress from 1983 to 1989 |
Mrs M A Houston – Headmistress from 1989 to 2003 |
Mrs V A Dunsford – Headmistress since 2004 |