Although there is little available in terms of official records for the school, Jill Ridgway has put together a comprehensive picture of the operation of a private school which commenced as a family business and rose on the talent and strength of its principal, Margaret Hester Butler. Trained in the State education system, Margaret Butler created a successful academic school, which in its heyday had 130 pupils, helping many achieve excellent scholastic results. In the end it was unsustainable, dependent as it was on one personality, and towards the end beleaguered by the changing regulatory environment. If parents were satisfied by the crowded conditions of this school and others, the Education Department was not. Jill has also created a list of students known to have attended the College. Maybe you will find one of your relatives in the list.
Glenthorpe College was typical of many private schools in this period, so even if you don't have a family member at this school, Jill's story will shed light on other similar schools.
