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Original poster

Do you know any schools named after women?

239 replies

noblegiraffe · 28/05/2025 10:55

Schools are far more likely to be named after men than women.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/multi-academy-trusts-6-times-more-likely-to-be-named-after-men-than-women/

I'm wondering which women schools are named after. Is it vast majority Notre Dames and Our Ladys? I can think of a few schools that are named after famous men who weren't saints or bishops or kings.

Any female historical gems near you?

More free schools and academy trusts named after men than women

Historical factors don't adequately explain why more schools are named after men than women

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/multi-academy-trusts-6-times-more-likely-to-be-named-after-men-than-women/

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Quirkswork · 28/05/2025 20:10

Queen Margarets
Queen Ethelburgas
Dame Allan's

PumpkinSpicePie · 28/05/2025 21:12

Eleanor Palmer Primary, London.

PumpkinSpicePie · 28/05/2025 21:13

Edith Neville Primary, London

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General education
Daisychainsandglitter · 28/05/2025 21:46

Dame Elizabeth Cadbury- Birmingham

amicisimma · 28/05/2025 23:03

We've recently lost one. The Queen's school in Richmond, Surrey has now become the King's school as it changes its name with the monarch.

CarpetKnees · 28/05/2025 23:48

noblegiraffe · 28/05/2025 12:35

Oh this is great.

Cadbury and her husband played a great role in the development of Bournville and she opened the 200th house there. In 1909, she opened the Woodland Hospital, which became the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. She also built The Beeches, to provide holidays for slum children. She chaired the Birmingham school medical service committee and worked energetically to provide medical inspection in schools. Together with her husband, she participated in the reform of industrial working and living conditions through supporting the welfare, health and education of women and children in Bournville

During and immediately following the First World War, Cadbury led local efforts to provide housing and schooling for young refugees from Serbia and Austria who came to Birmingham to escape conflict and poverty in their home countries.[6]During the Second World War, she worked with Belgian refugees, and after that war continued her efforts with the International Council of Women.[1]

Not just about chocolate then.

Show quote history

As well as
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury (a secondary) there is Edith Cadbury Nursery School (a Nursery, obviously!).
There is also Dame Ellen Pinsent (a special school)

Then, as others have said, loads of
St Marys
St Catherines
St Margarets
Our Lady of.....s

BangersAndGnash · 28/05/2025 23:59

Evelyn Grace Academy , Brixton
(in an award winning building designed by female architect Zaha Hadid)

crumblingschools · 29/05/2025 00:33

I must be an outlier as my Junior, Secondary and Sixth Form were all named after women. All in different towns, first 2 religious connotations and third one, Sixth Form, has already been mentioned on this thread.

Now live in an area where most schools are just named after the town or village they are in, not very original

EBearhug · 29/05/2025 00:37

I had - street name, male Saint, place-name. The boys' secondary was named after some 16th century benefactor and still is since they took over merged with the girls.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/05/2025 08:10

Jane Austen College in Norwich (secondary school).

Perfectlystill · 29/05/2025 08:21

Loads named after female saints: St Mary's, St Helen's & St Katherine's etc

TheNightingalesStarling · 29/05/2025 08:26

Of the six schools mine went to...
One was named after the village
One after a General
One had a random name
And three were named after the road they were on.

user1492757084 · 29/05/2025 08:27

St Mary MacKillop College
Caroline Chisholm College
Edith Cowan University
Alice Springs College
Ave Maria College
Queen Elizabeth College

FriNightBlues · 06/06/2025 13:38

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/05/2025 12:58

Mary Ward Centre - adult ed in Stratford, East London

More about Mary Ward - there are more than 200 schools that bear her name

Mary Ward (1585-1645) was an English Catholic religious sister who founded the Congregation of Jesus and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Sisters of Loreto. She is considered a pioneer of women's education and religious life, challenging the traditional cloistered lifestyle for women in the Church.

Mary Ward's legacy lives on through a network of over 200 schools worldwide that bear her name. She was declared venerable by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

The Mary Ward Centre is a different person (Victorian novelist):

https://www.marywardcentre.ac.uk/discover/settlement-history/

Settlement History - Mary Ward Centre

University graduates were invited to live at settlement houses in return for their work. Both the Mary Ward Settlement and Blackfriars Settlement

https://www.marywardcentre.ac.uk/discover/settlement-history/

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