Preshil School | |
---|---|
Location | |
, Australia | |
Coordinates | 37°48′48″S 145°2′57″E / 37.81333°S 145.04917°E |
Information | |
Other name | The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School |
Type | Independent progressive school |
Motto | Courage |
Established | 1931[1] |
Founder | Margaret J. R. Lyttle |
President | Emma Zipper |
Principal | Josh Brody |
Staff | ~52[2] |
Years | P–12 |
Enrolment | ~350[1] |
Campus | Suburban |
Colour(s) | Green and gold |
Slogan | Courage to Question |
Website | www |
Preshil School, also known as The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School, is an independent progressive co-educational, day school located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The original Arlington campus houses the Kindergarten and Primary school, while the Secondary School is located at the Blackhall Kalimna campus. The campuses are located on Barkers Road and Sackville Street respectively.[3][4]
Established in 1931 by Greta Lyttle (and later, Margaret E. Lyttle), Preshil teaches a progressive curriculum,[5] and is Australia's oldest progressive school.[6] Margaret Lyttle was using the Hungarian psychoanalyst Clara Lazar Geroe as an advisor after she moved to Melbourne in 1941.[7]
The school caters for students from Kindergarten through to Year 12. In 2017 the school phased out the Victorian Certificate of Education in favour of the International Baccalaureate programme.[8]
Period | Details |
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1931–1944 | Margaret J R Lyttle |
1944–1994 | Margaret 'Mug' E Lyttle |
1997–2004 | Dermot Lyttle |
2004–2010 | Frank Moore |
2010–2020 | Marilyn Smith |
2020–2021 | Natalie Jensen (Interim) |
2021–2022 | Cressida Batterham-Wilson (Interim) |
2022–present | Josh Brody |
In 1937, growing numbers lead to the relocation of the primary school to its present site, Arlington campus, further along Barkers’ Road. Greta and Margaret continued to live at the school.[11]
In 1975 Preshil purchased former chief justice of Australia, Sir Owen Dixon's home in Kew 'Yallambee' after he died. The interior was gutted to construct classrooms. The school later sold the campus.[14]
During the 1980s David Corke and students and teachers from Preshil identified a number of blazes marking Burke's camps from the Cooper to the Diamantina. Corke also replotted the site of Wills' death and an additional memorial cairn was erected by Joe Mack at the revised location.[15]
ERA Secondary School in Donvale was founded by Preshil Parents who wanted a secondary school to complete education after Preshil. Although Preshil later withdrew support in 1970 the school officially opened in 1971 at 'The White House' in Warrandyte int a temporary premises and later that year in Donvale. The school closed in 1987 due to financial struggles.[16]