The Diocesan Secondary School for Girls, A Short History 1849-1974

On the 8th June 1849, a committee was formed to consider the building of a schoolhouse in connection with St. Matthias’ Church, Adelaide Road, Dublin. A suitable site opposite the opening to Harcourt Terrace was chosen, plans were drawn up, and the committee resolved “that the building should begin without delay” in April 1850.

For the next forty years the school served the local community and parish well, providing primary education for boys, girls and infants. By the end of the nineteenth century the Rector, the Reverend Canon Maurice Day, was considering change and a circular was drawn up which stated that the “necessity for a Boys’ School of the class which has hitherto been maintained at St. Matthias’ does not appear to exist… The Committee, therefore think it best to give up the School for the older boys, and to reserve our School for girls, young boys and infants”.

After this the Girls’ School was improved to include subjects which would entitle the School to ‘result fees’ from the Intermediate Education Board. During 1898 and 1901 further discussions were held between parish representatives and the Diocesan Board of Education to arrange the terms of the Board taking charge of the School.

By 1902, Miss Foster, B.A., who qualified in Mathematics and Science, was appointed Headmistress, and the School became a Secondary School for Girls, fulfilling the requirements of the Intermediate Board. The School offered the basic subjects and also Instrumental and Vocal Music, Drawing, Shorthand, Carpentry, Needlework, Cookery and Callisthenics for fifteen shillings a term.

In 1903, the Diocesan Board of education resolved to reorganise the School under the lengthy title of the Diocesan Intermediate and Commercial School for Girls, and a joint Committee of Management was appointed. In the same year a laboratory was constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Technical Board, which gave a grant towards the purchase of the necessary equipment, and a graduate Science teacher was appointed.

In 1905, the premises were again extended to provide a Domestic Economy kitchen and three other rooms at the western end of the building. A qualified Domestic Economy teacher was appointed, and Latin and German were also taught. The number of girls on the School roll had now reached 150.

In 1909, girls were entered for the first time in Religious Knowledge examinations held by the Association for Promoting Christian Knowledge. There were very satisfactory reports from the examiners of Choir, experimental Science, Drawing and Domestic Economy classes. Also, the Committee gave a grant for the formation of the first Hockey Club.

At the eastern end of the building, the caretaker and his wife lived, using three rooms and a basement kitchen. He had his own entrance from Hatch Lane, through a garden planted with trees. However, by 1910, the increased number of pupils necessitated limiting the caretaker’s accommodation, and taking one of his rooms for use as a classroom.

In 1912, Miss Mildred Latimer joined the staff, and began her long attachment to and deep interest in the School. Other teachers appointed over the next few years were Miss Emily Latimer (English), Miss Isobel Mathers, Miss Dora Casserley, Miss Dora Jellett and Miss Evelyn Reilly. Together with Miss Foster they all worked to build up a vigorous school which kept well up to date with trends in Education.

Irish was taught from 1922 onwards, and attention was given to good oral work as well as to written exercises. Under Miss Latimer’s direction, Irish plays were well produced and on several occasions Bean de Valera attended the performances. Music, Art, Hockey and Gymnastics were all given an important place, as well as what are often considered to be the more academic subjects, and examination success was very satisfactory.

Gym display c.1937

The Staff from the early years were outstanding women, working with dedication and self denial for the benefit of the girls of the School. In 1928, Miss Foster retired, and Miss Mildred Latimer was appointed headmistress. She had the responsibility of guiding the School through the difficulties of the 1930’s and 1940’s with restrictions and shortages of supplies of such basic necessities such as fuel and finance had to be overcome. This was evidenced by the building of an extension at the eastern end of the School, and the addition of three more classrooms in 1952. This extension removed the necessity of using a room for Junior Girls in the St. Matthias’ Home in Harcourt Terrace. For some years, members of Staff has escorted small girls and sometimes carried furniture across Adelaide Road several times each School day. During Miss Latimer’s early years the words ‘Intermediate’ and ‘Commercial’ were dropped, and the School became The Diocesan Secondary School for Girls.

Cast of play 1930s

Miss J. M. Scott has assisted Miss Latimer for a number of years, looking after the accounts and helping in administration. In 1954, when Miss Latimer retired, the Committee readily appointed Miss Scott as Headmistress. During her period in office the number of pupils increased considerably, and also there was a renewed need for Science subjects in the Senior School. In response to these changes, extra classrooms were required. First in 1958 one room was built, and in 1961 three more were constructed by putting a new floor about ten feet below the existing ceiling in the Assembly Hall, and adding another stairs at each end of the block. In September 1960, seventeen pupils formed the first leaving Certificate class, and to make room for a greater number of senior pupils, the Preparatory Department was allowed to diminish and finally only children ready to enter the First Year Intermediate Certificate class were accepted.

Science class 1959

Due to Miss Scott’s keen interest, the School bought Belgrave Square Sports Ground in 1960/1961 from The High School, who by then were able to use the playing fields in Danum. A hockey pitch, and four lawn tennis courts were laid and there was also room for athletics. The Diocesan Past Pupils’ Association reconditioned, decorated and equipped the Pavilion and the Old Diocesan Hockey Club was formed.

1963

During the summer holidays of 1963, an oil-fired heating systems was installed, increasing the comfort of classrooms and staff rooms. Modern audio-visual methods of teaching French were introduced in 1964, when Miss Good supervised the installation of language training equipment. Assisted by the Department of Education and the Past Pupils again, a television set was bought and used for the teaching of Science, Irish, English, Geography, History, availing of RTE programmes. In 1966, the Science laboratory was extended and further equipped.

In 1967, Miss Scott retired and Miss Jagoe was appointed Headmistress. In the same year the Department of Education brought in their Scheme for Assisted Education and Free Books. Department officials held many meetings and initiated lengthy discussions with Protestant School administrations.  Larger co-educational comprehensive Schools were favoured. It became obvious that ‘Diocesan’ must develop further in some way, either on a new site, or in conjunction with another School. An invitation to amalgamate with The High School was accepted, and in 1974, Diocesan Girls and Staff left Adelaide Road for Danum to begin a new chapter in their history.

Diocesan in 1974

Bibliography: Jagoe, Muriel, “The Diocesan Secondary School for Girls, A Short History”, The Erasmian, June 1977, pp.28-30.

Jagoe, Murial and Enid Oldham, edited by Gillian Smith, “Records and Recollections, a History of the Diocesan Secondary School for Girls 1849-1974”, 1986.