History of Preshil

The Beginning

The founder of Preshil, Margaret J R Lyttle believed children “should be allowed to work individually, each at his or her own pace, in accordance with his or her developing interests and not in set age or grade groups”. In 1931 a group of parents who admired the work Margaret J R Lyttle had done with their children at St Andrew’s College in Kew urged her to continue teaching their children after she had left the school. She agreed, accepting the children into her home in Barkers Road, Kew. The newcomers added to the already crowded house, where Margaret was struggling to rear her four young nieces and nephews. By 1933, “It became obvious that we had a school within the family”, remembers today’s Margaret E Lyttle. The family chose the name “Preshil” in memory of an heroic ancestor, John Brown, who lived at Preshil (Priesthill), in Scotland, dying there in 1685.

The Early Days

Margaret recalls the school’s early days as happy if chaotic: “Our dining room was a sub-primary room and an old tram car nearby in the garden was a library for the primary aged children.” All of this was quite illegal and worrying for the neighbours, explained a visiting school inspector. Nonetheless he approved the registration of the school, declaring himself impressed with its program. Preshil was already attracting teachers who were ahead of their time. In 1933 Frances Derham, a now legendary pioneer of art teaching, began to explore new ways to encourage children to express themselves through art.

In 1937 the growing primary school moved to its present site, Arlington, further along Barkers Road. The family continued to live at the school, welcoming several Jewish refugees to join them. Margaret E Lyttle recalls teaching and watching over tiny refugee babies, “In those days you were brought up to do things for other people”.

Legacy

Margaret J R Lyttle died suddenly in 1944 leaving her niece, a devoted teaching staff and spirited children to continue the school. Margaret remembers that her aunt’s death left the older children without their teacher, within a term of sitting compulsory formal tests. Undaunted, the children checked their progress with the syllabus, finishing the course themselves by working from the approved textbook. They were all successful, gaining entry to the schools of their choice. Margaret J R Lyttle’s emphasis on self-responsibility had helped them through.

A New Way

By March 1948 there were 184 children in the school. By now, Margaret says, “The staff had worked together for many years and there was a contented openness about the place. Classroom doors were always open, parents were regular and welcome visitors”. The school had long recognised that: “Parents must be brought in to understand the teaching methods”.

“Skills were always important at Preshil. Above all, children want to be seen as being ‘normal’, like the kid next door. They also have enquiring minds and are challenged and stimulated by knowledge and ideas until adults either organise them out of these attitudes, or frighten them in some way into a need to conform.”

“Teachers were available to advise, help, show how, work with or stimulate, with children of all ages moving freely through the school. No bells rang to begin, and the end could be cloudy and gradual or when people were tired and needed a break.”

The Secondary School

“For a long time, many of us had dreamt of being able to bring the Preshil ethos into our concept of secondary schooling. We talked over Sunday barbecues, argued and discussed among ourselves and gathered support from educationists, including John Leppitt (later head of Trinity Grammar) and Henry Schoenheimer (senior lecturer in Education at Monash University)” recalls Margaret. In the early 70s these plans began to firm and the secondary school became a reality in 1973, with Year 7, housed first in the primary school hall, then using space in Holy Trinity Church in Kew and sharing some classes with Trinity Grammar.

In 1975 the grand old mansion, Yallambee, was purchased, followed by the present campuses of Blackhall in 1978 and its neighbour, Kalimna, in 1990. By 1978 the school had extended through to Year 12. The school saw itself as quite different to others: “A number of schools are now trying desperately to re-establish some sense of family and community by sending adolescents out for unfortunately brief visits to kindergartens and primary schools. Preshil is attempting to develop, without strain or conscious effort, a kind of family living that keeps the adolescent very naturally in close communion with children of all levels”.