Strathmore Infants' School, Old Hale Way, Hitchin

Strathmore Infant School - c.1950

In 1931 plans were made for an infant school to be built on the grounds of Wilshere-Dacre School in Fishponds Road, Hitchin. 

Although infant pupils arrived at Wilshere-Dacre in 1938, the extension to the school building never happened,  despite a petition in 1935 of around 500 residents in the Wilshere-Dacre neighbourhood, asking for a separate building for infants.  This left Wilshere-Dacre seriously overcrowded; even when the senior pupils departed to Old Hale Way School in 1940, there was still a real need for separate accommodation for infants. 

In 1949 Strathmore School opened.  Several names had been put forward for the new school, including the name of  'Balliol' which was suggested by the local historian, Reginald Hine.  Mr Hine wrote a letter to the local paper suggesting this name and reasons for his choice - he asked for other ideas.  Finally 'Strathmore' was chosen from the ideas put forward.

Miss Purser was at this time the head of the infants' department at Wilshere-Dacre.  In January 1949 she bade farewell to Wilshere-Dacre and took up the headship of Strathmore School taking with her her infant teachers and infant pupils.  Strathmore Infants'  School  was officially opened in October 1949 by Lady Allen of Hurtwood.

Miss Purser remained head of Strathmore until her retirement in 1959.  Miss Katherine Robinson succeeded her, followed by Mrs Du Mayne, (who later became Mrs Pope). The fourth head of Strathmore was Mrs Clare Gross who retired in 1993.  The  next head was Mrs Carol Arrowsmith, and the present head is Mrs Bernadette Holmes.

Strathmore Infant and Nursery School remain to this day closely linked with Wilshere-Dacre. The majority of infants who attend Strathmore continue their education at Wilshere-Dacre. 

The school website can be found HERE

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