Parsons Mead School

Infobox School
name = Parsons Mead School


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motto = Success Through Excellence
established = 1897
type = Independent, girls, day and boarding
affiliation = Church of England
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free_label = Closed
free_text = July 7 2006
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location = Ottways Lane Ashtead Surrey KT21 2PE
country = Template:GBR
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Parsons Mead School was a private girls school in Ashtead, Surrey, England from 1897 to July 7, 2006, founded by Jessie Elliston.

History

Former governess Jessie Elliston (1858-1942) established a school in 1897 to prepare the daughters of gentlemen for home life. The school quickly outgrew its accommodations in Woodfield Lane and moved to a site in Ottways Lane in 1904, taking the name Parsons Mead from the new location's history as a meadow owned by the local clergy.

As the school grew, the 1850s school house was extended and new buildings added. The school's focus changed from offering domestic and art courses to the full range of subjects including science and maths. In 1957, the school ceased to be privately owned and was made an educational trust. [ [http://www.eteach.com/JobSeekers/RecruiterProfile.aspx?EmpNo=12755 Eteach: Parsons Mead School] ]

Parsons Mead closed on July 7, 2006, a month after the announcement of its closure. The school's trustees said they were unable to keep Parsons Mead going after the number of pupils fell below the break-even point. [" [http://www.surreyad.co.uk/news/dorking/index.html?article17783 Anger as school puts up shutters] ". "Surrey Advertiser", 14 July 2006.]

Parents asked the Charity Commission to begin an inquiry in June 2006, accusing the trust of running down Parsons Mead so that its assets could be used for another school. [Halpin, Tony (2006-06-22). " [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article677641.ece 'Asset-stripping' forced private school to close] ". "The Times": 20.] The Commission issued a response on 17 November 2006, stating "There do not appear to be any issues that merit the opening of an Inquiry or further investigation". The Charity Commission neglected to report that the school had been gifted to the Vernon Educational Trust in their report on the closure that was released to the parents in November 2006.

The Vernon Educational Trust who had been gifted the school by the Parsons Mead Educational Trust in August 2006 along with £2.2 million in liabilities sold the site to Oracle Homes Residential Ltd in August 2007 for £16 million under section 36 of the Charities Act. The Trustees of PMET in the last year all came from VET with the exception of 2 who were allowed to stay on from the original PMET board. A condition of providing assistance from VET was that most of the governors had to resign.

Jessie Elliston

Jessie Elliston was born in 1858 in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. The family moved to Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, where she grew up. Life became difficult after her mother died and her father remarried, it was obvious to her early on that she would have to make her own way in life. Jessie became a governess and worked for many high-class families, including the Bonham Carters, teaching the children until they were ready for boarding school. She finally moved to Leatherhead Vicarage, came on the recommendation of Mrs Bonham Carter who was related to Mrs Utterton. When the Utterton children no longer needed a governess, it was Canon Utterton who suggested a change of course—starting her own school. There was a lot of scope in the area. There was already a small private school in Leatherhead but Ashtead was a possibility as at the end of the nineteenth century the village had only two schools. These were the Church of England Primary School of St Giles and the boys' preparatory school, Downsend. Girls from more well to do families were often educated privately at home, so there was room for a girls school. In 1897, Jessie Elliston was a woman in her late 30s who had to battle continually against deafness and she had little money. However, she had her years of experience with children, great determination and the support of family and friends who believed in her abilities. The venture would be a risk. Was it one worth taking?

Parsons Mead

Miss Elliston had taken the risk of starting her school in Ashtead. Jessie had started the venture with an aunt, one of her fathers sisters but the partnership was unsuccessful, Miss Eleanora Ellison made off in the night, unbeknown to Jessie, having taken all the capital, about £200, out of the bank, leaving Jessie penniless. This could have ended the dream but luckely parents and friends came to the rescue with some financial support.

In 1901 Miss Elliston had to find larger premises, she moved the school to a house called Claverton (the house is now demolished and retirement flats are now on the land but the estate is still called Claverton) which was by the cricket field on Woodfeild Lane, Ashtead. By 1904 the numbers of pupils had grown so much that Miss Elliston had to look for bigger and more permanent premises.

Jessie rented Parsons Mead. Parsons Mead a large and highly attractive house built in the 1860s. Jessie had a choice of properties but she wanted Parsons Mead because she saw herself there.

Notable alumni

* Teresa Banham, actress [" [http://parish.ashtead.org/xmas96/x96day.htm Day in the Life: Elizabeth Plant] ". "Ashtead at", Christmas 1996.]
* Stella Cunliffe, first female President of the Royal Statistical Society (1975-7)
* Joan Hassall, artist
* Lucy Schwob (Claude Cahun), surrealist photographer and writer
* Helen Woods (Anna Kavan), writer

References

Further reading

*cite book |last=Dawson |first=Barbara |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=An Act of Faith - 100 Years of Education at Parsons Mead School |year=1996 |publisher= Parsons Mead School |location= Surrey, England |isbn=

External links

* [http://www.pmparents.co.uk/ Parsons Mead Action Group]
* [http://www.parsonsmeadphotos.com/ Parsons Mead Photos]