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.
1930
Preshil is founded
In 1930, Margaret J R Lyttle (pictured, known as Greta) began teaching five pupils in the living room of her home in Hawthorn (406 Barkers Road), in Melbourne’s inner east. Under the motto ‘Courage’, Greta soon established a following for her child-centred approach, and the nucleus of a school known as Preshil emerged.
1937
Relocation to Arlington
In 1937, growing numbers lead to the relocation of the primary school to its present site, Arlington campus, further along Barkers’ Road.
1944
Death of Margaret J R (Greta) Lyttle
When Greta died suddenly in 1944, Margaret assumed leadership of a school with a committed teaching staff and a growing number of children. Margaret remembers that her aunt’s death left the older children without their teacher, within a term of compulsory formal exams that would determine where they would continue their (senior) studies.
1948
Pioneering Pedagogy
By 1948 there were 184 children at the school. By now, Margaret said “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,” in contrast with the orthodox approach which kept parents at arms’ length.
1973
The Secondary School
In the early 1970s, Secondary School plans began to firm and became a reality in 1973. Year 7 was housed first in the primary school hall, then later using space in Holy Trinity church in Kew and sharing some classes with Trinity Grammar.
1975
Expansion
In 1975 the grand old mansion Yallambee was purchased, followed by Blackhall (1978) and its neighbour Kalimna (1990).
1978
Kindergarten - Year 12
By 1978 the school extended through to year 12, and Preshil as a kindergarten to a VCE (and now, International Baccalaureate) school was born.
1989
Order of Australia
Margaret Lyttle was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1989 for her services to education.
Not a mainstream education
Preshil shares many similarities to the Philosophies of influential educational thinkers including Rudolf Steiner, Maria Montessori, John Dewey, Friedrich Froebel and our founding Principal, Greta Lyttle, providing progressive educational models that form the basis of our approach to learning.
Preshil is not only Australia’s oldest progressive school, but was also influential in the development of progressive pedagogy at the local, national and international levels. Seminal educationalists such as Alexander Neill, Dorothy Howard, Jean Stirrat, Oscar Oeser, June Factor, Dorothy Ross, Henry Schoenheimer and Elizabeth Hanby were influenced by Preshil, and the school’s child-centred and play-based learning is today recognised in mainstream pedagogy.
Preshil today
Preshil celebrates its 93rd birthday in 2024, and today remains true to its two founding principles – engaging with each child as an individual, and building personal responsibility, self-esteem, resilience, initiative, creativity and courage.
Under the leadership of our Principal, Aaron Mackinnon, and with the support of the School Board, teachers and the Preshil community, the School is undertaking a range of investments and improvements to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of educational practice in the 21st century.
Our motto of courage continues to be a hallmark of Preshil graduates as they make their way in the world.
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