Revolution Then, Relevance Now: Marking 130 Years of Glendower 

In 1895, two visionary women, Edith Lloyd and Maud Cornwall, founded a school that would become Glendower. What they created was nothing short of revolutionary: an academically ambitious school for girls at a time when Victorian society offered women few rights, little power, and even fewer educational opportunities. 

It was an act of defiance wrapped in hope. 

In an era when women couldn’t vote, enter most professions, or access higher education, Lloyd and Cornwall dared to believe in something radical: that girls could, and should, be educated to the highest standards. They understood that education wasn’t just a privilege; it was a tool for liberation. And they didn’t just open a school—they lit a fire. 

Then and Now: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t 

The year Glendower was founded saw the birth of cinema, the first car journey in Britain, and the creation of the National Trust. It was also the year Oscar Wilde was imprisoned for his sexuality and the first professional women’s golf tournament took place, a powerful symbol of what was possible, even amid restriction. 

Girls in 1895 were educated, if at all, to become agreeable wives and capable hostesses. The curriculum was more likely to include embroidery than algebra. But Lloyd and Cornwall had no interest in perpetuating such limitations. They believed in a different kind of future, one where girls could think critically, act independently, and shape the world around them. 

In 2025, we’ve come a long way, but we still have far to go. Women remain underrepresented in leadership, STEM fields, and public life. Misogyny, violence, and discrimination persist, sometimes overt, often insidious. The stories of Gisèle Pelicout and Sara Sharif, and the Guardian’s harrowing Killed Women Count campaign, have painfully reminded us that gender-based violence is still a grim reality for too many women and girls today. 

Would Lloyd and Cornwall be disheartened to know that our government must appoint a Minister for Safeguarding Women and Girls? Probably. But we believe they would also be proud to know that Glendower continues to be a place where girls are encouraged to dream fiercely, think freely, and speak loudly. 

Why Girls’ Education Still Matters 

Our mission remains as vital now as it was 130 years ago. Glendower stands as a beacon, offering not just academic excellence, but a culture of empowerment. This is a place where girls are not only taught to succeed, but to lead, question, and innovate. 

As recent research by the GDST notes, girls’ schools offer “subversive spaces” where stereotypes are dismantled, and self-belief is amplified. At Glendower, our girls are: 

• More likely to take intellectual risks and innovate. 

• Less constrained by gender stereotypes in subject choice. 

• Better positioned to develop leadership, confidence, and resilience. 

Here, girls find not just an education, but a voice. 

Our 130th Year: Writing the Next Chapter 

This 130th anniversary is more than a milestone, it’s a recommitment. It’s our moment to honour the fire lit by our founders and to carry it forward with purpose. With our new strategic plan, Glendower 130: Shaping the Future One Girl at a Time, we’re doubling down on that legacy. 

We remain proudly independent, one of the few academically selective girls’ prep schools that stand alone. That independence is a gift, a freedom we must leverage with intent. We aren’t here to replicate. We are here to lead. 

Every lesson we teach, every girl we guide, every story we inspire becomes part of the Glendower legacy. A legacy not of conformity, but of transformation. 

In 1895, education for girls was a radical act. In 2025, it still is. 

So as we celebrate this extraordinary milestone, we don’t just look back with pride, we look forward with urgency. We continue to educate, to challenge, to empower. 

Because at Glendower, we’re not just teaching girls. We’re shaping the future, one girl at a time. 

Article by Ms Claire Boyd, Head