Kitty Anderson
Encyclopedia
Kitty Anderson DBE BA
PhD
(4 July 1903, Lytham St Annes
, Lancashire
- 15 July 1979, Northallerton
, Yorkshire
) was Headmistress of North London Collegiate School
from 1945-1965.
, and his wife, Lizzie Dawson. The family moved to Middlesbrough where Kitty attended the High School for Girls in Saltburn-by-the-Sea
where she became head girl. She was the first girl from the school to go up to university and attended Royal Holloway College, University of London
to read history where she obtained a BA
. In 1925 she obtained a teaching diploma from the London Day Training College. In 1926 she taught at Craven Street secondary school
in Hull
. In 1930 she returned to Royal Holloway as a Christie scholar and received a PhD
in 1933 in Elizabethan history.
, London before taking a position as headmistress of King's Norton Grammar School
, Birmingham
in 1939. In 1944 she became head of the North London Collegiate School until retirement in 1965.
As headmistress there became an outstanding figure in the educational world. On her retirement she became chairman of the Girls' Public Day School Trust. She was appointed DBE in 1961.
She was a Governor member of the Council of her alma mater
from 1947–53 and member again from 1962 till at least 1967.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(4 July 1903, Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes is a conurbation in the Fylde district of Lancashire, England. The neighbouring towns of Lytham and St-Anne's-on-the-Sea have grown together and now form a seaside resort...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
- 15 July 1979, Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
) was Headmistress of North London Collegiate School
North London Collegiate School
North London Collegiate School is an independent day school for girls founded in 1850 in Camden Town, and now in the London Borough of Harrow.The Good Schools Guide called the school an "Academically stunning outer London school in a glorious setting which, in 2003, demonstrated its refusal to rest...
from 1945-1965.
Early life and education
She was the only daughter and eldest of three children of John Herbert Anderson, a chartered accountantChartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
, and his wife, Lizzie Dawson. The family moved to Middlesbrough where Kitty attended the High School for Girls in Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a seaside resort in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The town is around east of Middlesbrough, and had a population of 5,912 at the 2001 Census.-Old Saltburn:...
where she became head girl. She was the first girl from the school to go up to university and attended Royal Holloway College, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
to read history where she obtained a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. In 1925 she obtained a teaching diploma from the London Day Training College. In 1926 she taught at Craven Street secondary school
Malet Lambert High School
Malet Lambert School is a comprehensive secondary school for 11-16 year old pupils in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. The school is situated on James Reckitt Avenue in the east of the city and its front facade stands overlooking East Park...
in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
. In 1930 she returned to Royal Holloway as a Christie scholar and received a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1933 in Elizabethan history.
Career in education
She then taught at Burlington School for GirlsBurlington Danes Academy
Burlington Danes Academy is a Church of England non-selective, co-educational secondary school within the English academy programme, located in White City, London on a site....
, London before taking a position as headmistress of King's Norton Grammar School
Kings Norton Girls School
Kings Norton Girls School is an all girls school for pupils aged 11 to 19. It is located in Selly Oak Road in Kings Norton within the formal district of Northfield in a suburb of the city of Birmingham, England...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1939. In 1944 she became head of the North London Collegiate School until retirement in 1965.
As headmistress there became an outstanding figure in the educational world. On her retirement she became chairman of the Girls' Public Day School Trust. She was appointed DBE in 1961.
She was a Governor member of the Council of her alma mater
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
from 1947–53 and member again from 1962 till at least 1967.