My little sister just found this under "history of shena simon college" on google. I am surprised cos I thought the school dated back further.
Helen , I am looking for that booklet but its stuck in some heavy boxes under my sons bed in a very small bedroom at present so very difficult to access.
Will keep u posted though.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE
Shena Simon College is based in a beautiful historic building at the heart of Manchester. Its history is fascinating - as is the lady who gave the college its name: Dorothy Shena Simon.
SHENA SIMON
Shena was born in 1884. She studied Economics at Newnham College, Cambridge and was a keen supporter of the Suffragette women's rights movement.
In 1912, aged 28, she married into the wealthy Simon family of Henry Simon Engineering fame. The company still exists today as a flourishing Manchester-based concern.
When Shena's husband, Ernest, became Lord Mayor of Manchester in 1921, she visited many of the city's schools from which she developed a life-long interest in education.
Shena became a Liberal Councillor and served on Manchester Education Committee for 43 years. She also sat on the National Committee which ultimately introduced the comprehensive system of education to Britain.
It was because of Shena Simon's great support for education that it seemed fitting to name the college after her when the opportunity arose in 1982.
THE BUILDING
The Duke of Devonshire opened the magnificent new five-storey building in 1900. It had cost £X and became the Whitworth Street School until 1904.
As the renamed Manchester Municipal Secondary School it was extremely popular and an extension was completed in 1911. At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, the building was converted to a military hospital.
Pupils - both boys and girls - returned to the newly-named Central High School in 1920. This identity remained until 1960, although the boys had left in 1954.
It was appropriate at this time to re-name the school Central High School for Girls. Following Manchester educational re-organisation of 1982, the building became home to Shena Simon College.