About the school
Parkside Preparatory School is an independent day school, registered with the Department of Education and caters for the education of children between the ages of three and eleven years. Parkside provides a structured and disciplined approach to learning, within a co-educational and non-denominational environment.
Pupils are from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds and we are proud that the school has a long tradition of providing an alternative education for the children of the locality as well as for pupils living further afield. The atmosphere at Parkside is warm and friendly, not unlike that of a traditional village school. Our aims reflect the nature of that environment.
We encourage kindness, honesty, courtesy, co-operation and responsibility to others. Children are encouraged to make an active contribution to the community.
We aim to create a secure, happy and structured educational environment in which children will flourish and develop educational and social skills, which will enable them to cope with the demands and challenges of our society.
The school aims to develop each child to their full potential in all subjects, but especially in Reading , Spoken English, Written English, Mathematics and Information Technology. We achieve a high standard of literacy and numeracy, which is required for successful learning across a broad curriculum.
Our history
Parkside has been established for over eighty years on the present site opposite Bruce Castle Park in Church Lane , Tottenham. The family of the originator of the penny post, Sir Roland Hill built the house in 1827.
The family of Mr Albert Hill, a nephew of Sir Rowland Hill first lived at Parkside, then named Prioryside. When the family left Tottenham the house was acquired and re-named by Mrs D'Aish, the first headmistress of Parkside Preparatory School .
Mrs D'Aish was the principal of the school from 1920 until the mid 1920's when it came in the care of Mrs E.M. Rowe. Her colleague Mrs Ayling, who remained at Parkside for about 9 years, succeeded Mrs Rowe as principal. On her retirement in 1936 one of her young assistant teachers, Miss D.M. Hall became the Headmistress and ran the school without a break for 54 years including the duration of the Second World War. Miss Hall retired in 1990 at the age of 80 years.
In 1990 the school became a limited company, Parkside Preparatory School (Bruce Castle) Limited, under the directorship of parents and a representative of the owners of the building. Mr Michael Richardson was the headmaster for a year after which he left to take a post in Manila . In September 1991 Mrs Rachel Horan-Botfield became the sixth head teacher of Parkside Preparatory School . She retired at the end of the Easter term in 2002.
A new limited company - Parkside Preparatory School (2002) Limited – was formed at this time under the directorship of 5 parents. Mrs Patricia Sargent who had taught at the School for several years became the headmistress till her retirement a year and half later. Mrs Marie Langford succeeded Mrs Sargent in September 2003 but stayed for less than a year. Our present head teacher Mr Decent Henry was appointed in September 2004. He is well known in the local area where he has an excellent record stretching back almost 30 years.