Beale, Dorothea (1831–1906)

English pioneer of higher education for women, whose work helped to raise the standard of women's education and the status of women teachers.

Educated at Queen's College, London, where she subsequently taught mathematics, she was appointed headmistress of Cheltenham Ladies' College in 1858. She strove to make this school match the neighbouring boys' school, Cheltenham College, which had been founded in 1841. Her college rapidly expanded from 130 girls in 1864 to 500 in 1883, when there were ten boarding houses. Miss Beale had a strong religious sense, considerable academic ability, and was a born teacher. Her college acquired a kindergarten section. Thus her activities covered the whole range of formal education, though her kindergarten was subsequently abolished. Cheltenham Ladies' College became the prototype of girls' public boarding schools, which were, on the whole, modelled on the masculine public schools. Miss Beale was also active in founding the first residential training college for teachers at St Hilda's, Cheltenham.