Remarkable Women: Making a Difference in Education

Sacred Heart has close ties to Roehampton University.  Digby Stuart College at Roehampton is part of the global Sacred Heart Network made up of schools, colleges, and universities across the world who were all created by the Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJs).  Today was the launch of a new exhibition at the university (7 March-26 March 2025), entitled Remarkable Women: Making a Difference in Education.  The exhibition celebrates International Women's Day  and Women's History Month.

It is not possible to describe the extrordinary work of all these highly achieving women, but a few honourable mentions are included below.  Most of the text below was included in the exhibition. Some text has been added by Sacred Heart in italics.

Mabel Digby RSCJ Superior at Roehampton 1872-1894. Opened Wandsworth Teacher Training College 1874.  Fifth Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

While the Superior at Roehampton of the English Vicariate of the Society of the Sacred Heart, Mabel Digby laid many foundations for the education of Catholic girls and women in England. It was only during Mabel’s early years that Catholic education was re-established in England, following the return of the Catholic hierarchy since its banishment in the Reformation.

In 1874 she accessed government funds and negotiated with Bishops to open one of the first Catholic teacher training colleges in the country -now Digby Stuart College.

Mabel purchased our school site in Hammersmith for the Society and Sacred Heart High School still partners with Digby Stuart College at Roehampton for many of the teacher training course that we offer.

As Superior General, she was forced to relocate 2,500 sisters from France, as the country moved to complete secularisation.  She was also responsible for overseeing the shipment out of France of many of the Society’s possessions that would otherwise have been seized.  This includes the statue of Jesus in our cloister garden, the altar in our Lady Chapel, and the organ in our chapel.

c. Society of the Sacred Heart England and Wales Province archives

Janet Erskine Stuart RSCJ. Superior of the Province 1894-1911. Relocated teacher training college to St Charles Square in Kensington 1905.  Sixth Superior General of the Society 1911-1914.

Janet oversaw the growing educational needs of the Society, including a huge amount of growth in the teacher training college and in response to this she acquired for the college, a new larger property in St Charles Square, Kensington. Janet was known for her intellect and being a prolific writer. From sending encouraging letters to those teaching in Sacred Heart schools, to the authorship of several books including ‘Education of Catholic girls’ which is still in print, she is regarded as having much to say to education today.

‘Aim at the very highest and the best but understand that to get this is a life’s work, not the work of a day, so never let failure cast down or disappoint you. But always begin again with great courage and confidence’ Janet Erskine Stuart RSCJ

c. Society of the Sacred Heart England and Wales Province archives

Dr Beryl Gilroy, Headteacher and Writer 1950s -1970s

Beryl Gilroy was one of Britain’s first Black headteachers. Overcoming the racial discrimination experienced by the Windrush generation, she secured a teaching position in 1953 and later led Beckford Primary School, championing multicultural education. Studying for a Froebal Teaching Diploma and later earning a Ph.D., she became an ethno-psychotherapist, focusing on the mental health of Black women and children.

Her memoir Black teacher (1976) candidly recounts her experiences in post-war London and her children’s books including the Nippers series were among the first to depict Black British life.

Professor Marilyn Holness, OBE, Deputy Principal Southlands College, Roehampton 2002-2006

Appointed Deputy Principal of Southland’s College, Marilyn blended her academic and pastoral passions into delivering empathetic student support to enhance the student experience - meeting the needs of the whole person. In 2009 Marilyn received an OBE for services to teacher education, one of only 10 ever awarded for teacher education. Her portrait was taken for the Phenomenal Women’s exhibition at the London Southbank in 2020 that featured all 40 UK Black women professors. At the time of the exhibition there were 22,000 UK professors and fewer than 1% were black.  Currently she is the university’s first Dean of Students, a Professor of Education, Engagement and Practice and has recently been appointed as Head of Digby Stuart College

Bernadette Porter RSCJ CBE, Principal of Digby Stuart College 1989-1999, Rector and Chief Executive of Roehampton 1999-2004, Vice-Chancellor of Roehampton University 2004

Sr Dr Bernadette Porter RSCJ (Bernie) has the unique honour of having held the title of Roehampton Student and Vice-Chancellor.  After completing a PhD at King’s College she returned to join the teaching staff of the newly formed Roehampton Institute of Higher Education.

Bernie was appointed Principal of Digby Stuart College and Pro-Rector of the Roehampton Institute before becoming Rector and Chief executive of Roehampton. She was appointed as the university’s first Vice-Chancellor in 2004 – at the time one of very few female Vice-Chancellors in the UK. 

On leaving the university, she was appointed as Treasurer General of the Society of the Sacred Heart in Rome. She was made CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2005 and awarded Fellow of the University in 2006.