Before the first female teachers were taken on during the Second World War, women involved in school life at PGS played a very different role. They excelled at making tea, smiling and distributing shiny cups and colourful ribbons. At least that is what the Portmuthian suggests. This traditional role prevailed for many years. Boys tugged hard in Hilsea wars, lifted their cups high with pride and drank appreciation. All was well. God was in His heaven.  

One day in 1926, a woman by the name of Dorothea, came to the school, but she did not gain entry on her own merits. She had to marry a headmaster to get past the porter, though her academic qualifications equalled those of her husband and exceeded those of most of the teaching staff. She had been to Cambridge and had taught at the London School of Economics.   

In 1927, an Old Portmuthian wrote from King’s College, London, complaining that female students of Bedford College “overflow into the other colleges in a most alarming manner, and do all the things that " aren't done "—arrive punctually for lectures (so taking all the best seats), talk fortissimo till the lecturer appears, and whisper mezzo-forte till he disappears. Yet the feminine element, despite its self-assertiveness and its proprietory air, is strikingly decorative amidst the rather gloomy architectural scheme of the college, and decidedly useful for the purposes of the Dramatic and Musical Societies. As regards work, women seem to revel in facts and formulas, dates and diagrams, but when there is any real thinking done it is usually done by a mere male”. 

Until recently, no photographs in the archive verified how decorative Dorothea was, but she did sing alto in the school choral society and, as far as is known, carried out the traditional role of Headmaster’s wife with dignity and without complaint, dutifully distributing prize books on Speech Day, medals and cups on Athletic sports day, and light refreshments at school concerts. Fortunately, a photograph has come to light showing Dorothea presenting a sports cup on the former United Services ground (now HMS Temeraire).   

But there was more to Ms Dorothea Barton. New information reveals that she had been, at the very least, a suffragist, if not a suffragette. The difference was significant. A suffragist stated the case for equality but drew the line at self-sacrifice, shunning funnels, nasal tubes and thundering hooves.  

But there was no doubt about Dorothea’s commitment. She was a feminist and also dabbled in socialism. To top it all, and make her everybody’s composite bete noire in the post war 1920s – especially in Portsmouth - she was of German and, very probably, Jewish descent.   

During the First World War she was employed as “Lady” Inspector of the Board of Trade”, which gave her some insight into women’s conditions and problems, and, in 1919, as a fellow (sic) of the Royal Statistical Society, gave talks about the positive advance in women's status during the war, their improved wages, skills and organisation. Looking at the wartime rise in wages gave hope that "a permanently higher wage level would be gradually reached". The National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship published her article 'Equal pay for equal work' that same year.  

The Bartons’ move to Portsmouth did not inhibit her, or quell her activism. Soon after their arrival she became Chairman (sic) of the Portsmouth Women Citizens' Association, a post she held for the whole duration of her husband’s headship. At the same time, the school archive reveals, Dorothea taught the more able boys. Evidence for this comes from Sydney Golt (OP 1924-28) who described how she “coached them in economics and history”. He went on to be a senior civil servant and international trade specialist. Nearly fifty years after Dorothea’s work for the Board of Trade, Sydney became the Under Secretary of the Board of Trade.  

Dorothea was not formally employed as a teacher and had no contract of employment – so much for “Equal pay for equal work” - but she does appear to have a good claim to having been the first female teacher at PGS. She died in 1983 at the age of 99. 

International Women's Day, 8th March

(With thanks to Tim Hands, Tony Beadles, Headmaster of Epsom College 1994-2000, and Alan Scadding, archivist at Epsom College and Nelson Hansell OP)