A Brief History of Bettany House
Why are we called Bettany?

Caroline Bettany was a graduate of Newnham College, Cambridge and was the first Headmistress of JAGS as it stands at the moment in East Dulwich Grove. She was selected from a field of 99 candidates to lead JAGS on its third new site. In 1886 the school she lead consisted of 57 old girls - they were joined by 65 new entrants to the school. Miss Bettany was able to build upon this firm foundation. One of her first actions was to get tennis courts laid and a gymnasium built as well as ensuring that furnishings like blinds, clocks, desks and stationary were fitted. On 21 September 1886 was the first day of the new school. As term progressed Miss Bettany gathered new staff around her and encouraged a more varied curriculum than the standard girls school education. Pupils at JAGS therefore studied German and Latin in addition to Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, History, English grammar, composition and literature, French, natural science, drawing drill and vocal music. In 1895 the first lab was built at JAGS but in the same year Miss Bettany became ill and died. She had created a flourishing school from a mixture of elementary girls and other private schools in a brief nine years. The effort demanded a heavy toll from her.  Miss Bettany’s achievements were quite remarkable and she established the school’s reputation for academic excellence and organised it along modern lines.  

Bettany House Staff Charity Fashion Show - November 2010

Flower Power - March 2010