In the early 1950’s members of the Jewish Community, namely Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovitch, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Feldman, Mr. Karl Feldman, Mr. Jack Segal, Mr. Hymie Green and Mr. Arthur Herman decided it would be advantageous and desirable to have a second level school and so Stratford College was founded. It was first located in a house called ‘Stratford’ on Terenure Road East.

Some years later the opportunity to move the College to the present complex in Rathgar occured. Founder members of the College donated money to make it possible to purchase the house and gardens, deemed suitable by Mrs. Elaine Feldman and Mr. Jack Segal. First members of the Board of Management included Mrs. Feldman, Mr. Segal and Dr. Harris Tomkin. The first Manager of the school was Dr. Teller.

The school thrived from day one through the indefatigable daily work of Mrs. Feldman and Mr. Moss with supportive active colleagues. Dr. Saul Levenson succeeded Dr.Tomkin as Chairman of the Board of Govenors and gave years of devoted service. The Parents’ Association, headed by Mrs. I. Moss, Mrs. S. Harris and Mr. & Mrs. R. Silverman, were pillars of support in supplementing the provision of facilities.

In 1981 a new building was erected. Today only the elegant mid - Victorian facade remains of the original house. Where the soccer pitch is now situated a garden with magnificant trees and shrubs flourished. There used to be a garden where the National School now is. A high red brick wall with peach and nectarine trees trained on the sunny south side divided those gardens. The bank on the side of the National School was then a rockery with a profusion of scented flowers and colourful shrubs.

Mr. Alan Green was School Manager from 1980 - 2000 and under his aegis the planning and building of the new complex (1981 -1983) took place. In 1995 Mrs. Carolyn Collins (Vice President) oversaw the building of the new science and computer laboratories.

In the 1950’s the Jewish Community was much larger than it is now and the student population at Stratford was entirely Jewish. As with everywhere else in Ireland emigration took its toll and in order to maintain its wide curriculum the Board of Management decided that the school should become multi-denominational. Now, while retaining its Jewish ethos Stratford is a thriving multi-denominational place of learning where respect for the individual is of paramount importance, high academic standards are maintained and sport is actively encouraged and fostered.

There have been five Principals of Stratford College since its foundation; Mr. Shiel, Mr. M. Greene, Mr. T. Kilroy. Mr. M. Walsh and Mrs. C. O’Broin. Ms. Patricia Gordon, (M.Ed). became Principal in 1999. Mr Alan Green, Mr. Jonathan Moss , Mr. Adrian Gordon and Mr Michael Gilbert have been School Managers over the last 10 years.

Mrs. Colette O’Broin ( Principal 1978 - 1999)

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