Dorothy Duerden

A clip from the Burnley Express announcing the appointment of Dorothy Duerden as Head. Date unknown.

Briercliffes New Headmistress
Following the reorganisation scheme whereby scholoars over the age of 11 attending the Briercliffe Council School were transferred to the Brierfield Walter Street Council School at the beginning of this month, it wasdecidedto appoint a headmistress instead of a headmaster at Briercliffe, and local residents will bepleased that a local teacher, Miss Dorothy Duerden, has secured the post. The choice will be a popular one, as Miss Duerden's capacities as a teacher are well-known locally.
She received her education at the Briercliffe Council School, under Mr. Fred Leaver, and was successful in the Lancashire County Council scholarship examination in 1916, thus securing entry to the Nelson Secondary School. She was a student at the latter school from 1916 to 1922, matriculating in 1921, and obtaining her Higher School Certificate a year later. From 1922 to 1923 Miss Duerden gained her first experience of teaching as a student teacher at the Walter-street Girls' School. She obtained her teacher's certificate at the Sheffield City College, in 1925, and was appointed certificated teacher at Briercliffe Council School in July of the same year. The confidence of the Managers in her abilities is evidenced by her rapid promotion to the highest post at the council school.