---
title: Key Women in Education - International Women's Day
description: On International Women's Day we recognise some of the female pioneers who shaped the education landscape.
---

[News | Frog Education](https://inspire.frogeducation.com/news)

# [Key Women in Education - International Women's Day](https://inspire.frogeducation.com/news/internationalwomensday)

 Written by [Frog Education](https://inspire.frogeducation.com/news/author/frog-education) | 8 Mar 2019, 08:11:58

 

**Recognising the early female pioneers of education for International Women's Day.**

 

Charlotte Mason  
1842 -1923

Pioneer of Home Education 

**Who was she?** 

A British citizen - Born in Wales

**What did she believe in?**

A liberal education for all

**Key Achievements**

Co-founded the Parents Educational Union (PEU).

Established the House of Education in Ambleside

Published author explaining her theories of education

Margaret Bancroft  
1854 -1912

Pioneer of Special Education

**Who was she?** 

Born into a Quaker family in Philadelphia, started out as a 5th grade teacher

**What did she believe in?**

That disabled children needed special schools, adapted material and well-trained teachers.

**Key Achievements**

Founded the Haddonfield Bancroft Training School  for the multiply disabled

Maria Montessori  
1870 - 1952  
Pioneer of Individualised Education

**Who was she?** 

Italian physician and educator - originally hoped to become an engineer

**What did she believe in?**

An alternative education for children

**Key Achievements**

Educational methods still in use in public and private schools worldwide

 

Marie Clay  
1926 - 2007  
Pioneer of Balanced Literacy Model and Reading Recovery

**Who was she?** 

A distinguished researcher from New Zealand

**What did she believe in?**

Early intervention for children struggling to learn to read and write

**Key Achievements**

Developed the Reading Recovery intervention programme in New Zealand and expanded worldwide.

[View full post](https://inspire.frogeducation.com/news/internationalwomensday)

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