[1] Herford was born in Coventry but moved to Manchester in 1822; he practised the Unitarian ministry from 1848–1854 and again at the Upper Brook Street Chapel from 1866–1870.

[2][3] The school represented the desire of Herford to put into practice the ideals promoted by Fröbel and Pestalozzi.

Herford, “a pioneer in dark days”, had witnessed teaching techniques employed in Switzerland and Germany, and desired to reform the methods practised in England.

In 1922 Miss C. M. Jenkin Jones became the new headmistress and remained in the post until 1960 when she resigned on grounds of ill health (from the 1930s to 1960 she was also the proprietor).

The University of Manchester provided some financial support for the school for about ten years from 1935 and used it in their teacher training courses.