Felmersham School
In the 1818 Education return Thomas Watson Ward wrote that ‘The poor are not very desirous of the means of education.’ However, by 1833 there were two Sunday schools; one was supported by the vicar where 50 children were taught. In the other 48 children were supported by a Methodist congregation. Children from Radwell also attended the schools.
A Church School Inquiry in 1846/7 found that the Church of England Sunday school had increased to 67 boys and 77 girls. Daily schools were soon to follow: ‘The new schools are completed; and a master, and if possible a mistress will be appointed immediately.
At the time of the 1870 Education Act Felmersham Church of England School had accommodation for 104 children.
During the Victorian period lessons were organised differently from today. A list of Object Lessons for the infants from September 27th 1887 includes: ‘coal, water, trees, fishes, apple, milk, sugar, houses, horse, cows, sheep, flowers, pig, dog, coins, birds, cat, bee, bread, duck’ (ref: SDFelmersham1/2)
The school logbook shows that children were evacuated from Eastbourne to Felmersham during the Second World War. The number of children attending the school rose dramatically. September 11th 1939 ‘School opened this morning after the summer holiday. 41 are now on the roll. 24 of these belong to Felmersham and Radwell, 6 are government evacuees, 11 are staying in the village as their homes are in vulnerable areas. All children brought their gasmasks to school.’
The ordinary school routine was disrupted by drills and the need to protect buildings against the effects of air raids. June 24th 1940 ‘No children are to attend school this week as the school has to have some protection against air raids. The large end windows are to be boarded up.’
September 21st 1943 ‘The children’s gasmasks were tested by the ARP wardens this afternoon. Air Raid drill was also taken at 3pm.’ (ref: SDFelmersham1/5)
The school became a PublicElementary School in 1903; a CountyPrimary School in 1946; before becoming known as PinchmillCountyPrimary School in the 1960s and PinchmillLowerSchool in the 1970s.