Stotfold National Girls and Infants School

St. Mary's School, c.1954 [ref: Z1130/115/12/1]

The National Girls and Infants School, also known as St. Mary's School, was founded in a deed dated 1843 by Catherine Wilkinson, widow of Robert Hindley Wilkinson Esq, who conveyed 33 poles, known as Home Close to the Vicar and Churchwardens of Stotfold for the use as a school [ref: P83/25/37]. Prior to the conveyance a subscription list for the development of an infants and girls’ school had begun in January 1843 [ref: P83/25/36]. 

St. Mary's School on 1938 OS Map of Stotfold

The building of St. Mary’s School started on 1st May 1843, with J. Simpson of Brighton as the architect and James Wilshere and Charles Cooper as the builders. The location of the orignal school building was on an area called Home Close which was on the corner of Mill Lane opposite Hope Chapel. The school admitted both boys and girls of all ages. The system changed in 1879 with infants remaining at St. Mary’s until seven years of age and then girls only, with all boys moving on to what then became known as the Stotfold Boys’ School. 

In a memorandum on Stotfold charities to incoming vicar Rev. A.A Ellis, his predecessor stated that the National Girls and Infants Schools was only confined to girls by will of the manager; there were no management clauses and the vicar was the sole manager. The school was supported by “children’s’ pence”, subscriptions and endowments amounting to £59.16s.6d per annum plus dividend of £250 for building or apprenticeship purposes. The National Girls’ School mistress Miss Travis was considered very faithful, conscientious and diligent but her teaching powers and method were defective but have improved [ref: P83/25/78].

During World War Two the Girls and Boys schools were used as rest centres [ref: WW2/AR/C2/207].

The Girls School was demolished in 1992 and a new school was built on its current location on Rook Tree Lane.

St. Mary’s School was converted to an academy on 1st April 2012.

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• AD3865/41: Building plans of Stotfold National School. Architect J. C. Simpson, Brighton.
• AO/EPE12/6: Stotfold Girls & Infants C. of E. School (1 plan), 1948
• CA20/ES18: County architectural plans for St. Mary’s School, 1942-1969
• CRT130STOT/10: Photocopy of list of people involved in the building of the National School
• E/IN1/1: School inspection reports, 1913-1932
• P83/25/36: Subscription list, 1843
• P83/25/37: Conveyance, 1843
• P83/25/38: File of building accounts for St. Mary’s school, 1843-1844
• P83/25/78: Memorandum on Stotfold Charities to incoming vicar, Rev A.A. Ellis from his predecessor, 1860
• Z55/1/68: Photograph of Girls and infants (St Mary's), c.1990
• Z1021/2: Photo of Stotfold Girls Infant Class, c.1900