HERSTMONCEUX VILLAGE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL EAST SUSSEX ENGLAND

HERSTMONCEUX CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Herstmonceux Primary School educates boys and girls aged between four and 11 years. There are 202 pupils on roll, which is about average for primary schools. The school has similar numbers of boys and girls altogether, but there are 11 more boys than girls in Year 3. Twenty-three children attend full-time in the Foundation Stage. The school has a waiting list for pupils to enter some classes. There are 43 pupils on the school's register of special educational needs, which is similar to the national average.

There are no pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds.... There are no pupils who speak English as an additional language.... Approximately five per cent of the pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is lower than the national average. ... [There is] a higher than average rate of mobility amongst the pupils. The pupils' attainment on entry to the school is above average, though the pupils who are currently in the Reception class showed average standards when they were tested shortly after starting school. May 2001 OFSTED Inspection Report © Crown copyright 2001

The School scored among the highest in England in the Government-published league tables for primary schools in 2000, with a perfect test record (300).

In March 2001 the School received a School Achievement Award for substantially improved results between 1997 and 2000.

The May 2001 OFSTED Inspection Report said, "This is a very good school.... Pupils' very positive attitudes and behaviour help them to get the most out of school and the very good relationships that exist help to create a happy school where learning flourishes". To read excerpts from the OFSTED Summary Inspection Report on the School, CLICK HERE.

David Calvert's Herstmonceux Primary School 150 Years (1990, 38pp+8 pp of photographs) gives the history of the school from 1839 to 1990. The chapter titles are "How it All Started" , "The Reign of Arthur Jones" [1902-15], "War and After" and "Another War".

A few quotations from the first pages:

"In July 1839, the Rector of Herstmonceux, Julius Charles Hare, Bought for £70 half an acre plot out of Danbie's field from James Everest, the local brewer. ... Hare conveyanced the land to the Rector and Churchwardens... 'for ever on trust', free of charge... 'it having been proposed to establish a National School within the said parish of Herstmonceux for the instruction of poor Children in general knowledge and with respect to relgion in connection with the Established Church of England and in the principles and discipline of that Church...'". (p. 1)

"In the National School Enquiry of 1846/47, Herstmonceux School had one classroom 'legally conveyed' and another 'virtually secured'.... There were 41 boys and 47 girls attending weekdays and Sundays. A further 20 boys attended weekday evenings only...". (p. 2)

"Attendance was the main point of concern throughout the period [from 1888] up to the outbreak of the First World War. In a rural area, pupils often had far to walk to school and bad weather could markedly reduce the numbers...". (p. 3)

"Up until this time [1891] the school was partly supported by grants and subscription but some direct payment in the form of Pupils' Pence was also required. However: '1891, August 31st - September 4th. This week the children were admitted free as "Free Education Act" came into force on Tuesday'".