The site of the present building, now a private house, on the north side of the
Market Place was sold by Steven Bignold to the Reverend Steven Bevan in
trust to build a parish school. The school opened in 1848, possibly receiving
small grants from the Church of England and Juby’s Charity as well as
income from fees paid by pupils. The school was managed by a group of
trustees.
The 1870 Education Act signalled government recognition of the need for a better
educated populace and established a nationwide system of school boards. A board for
New Buckenham was elected in 1875, the school building being leased to the new
board at a peppercorn rent of one shilling per annum.
In 1899 the school board negotiated a new lease with the trustees. Some building
works and refurbishment were done.
The Balfour Education Act of 1902 however
abolished school boards and established local
education authorities. A year later the new
Norfolk Education Committee undertook a
survey of all schools. Each school had to
complete an inventory, staffing, arrangements
for teaching, school plan and school furniture.
Over the next seven years there were
protracted disputes between local authority
and school managers about terms of the lease
of the building.
While the dispute raged, New Buckenham’s
school was “black listed”.
Inspectors’ visits from Department of Education
(1904, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1910)
recommended alterations and repairs, none of
which were carried out.
“Improvements delayed through failure of the
Norfolk Education Authority and the trustees to
amicably arrange conditions of lease under which
the school should be continued”. The Authority
threatened to build a new school (at ratepayers’
expense) and forced a new lease to be drawn up.
The school was closed for repairs for six months
in 1912 and teaching was transferred to the parish
room (old village hall).
History of New Buckenham’s School (1848-1912)
© The New Buckenham Society 2015 (rev 2023)
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