EW School Timeline

The 1868 National School (stone/brick building on right) and the older School House (white building on left).

This timeline provides key information relevant to the establishment and provision of schooling for children living in East and West Worlington.

1811

National Schools

National Schools were established by the National Society for Education, an organisation that had a mission to provide Elementary Education alined to the teaching of the Church of England, for the poor.

It was a Church School until 1857 when a National School was established in East Worlington.

1857

Church House Location on East Worlington Tithe Map

Prior to 1857 the EW School was known as the Church House and housed various agricultural workers. The 1839 East Worlington Tithe Map shows the location of the Church House in the North West corner of apportionment 336 (Church and Church Yard). Built of cob walls it would originally have a thatched roof. In 1727 it consisted of three rooms on the ground floor with a chamber over. It was rented by the Church from the Earl of Portsmouth, local landowner, and was used for a meeting and drinking place.

1857

R Sleep appointed Schoolmaster

By 1857 a National School has appeared in East Worlington, supported by the Earl of Portsmouth, with R Sleep as the Master. However the 1861 census records William Woolway (Carpenter) and Jane Woolway (Milliner) as residents.

1868

New National School built

The Earl of Portsmouth, the land owner of Poor / School House and Sir George Stucley built a new National School adjacent to the School House. Soon after the completion of the new school room an Infants Room was added to the building. By 1870 the building was used as a school with residential facilities for the school master.

1870

Elementary Education Act 1870

The Elementary Education Act of 1870, also known as the Forster Act, established the framework for schooling in England and Wales, particularly for children aged 5 to 13.

1870

John Francis Lemon appointed as Schoolmaster

John Francis Lemon was the Schoolmaster from 1870 until 1873 when the National School closed.

1873

National School closed

The National school was closed leaving the children of the area with no formal schooling.

1874

EW School Board formed

A new School Board formed and on 2nd November 1874 a deed of Gift of the new School and School House from the Earl of Portsmouth was presented to the Board.

1875

East and West Worlington Board School opened

On 5th of April 1875 the new East and West Worlington Board School was opened in what was an important step forward for the education of children in the area; previously there had been no schooling in East and West Worlington for two years following the closure of the National School in 1873.

John William Dainty was the first Schoolmaster of the new Board School and he remained in post until he left on 8th April 1878.

1878

Walter Pugh appointed as Schoolmaster

Walter Pugh was Schoolmaster from 1878 until 25 March 1880.

1880

Elementary Education Act 1880 (Mundella’s Act)

The Elementary Education Act made school attendance compulsory for children aged 5 to 10, and provided for state assistance for children unable to pay school fees due to poverty.

1880

John Smith appointed as Schoolmaster

John Smith was Schoolmaster from 1880 until he left on 25th March 1899.

1887

School Attendance

Luke Lee, an agricultural labourer living in Woodpark West Worlington, was summoned for failing to send his child to school: the 1891 census records suggest this was his (possibly step) daughter Lily Lee (age 9).

1899

William Henry Edmonds appointed Schoolmaster

William Henry Edmonds was Schoolmaster from 1899 until 30th May 1924 when he retired and left East Worlington to becomes a farmer.

He had a break from his Schoolmaster position from 21st June 1918 to 3th February 1919 to complete National Service. During his time away from the school his position was covered by three separate Temporary Schoolmasters:

1st July 1918 A Bentham (who stayed for two weeks)
15th July 1918 S.V. Ford ( who did not return after the school’s summer holiday)
9th September 1919 C.J.F. Tipper (who stayed until W.H. Edmonds return on 3rd February 1919)

On the retirement of W.H. Edmonds on 30th May 1924 Jack Cornish came to the school on 2nd June 1924 as a temporary Headmaster.

1902

Education Act 1902 (Balfour Act)

The Act created Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to manage education at the local level, and transferred responsibility for elementary education from school boards to county and county borough councils.

1905-1910

Worlington School circa 1905-1910

Chalkboard may show s classes I, II and III, Mr Edmonds in the centre and probably Mrs Bulled on the left.

1910?

East Worlington School 1910?

Probably shows Mr Edmonds on the left and probably Mrs Bulled on the right.

1913

Scripture Class EW School

Mr Edmonds at centre, possibly Miss Selley on the left and probably Mrs Bulled on the right.

1914

East Worlington Council School pupils 1914

Possibly Miss Selley on the left.

1914-1919

WWI

WWI didn’t affect the normal school day too much but extra events were organised based on offical requirements such as Trafalgar Day and War Savings.

Follow the link below to see the school log book entries for special events during WWI.

1923

East Worlington School Junior Class 1923

The photo shows Mrs Bulled standing behind the pupils.

1923-1933

The Hadow Reports on Education

Six reports report focused on education:

1923: differentiation of the curriculum for boys and girls

1924: psychological tests of educable capacity,

1926: the education of the adolescent

1928: books in public elementary schools

1931: the primary school

1933: infant and nursery schools

1924

Laura A Harris appointed as Schoolmistress

Miss Laura A Harris took up her position of Schoolmistress on 16th June 1924 and remained in the position until 1940.

1925

East Worlington Council School 1925

1926?

East Worlington School 1926?

Possibly Miss Harris seated centre.

1940

Laura Harris retires as Headmistress

Three different temporary Heads cover the vacant schoolteacher position between February and May of 1940

26th February 1940 E Williams.
4th March 1940 Walter Bleby
5th May 1940 Mary Ollerenshaw

1940

Edith Sarah Harry appointed Headteacher

On 20th May 1940 Mrs Edith Sarah Harry took up to position of Headteacher and remained in the position during the WW2 years leaving for a new position in Haywards, Crediton in 1945.

1940-1943

WWII Evacuees Attend School

Jack Yendell with evacuees

The total number of pupils on roll pre-June 1940 averaged about 38. No evacuees had yet made their way to East Worlington but this was to change when 25 evacuees arrived at the end of June.

Consider the impact of this on such a small school and on the whole community. At the time, the school had only 2 classrooms, and had children up to the age of 14.

1944

The Education Act 1944 (Butler Act)

The 1944 Education Act (Butler Act) revolutionised education in England and Wales by establishing a state-funded, universal system. Introduced by R.A. Butler, it abolished fees for secondary schools, raised the school-leaving age to 15, and introduced the tripartite system (Grammar, Technical, Modern), profoundly shaping postwar education.

1945

Mrs Leaff appointed Headteacher

On 20th May 1945 Mrs Leaff was appointed as temporary Headteacher and was confirmed as the permanent Headteacher on 1st June 1945 and remained in that position for only 15 months.

1946

Mrs E. R. Wells appointed Headteacher

When Mrs Leaff left her post two different supply Headteachers covered the vacancy of Headteacher September until the appointment of Mrs E R Wells a permanent Headteacher in October:

9th September 1946 Mrs E.V. Hooper
7th October 1946 Mrs E.M.B. Woodward

Mrs Wells took up this permanent position on 28th October 1946 and continued in the role unitl 1957.

1952

East Worlington School 1952

Back row:

Lorna Keenor, Margaret Harris, Mary Medland, Dorothy Tucker, A Ford (?), Margaret Hold

Middle row:

unknown, Ken Phillips, Ron Stacey, Ronald Hold, Ken Southwood, Derek Lowell, Stuart McGoldrick

Front row:

Stella Webber, Olive Fewings, Jean Harris, Ann Troake, ? Phillips, unknown, Jean Stacey, Kay Keener

1955-56

East Worlington School 1955-56

Back row:

Michael Row, Daphne Phillips, Maureen Ayre, David Cole, Ruth Troake, Mary Troake, Stephanie Cox, Marcia Stoneman, Heather, Kirslake, Cyril Harris, Raymond Govier

Middle row:

John Troake, Shiela Stenner, Rodney Phillips, Meta Fewings, Sylvia Cole, John Cox, unknown, Julie Keenor, Alan Govier, Eileen Harris, unknown, Mavis Stenner

Front row:

unknown, Christine Venner, Heather Wright, Ruth Wright, Stephen Troake, Brian Lovell, Gillian Cox, unknown, Angela Payne, unknown, Aubrey Harris, Lorna Venner, unknown, Barabara Cole

1957

Mrs E Clements appointed Headteacher

On 10th September 1957 Mrs Clements started her role of Headteacher at the school and remained in post until 1966.

1966

Mr Holding employed as Supply Headteacher

On 8th September 1966 Mr Holding was appointed as Supply Headteacher and remained in that position for the remainder of the year (one term).

1967

Miss Olive Ashley appointed Headteacher

On 9th January 1967 Miss Olive Ashley started as Headteacher and remained in that post until 1980.

1967

Plowden Report on Primary Education

A report to consider primary education in all its aspects and the transition to secondary education under the Chairmanship of Bridget Plowden.

1970s

EW School House

1979

Sandy Haughton appointed Infant School Teacher

In September 1979 Mrs Sandy Haughton took up the position of Infant Class teacher.

1980

Mrs M Dallyn employed as Supply Headteacher

On 2nd September 1980 Mrs Dallyn was appointed as Supply Headteacher and remained at the school for a term.

1981

Mrs Sandra Barnett appointed Headteacher

On 12th January Mrs Sandra Barnett joined the school as the permanent Headteacher

On 9th September Mrs Sandy Haughton was appointed as Acting Headteacher until 6th January 1986 while Mrs Sandra Barrnett was attending a educational training course.

On 6th May 1986 Mrs Sandy Haughton was again appointed as Acting Headteacher after Mrs Barnett was appointed head teacher of the new school at Newport, Barnstaple.

1987

Mrs Elsa Palmer appointed Headteacher

On 6th January 1987 Mrs Elsa Palmer (later Wakefield) was appointed as Headteacher and remained in post until 2003.

1988

Education Reform Act 1988

The Education Reform Act 1988 became law on 29th July 1988 bringing multiple changes to the education system in England and Wales, including the introduction of Key Stages and the National Curriculum. It replaced many rules and structures that had been in place since the ‘Butler Act’.

2003

Mrs Anne Ladbrook appointed Headteacher

Mrs Anne Ladbrook was Headteacher from 2003 until 2011 when the school became an Academy.

2010

Academies Act

The Academies Act 2010 allowed all schools to convert to academies.

2011

EW School becomes part of Chulmleigh Academy Trust

East Worlington Primary School becomes part of Chulmleigh Academy Trust with a

“vision: to inspire and motivate the children in our care, to encourage and develop their aspirations, and to ensure that they leave our care with everything they need, personally and academically, to go on to achieve their ambitions”

2011

Mr Jon Pratt appointed interim Head of school

Mr Jon Pratt an existing Deputy Headteacher at Chulmleigh Community College took on the role of interim Head of School.