This timeline provides key information relevant to the establishment and provision of schooling for children living in East and West Worlington.
The timeline provides information within five main themes
Each theme is represented by a colour and a logo.
Key
| Theme | Colour | Icon |
| Church / School House | Green and Cream | |
| School | Purple and Thistle | |
| Headteacher and staff | Brown and Red | |
| National Context | Yellow and Orange | |
| Worlington Parish and Community |
Blue and Sky Blue |
1811
National Schools
National Schools were established by the National Society, an organisation that had a mission to provide Elementary Education alined to the teaching of the Church of England, for the poor.
By 1857 a National School had been established in East Worlington.
To learn more about the emergence and development of National Schools click on continue reading.
1839
Church House Location on East Worlington Tithe Map
East Worlington Tithe Map of 1839 and the information showing land apportionment with its specific use and owners / occupiers identifies the location of the Church House property.
1839
Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools (HMI) established
The rationale for the first appointments of HMI linked inspection to “the improvement of elementary education” and HMI were required to inspect and report on “what improvements in the apparatus and internal management of schools, in school management and discipline, and in the methods of teaching have been sanctioned by the most extensive experience”
1841
Residents of Church House
The first national population census was conducted in 1841. The residents of Church House were recorded as Thomas Hill (aged 65), Elizabeth Hill (aged 65), and Samuel Hill (aged 24).
1849
Sharon Methodist Chapel
The Methodist Chapel built at Thorndon Cross in 1849 demonstrated the influence of the Methodist Movement in the parish. The chapel provided a venue for religious services, social and community events and a Sunday School. A school room attached to the chapel was built in 1908.
1851
Residents of Church House
The population census of 1851 recorded Thomas Hill (aged 77) and Elizabeth Hill (aged 77) as residents. Both these residents were recorded as paupers implying the building had the function of Poor House.
Below is the extract of the 1851 Census confirming Thomas and Elizabeth Hill were both paupers.
1857
R Sleep is the Schoolmaster
By 1857 a National School has appeared in East Worlington, supported by the Earl of Portsmouth, with R Sleep as the Master.
1861
Residents of Church House
The residents of Church House were recorded as William Woolway (aged 29), Jane Woolway (aged 2) William’s occupation was carpenter and Jane was a milliner.
1862
Standards of Education in Schools in England
The Government published a set of regulations known as the ‘Revised Code’ and introduced payment by results.
1868
A new National School was 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
1870
School including School House Location
By 1870 the building was used as a school with residential facilities for the school master
1870
Elementary Education Act
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.
1871
Residents of School House
The census was the first reference of the property been called School House. The census shows the residents were John Francis Lemon (aged 26) and his mother Jane Lemon (aged 53). John’s occupation was Schoolmaster.
1870
John Francis Lemon is the Schoolmaster
John Francis Lemon was the Schoolmaster when the National School closed in 1873
1872
The Standards of Education in England – Modification of the Revised Codes of 1862
The Government addressed some of the criticisms of the Revised Code of 1862 and issues an revised and modified version,
1874
School Board formed and their first meeting
1874 School Board formed and their first meeting
November 2nd 1874
Earl of Portsmouth gifts freehold to new school
On a deed of Gift of the new School and School House from the Earl of Portsmouth was presented to the Board.
1875
On 5th of April the new East and West Worlington Board School was opened
The opening of the Board School was important step forward for the education of children in the area as there had been no schooling in East and West Worlington for two years following the closure of the National School in 1873.
1875
John William Dainty was appointed as the new Schoolmaster
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 was appointed as the Schoolmaster
Walter Pugh was Schoolmaster until 25 March 1880
1880
Elementary Education Act also known as “Mundella’s Act,”
The 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. The Act aimed to further provisions for elementary education, building upon the 1870 Act.
1880
John Smith appointed as Schoolmaster
John Smith was Schoolmaster until he left the school on 25th March 1899. His wife Augusta Smith was the sewing mistress.
1881
Residents of School House
The head of the household was John Smith (aged 46), who was Schoolmaster, his wife was Augusta Smith (aged 32), who was identified as Schoolmistress, and at this time they had three children, Darley Earnest Smith (aged 10), Catherine Ann Smith (aged 2) and Frances Augusta Smith (aged 1).
1887
School Attendance
Luke Lee, a labourer of West Worlington summoned for failing to send his child to school.
1888
Local Government Act
The Local Government Act which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales. The Act didn’t directly address education, but it laid the groundwork for future involvement of these councils as local authorities in education.
1891
Residents of School House
The head of the household was John Smith (aged 56), who was Schoolmaster, his wife was Augusta Smith (aged 42), who was identified as Schoolmistress, and at this time they had three children, Catherine Ann Smith (aged 12), Constance Elizabeth Smith (aged 8), Alice Mabel Smith (aged 7), Lucy Emelia Smith (aged 4), Adatha Jemima Smith (aged 3) and Sidney George Smith (aged 1).
1901
Population Census – Residents of School House
Head of the household was William Henry Edmonds (aged 27) Schoolmaster and his wife Louisa Randall Edmonds (aged 27).
1899
William Henry Edmonds was appointed Schoolmaster
William Henry Edmonds was Schoolmaster until 30th May 1924 when he left the school. 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 seperate Temporary Schoolmasters.
1902
Education Act (also known as the 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.
1908
A school room attached to Sharon Methodist Chapel built
The Chapel provided a venue for Sunday School. Most local children attended.
1911
Residents of School House
Head of the household was William Henry Edmonds (aged 37) Schoolmaster and his wife Louisa Randall Edmonds (aged 37). They had two children living with them in the house, William Henry Edmonds (aged 9) and Robert Randall Edmonds (aged 7).
1918 / 1919
While William Henry Edmonds was away from the school on National Service three seperate Schoolmasters fulfilled the role.
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)
1921
Residents of School House
Head of the household was William Henry Edmonds (aged 47) Schoolmaster and his wife Louisa Randall Edmonds (aged 47).
1923
East Worlington School Junior Class with Mrs Bulled
Mrs Bulled was a teacher at the school. 
1924
William Henry Edmonds retires as Schoolmaster
William Henry Edmonds retires and leaves East Worlington to becomes a farmer
1924
Jack R Cornish appointed as temporary Headmaster
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
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.
1939
Resident of School House
The resident of the School House was Laura Harris (aged 46) who was recorded as the Headteacher.
1940
Laura Harris retires as Headmistress and three different temporary Heads cover the vacant position between February and May of that year
26th February 1940 the temporary Head was E Williams.
4th March 1940 Walter Bleby took up the temporary position.
5th May 1940 the temporary Head was Mary Ollerenshaw
1940
Edith Sarah Harry was appointed as the permanent 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 Crediton in 1945.
1945
Mrs Leaff appointed as 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 tha position for only 15 months.
1946
Two different supply Headteachers cover the vacancy of Headteacher from September until the appointment of a permanent Headteacher in October
9th September 1946 Mrs E.V. Hooper appointed as supply Headmistress
7th October 1946 Mrs E.M.B. Woodward appointed as supply Headmistress
1946
Mrs E. R. Wells appointed as permanent Headteacher
Mrs Wells took up this permanent position on 28th October 1946 and continued in the role unitl 1957.
1957
Mrs E Clements appointed as Headteacher
On 10th September 1957 Mrs Clements started her role of Headteacher at the school and remained in post until 1966.
1966
Mr Holding took up to position of Supply Headteacher
On 8th September 1966 Mr Holding was appointed as Supply Headteacher and remained in that position for a term.
1967
Miss Olive Ashley was appointed as permanent Headteacher
On 9th January 1967 Miss Olive Ashley started as Headteacher and remained in that post until 1980.
1967
Plowden Report -Children and their Primary Schools
Review of Primary School Education making recommendations affecting all primary schools including East Worlington.
1968
Collecting water for the school was a manual task.
Audrey, who lived in West Worlington, was paid a few coins by the school for going to the water pump, in East Worlington, every school day and pumping water for school use, including drinking, toilets and hand washing.There was a pipe from the pump to the school.
1979
Sandy Haughton appointed as teacher of the infant class
In September 1979 Mrs Sandy Haughton took up the position of Infant Class teacher.
1980
Mrs Dallyn, a Supply Headteacher, joins the school
On 2nd September 1980 Mrs Dallyn was appointed as Supply Headteacher and remained at the school for a term.
1981
Mrs Sandra Barnett was appointed as permanent Headteacher
On 12th January Mrs Sandra Barnett joined the school as the permanent Headteacher
1985
Mrs Sandy Haughton appointed as Acting Headteacher
On 9th September Mrs Sandy Haughton was appointed as Acting Headteacher for a term due to the maternity leave of Mrs Sandra Barrnett.
1986
Sandra Barnett returned to the position of permanent Headteacher
On 6th January 1986, following her maternity leave Mrs Sandra Barnett returned as Headteacher.
1986
Mrs Sandy Haughton was appointed as Acting Headteacher
On 6th May Mrs Sandy Haughton was appointed as Acting Headteacher.
1987
Mrs Elsa Palmer appointed as Headteacher
On 6th January 1987 Mrs Elsa Palmer (later Wakefield) was appointed as permanent Headteacher and remained in post until 2003.
1988
Education Reform Act
The Education Reform Act 1988 became law on 29th July 1988.
2003
Mrs Anne Ladbrook was appointed as permanent Headteacher
Mrs Anne Ladbrook was Headteacher until 2011 when the school became an Academy
2010
Academies Act
The Academies Act 2010 allowed all schools to convert to academies.
2011
The school converts to be an Academy
East Worlington Primary School becomes part of Chulmleigh Academy trust
2011
Mr Jon Pratt appointed as interim Head of the school
Mr Jon Pratt an existing Deputy Headteacher at Chulmleigh Community College took on the role of interim Head of School