Pages 306-307
A History of the County of Essex: Volume 10, Lexden Hundred (Part) Including Dedham, Earls Colne and Wivenhoe. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 2001.
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EDUCATION.
A school was held in the workhouse in 1789. (fn. 1) In 1818 two small schools taught 60 children; (fn. 2) neither seems to have continued in 1833. By 1825 there was a National Sunday school. (fn. 3)
The National Society gave a grant towards the building of a new schoolroom at the south-east end of the churchyard c. 1825. (fn. 4) By 1833 it had accommodation for c. 146 and was supported by voluntary contributions and pence, from which the children were given clothing. An annual endowment of £10 from the estate of James Robinson (d. 1832) was paid from 1836. (fn. 5) In 1871 a new school for 101 children was built on land given by Margaret Boggis-Rolfe. (fn. 6) It received annual government grants from 1880 when the average attendance was 52, and was enlarged for 127 in 1896. (fn. 7) A gallery which had been erected for infants in 1892 was removed in 1907. (fn. 8) The school was reorganised for juniors and infants in 1946 when the senior children were transferred to St. Helena's Secondary school in Colchester. (fn. 9) It was granted Voluntary Aided status in 1951. (fn. 10) In 1995 there were 23 children on the roll. (fn. 11)