Harefield: Schools

SCHOOLS.

Some sort of schooling in the village was provided as early as the late 16th century when the curate was also described as the schoolmaster, (fn. 1) and by 1592 a separate schoolmaster had been licensed for Harefield. (fn. 2) It is said that in the mid17th century John Conant, domestic chaplain to Lord Chandos, (fn. 3) spent the greater part of his salary enabling the poor children of the neighbourhood to attend school, (fn. 4) and in 1679 the curate was said to teach the children. (fn. 5) There was a schoolhouse in the village by 1692, owing to the goodwill of Sir Richard Newdigate, (fn. 6) but no schoolmaster is then mentioned. In 1738 there was said to be a charity school in Harefield for 10 boys and 10 girls who were all taught and clothed by the charity. (fn. 7) Later in the century the schoolhouse was repaired, and was under the direction of a master in 1794, when it was visited by Sir Roger Newdigate, who presented 2s. 6d. to the master and 1s. 6d. to each of the children. (fn. 8) There was said to be a private school in the parish in 1804 which was held at Harefield Grove by the Rev. Samuel Barnard. (fn. 9)

The parochial Church of England school was probably founded about 1813, when a 'commodious schoolroom' was built, chiefly by subscription, for the poor children. (fn. 10) There was a charity-school mistress in the village in 1824, and also a schoolmaster, (fn. 11) who was probably the proprietor of a private school. (fn. 12) Schools for the poor were said in 1843 to have been established for many years, (fn. 13) and 80 boys and 60 girls were said to attend the free school in 1845. (fn. 14) In 1858 the school was reorganized, and the existing building and the land on which it stood was given to the parish by Charles Newdigate Newdegate. (fn. 15) At that date there were a master and mistress and a pupil teacher. (fn. 16) The appointment and dismissal of the staff was vested for life in Newdegate, and the governors of the school were all to be local, resident, Anglican gentry. (fn. 17) The school may have been rebuilt at this time. (fn. 18) In 1871 it adjoined the master's house and consisted of one room separated by a movable screen, and was used by boys, girls, and infants. (fn. 19) By 1875 the school seems to have been deeply in debt, (fn. 20) but it recovered, and in 1879 another classroom was added. (fn. 21) The school ceased to be a public elementary school in 1907 and thereafter was used only as a Sunday school. (fn. 22)

A temporary council school for boys and girls was opened in 1904 in an iron building, the headmaster being also headmaster of the national school. (fn. 23) It was replaced by a permanent council school in 1908. In 1959 the school was attended by 626 juniors and infants. (fn. 24)

The infants school which was opened in 1871 was held in one of the rooms in the Memorial Hall. (fn. 25) It was under the personal control of the vicar and had no connexion with the Church of England school. (fn. 26) It was closed in 1907. (fn. 27)

Harefield secondary modern school was opened in 1954, (fn. 28) and was attended in 1959 by 306 pupils. (fn. 29) Evening classes were held there in 1957 and 1958 in commerce, agriculture, and horticulture. (fn. 30)