A Brief History of Cheddar First School Part One

Cheddar British School - Cheddar First School

[ 1845 to 2004]

                           Part One                                       

Cheddar British School, now known as Cheddar First School, came into existence 158 years ago in 1845 and was established on its present site in 1872. Over the last century and a half, its Victorian buildings have borne witness to the struggles and triumphs and the laughter and tears of the many dozens of teachers and countless generations of children, part of whose lives has been spent within their walls.

This short account will attempt to provide a brief history of the origins of the school and also chronicle some of the events that have occurred during the last 158 years.

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Cheddar British School has its origins in two adjoining cottages in Union Street - properties which belonged to Mr. William Clark who, along with three other gentlemen: Mr. William Tanner, Reverend E. Webb and Mr. W. Budgett, founded the school. As was stated in the broadsheet circulated to advertise the opening of the school:

 "The system of Education to be adopted, will be that of the British and Foreign   

  School Society, which comprises the teaching of Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, 

  Grammar, Geography and History.

  The only Religious Instruction given in the School, will be that derived from

  Scripture Lessons, and no Sectarian Catechism or Creed will be taught.

               THE RATE OF PAYMENT WILL BE ONE PENNY PER WEEK. "

From its first home in Union Street, the school was transferred to the Baptist Chapel Schoolroom where it remained until 1872. The money for the purchase of the site in The Hayes and the building of a new school, £1,496 14s 3d in total, was raised via legacies, contributions and donations, a government grant and fund-raising (obviously little has

changed in this respect !).

The new building, which comprised the old hall, the school- house and Miss Robson's classroom, was opened on 2nd January 1872, with 72 children on roll. The number of scholars attending grew steadily so that 1n 1887 and 1889 the Schoolroom (our hall) and the Classroom (Miss Robson's room) respectively were enlarged.

No further accommodation was provided until 1936 when the classroom which now houses the I.C.T. suite and the old practical area - were added. Later, in 1952, the first "temporary" classroom, a Horsa building, was established and in the 1970s the Pratten Huts were set up.

Finance was a frequently a problem for schools and Cheddar British School was no exception. During the period 1872 to 1902 the revenue of voluntary schools such as ours came mainly from government grants, subscriptions and, until 1892, school pence.

The problem was eased somewhat in 1903 when, following the 1902 Education Act, the new L.E.A. - Somerset County Council took over the funding of materials and salaries, leaving the Trustees and Managers to maintain the buildings. Later, in 1935, Somerset County Council took over the complete running of the school, with the buildings leased to them by the Trustees for a period of 30 years. This lease was renewed in 1965.

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Click here to read Part Two