Elementery and Primary Education in Stowupland
“The poor though desirous, are without the means of instruction, ” (Extract from the 1818 Select Committee on Education etc: Stowupland, as noted by Ena Carter). Prior to the 19th century Parliamentary Acts on Education, children’s academic learning, especially for the ‘poor’, was strongly associated with religious education, see also Sunday Schools.
Before 1936 the border between Stowupland and Stowmarket was the River Gipping so many Stowupland children attended schools in Stowmarket. However the focus here is on the school along the Main Road (A1120) that became Freeman Community Primary school.
Freeman Community Primary School.
The school has been renamed several times since its founding in 1865 e.g. National School, Council School, County Primary school and now Freeman’s. Over the century and a half since it was first built it has been extended several times but behind the 1960’s roadside facade the original mid-19th century school remains.
Learn more about the staff and teachers
Learn more about some school children’s activities.
See 19th century schooling for more details but here are some key dates from the school’s first 50 years..
In 1818 –The Select Committee on Education of the Poor noted for Stowupland that ‘ The poor though desirous, are without the means of instruction but the children attend Stowmarket national School.’
By 1833 – Stowupland had ‘one Sunday School ‘
By 1846/7 – a church inquiry reported, ‘ there is a schoolroom wanted in Stowupland.’ {ECA}
1865 /8 – a parcel of land in ‘Pitman’s Field’ (tm 346) was given by members of the Freeman family for building a Parish school for ‘poor children’.
1871 – One National School for 41 boys & 47 girls – (space for 64 only).
1874 – Rev. Long, Vicar of Stowupland claimed that the National School (i.e the number of school children attending) was larger than the Dept. allowed. {ECA}
1875 – ‘The Holy scriptures are read daily from 9.10 to 9.30 ‘
1875 – State Education Act, led to the appointment of a School Board of 5 members.
1876 – extension to the school. and a teachers residence was added at cost of £950.
1880- the school it was enlarged again.
1885/6 – it was renamed the National School
1889 – another extension
1895 – the school board resolved that the Bible should be read in the school for 15 minutes each day.
1896/7 – another classroom was added
1900 – ‘the Drill Sergeant took Standards 3 to 6 in the playground’.
The following is a very brief general history of education as it affected Stowupland.
1870 The Education Act of 1870 provided for the education of all children from 5 to 13. School Boards were set up to build and manage schools in areas where they were needed. Religious teaching was to be ‘non-denominational’
1875 The Stowupland and Creeting St Peter School Board was formed of 5 members with T.E.Carter as clerk.
1880 school attendance was made compulsary for 5 to 10 year olds, by 1899 attendance wasmade compulsory up to the age of 12.
1902 School ‘Boards’ were abolished and control of schoosl was placed in the hands of Local Education Authorities.
1944 free secondary school education was made available to all, in either Grammar, Secondary Modern or Technical schools.
See 20th century Stowupland Elementary schooling for more details but here are some key dates;
1901 – Arthur Gillet Bramhall was head master and the school name was Stowupland Council School.
1922 – Arthur Gillet Bramhall retired as head master replaced by Mr L.A. Napthine. Mr H.R. Harwood was chairman of the Board of managers.
Space for 216 children at Public Elementary School for Stowupland and Creeting St Peter.
In 1935 Miss Ada Kinch became the school’s first head Mistress, read more about her time in Stowupland.
1939 – the school had to make arrangements to accommodate evacuees from Ilford schools.
1949 -concerns were raised over the state of the school sewers.
Questions were raised over transport to and from School.
In the mid 1950’s – Mr R.A.Wright took over from Miss A. Kinch as head and in 1964 the school was significantly remodelled with an extension changing the road side view of the school.
1964 – extension to the school on land provided by Charles Freeman, school later known as Stowupland County Primary.
1983 – renamed as Freeman County Primary School.
1985 – planning permission was required in July 1985 for the retention of a temporary classroom unit.
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