Dormansland Primary School is proud of its new school. It was opened in May
2002 and provides the staff and children with a bright, airy and modern school
equipped for the 21
st Century.
Up until 2002 the school had existed on two sites with the original school in
Dormansland High Street used for Reception through to Year 2, and the school
on the Clinton Hill site for Years 3 - 6.
1851- 1993
The original school was built in 1851 on land, donated solely for the purpose of a
school, by a Mr Felix Ladbroke of Headley, Surrey.
By 1884 the average attendance was around 100 children. This represented ‘truancy’ of
about 33% but for rather different reasons than today. Poverty often required
children to be sent out to work to bring in a few extra pennies and rounding up
the absentees was the job of the teacher, not the Local Education Authority!
As the village grew in size so too did the demand for a larger school. This led to the
building of a second, more modern building, some 200m from the original High
Street site.
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This picture from around 1890 shows the school on the left and St John’s church on the right |
1956 – 1993
In 1956 the school on the Clinton Hill site was opened, with extensions added in 1993,
incorporating much cherry wood into the design (Dormansland was once locally
famous for its cherry orchards, hence the cherry symbol for our school). It was
used for Years 3 – 6.
As time went by it was very apparent that the ‘original’ school was inadequate in a
number of ways for school life in the 21st Century.
This was
recognized by the County Council and so funding was provided for a ‘new’
school, to be on the same site as the more modern school on Clinton Hill.
After much planning building work commenced in 2001.
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This picture shows an incomplete ‘new’ school taken around 1956
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2002 – Today!
In May 2002 the new school was completed and the children and staff were able to have
one complete school on one site.
Our new building provides us with 7 purpose built classrooms, an ICT suite, library,
multi-purpose hall and catering facilities, offices, medical room and outdoor
education and play facilities.
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The school today.
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Despite much change over the years Dormansland Primary School remains very much a
village school. Only very recently an open day was held for the residents of
Dormansland to come and view our new school of which the staff, children and
Governors are very proud.
One tradition that has been kept alive down through the years is the annual Maypole
Dance. The pictures below range from 1904 – 1999.
