Celebrating Rodborough Community Primary School 1901 to present day.
A brief history of education in Rodborough
The first school in Rodborough, "as far as can be ascertained" was a private school held at the fort, which apparently closed down after a few years (according to notes made for Rodborough W1 by Mrs Coleman in 1959).
The Victoria County History of Gloucester notes the existence in 1700, of a charity school called The Poor's school, at which around 20 children were taught. By the 1790s, it became known as The Reading Charity. The school was held in part of the old church house adjoining the churchyard. The building was partly rebuilt and extended around 1820. Later there were separate sections for boys and girls and it became known as Rodborough Endowed School.
Mrs Coleman records, "When my father (Mr Browne) was first appointed headmaster in 1884, there seem to have been between fifty and sixty scholars, with one assistant teacher and two pupil teachers. The assistant teacher (afterwards, my mother) had been at the school two years before my father was appointed."
There were other schools within the parish, The Victoria County History notes for 1833, two small day schools, attached to dissenting meetings, and charging fees. A third, larger school, was partly funded by a dissenter. One of these schools was attached to Rodborough Tabernacle and in 1838 the congregation built a new school at Kingscourt. In 1880 another new school opened to the south of Butterow.
Rodborough Endowed School was taken over by Rodborough School Board in 1898. Mrs Coleman recalls; "The school continued to grow, 'under great difficulties' according to HM Inspector, using the highway as a playground and drinking water pumps from a well, until in 1901, the fine new school situated in Rodborough Hill was ready.
With thanks to Rodborough W.I for use of Mrs Coleman's memoir (stored at Gloucester County Library - local history section).
With thanks to Remembering Rodborough (Julie Mountain) for photos and information. To see further information please visit the Remembering Rodborough website (see link below)
https://www.rememberingrodborough.org.uk/people-places/schools/rodborough-school/
