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Schools

300 years of schooling
Text reproduced by kind permission from information sheets in Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

'School Town' was the nickname for Brighton in Victorian times. The health resort attracted dozens of small private boarding schools for gentlemen and ladies. Groups of pupils promenaded the seafront in their Sunday best, shepherded by tutors, on the way to church. Roedean, the famous girls school, was established in Lewes Crescent in 1885.

'Freeschooles', which were charity-run schools, were first recorded over 300 years ago. Many of them were funded by donations from the public. Others were set up by the Church of England. Most of the 56 children who left Bartholomews 'freeschoole' in 1705 became sailors.

Gradually, the state took over education. By 1900, school was compulsory and free for children under thirteen. There were special schools for truants. In 2000, Brighton and Hove Council ran 48 schools. The tradition of private seafront schools still flourishes, but nowadays for foreign students learning English.

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

I am very interested in the schooling available to the children from poor families in Brighton in the late 19thC. My great grandparents lived on Edward Street from c1880 to 1898 and brought up three sons there. The two eldest went on to become school masters and both eventually became headmasters. As I am told that Edward Street was not a very salubrious area at the time and my great grandfather worked as an ostler at a veterinary practice, I am intrigued to know how they managed to educate two children to such a standard and which school the boys are likely to have attended. Were scholarships available? Do any records survive? If anyone can give me any ideas on this I would be most grateful.
By Ann Rains (02/12/2005)
Has anybody any knowledge of Warrens Farm School in Brighton as recorded on my grandfather's naval record in 1901? This site is the nearest I have got to old Brighton schools in months of research for this family foundling.
By Jacqui (26/01/2006)

The Warren Farm School was part of the Brighton Workhouse and was in Woodingdean. It became the Fitzherbert School, prior to the Nuffield hospital being built on the site. My Father spent his school days here.

By Yvonne Taylor (23/10/2006)

Does anyone have information about Copeland, a school my mother attended around 1920?

By Lucilda Hunter (04/12/2006)

Are there any ex-pupils from Lourdes Convent, Withdean, (now closed) who attended the Convent between 1956-1961 (as I did) reading this column? If so, why and when did the school close?

By Chris (17/01/2007)

Hi Chris, I was at the school until 1958. Do you remember me? Josie

By Josephine Stevenson (29/01/2007)

I was at Lourdes Convent between 1954 and 1960. Would love to hear from any of my old school friends.

By Sally-Ann Schertle (nee. Richardson) (05/02/2007)

Hi Sally-Ann. I think we might have been in the same classes. My maiden name was McKerchar. Do you remember Judy Dare or Elizabeth Abernethy?

By Christine Ball (07/04/2007)

I was at Varndean Grammar School from 1953-1959 and knew a number of the Lourdes Convent girls through travelling with them on the bus to and from school. I remember Elizabeth Abernethy, though not very well. Other names that come to mind are Janis Prosser, Anne Fulgoni, June Cross, Wendy Arnold, Tessa Garland, Gloria Banks and Sandra Durrant. Where are you all now? Happy days!!

By Glyn Kraemer-Johnson (24/07/2007)

I was at Lourdes Convent as a boarder from 1952 to 1957. I remember going back several times, the last in the mid 1960s and hearing from the nuns that the site was being sold for building re-development (so nothing new there then!). The nuns were going back to the mother house in France. Love to hear from anyone who remembers me.

By Sheila Coles (08/08/2007)

Sheila, you must have known some of the girls I mentioned in my last comment. I'd love to know what happened to them. Frightening to think they must all, like me, be pensioners!

By Glyn Kraemer-Johnson (09/08/2007)

Glyn, One or two names are familiar though the ones I really remember were boarders, like me and of course the nuns especially Mother Margaret Mary and Mother Madeleine, I remember with affection. I was friendly with Pamela Malham and her younger sister Sally, does anyone remember them? As you say Glyn, it is frightening where the years have gone and all those girls, like me, are pensioners!

By Sheila (30/08/2007)

Glyn, I was at Lourdes Convent from 1953 until 1963. I started in the junior school at the age of 6 and left when I was 16. Elizabeth Abernethy, Janis Prosser and Anne Fulgoni were in my sister's class. Her name is Elizabeth King and she became Head Girl. The senior school closed when Cardinal Newman Comprehensive School opened. I can't remember which year it was. The pupils transferred to the new school. Cardinal Newman School used to be the Sacred Heart Convent in Hove.

By Helen King (13/01/2008)

I was at the school (Lourdes) from 1952 to 1963. I am in touch with others if you are interested.

By Joanna (Pound) now Beazley Richards (13/01/2008)

Joanna, I would be interested to know if you know anyone I knew when I was at Lourdes Convent from 1952 to 1957. I was a boarder and so obviously knew other boarders better than day girls as we were together the whole time. Perhaps you could post some names. I don't recognise any of the names posted by Helen but she is 5 years younger than me. Thanks if you can help.

By Sheila (Coles) now Allain (20/01/2008)

Hi Glyn, I recently saw a site that said Janice Prosser now lives in San Fransisco. I knew Anne Fulgoni at primary school (St. John the Baptist) also her cousin Catherine Fulgoney.

By Jackie Soutar (nee Gladwell) (05/05/2008)

Does anyone have any knowledge of St Nicholas School in Frederick Place which closed in 1944 (I think)? The building was later used as a community space by St Nicholas Church but having been industrial space is now converted to flats. Any knowledge of it as a school would be welcome.

By Robert Minton (28/05/2008)

I am looking to know whether anyone remembers Patsy Nutkins. She attended the Sacred Heart Convent in Brighton in the early 1960s (1961 - 1964). I am trying to track her down along with her elder brother John Nutkins. They are both cousins of my Mother Veronica Paskins (nee Murphy).

By Jason Paskins (01/08/2008)

Have just read some of the comments from those who were at Lourdes Convent from 1954 - 1959 and I recognized many of the names - Christine McKerchar, Judy Dare, Janis Prosser and certainly many of the nuns named. Does anyone know what happened to the two Iraqi sisters Nawal and Nejla Kamil Jamil? Pamela Mallum lived with us for a while. If I had known that Janis Prosser now lives in San Francisco I would have looked you up this summer - look forward to hearing from any of you soon.

By Sally-Ann Schertle (nee Richardson) (26/10/2008)

Does anyone know much about what I believe was called Preston Church of England Primary School at the bottom of North Road in Preston Village, opposite Preston Drove. It is the gothic looking building that has now been converted into cottages. I live in one and was curious about the history and when it was built.

By Caroline Hartley (13/11/2008)

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