A brief History of the School at Scarning

In 1604 a local farmer, William Seckar, left his house and land to his wife Alice for so long as she should survive but that upon her death the income from the estate shall be used for "the maintenance of one free school, to be kept for ever in the said house, while the world endure, in Scarning."

Following William's death on 1st November 1604, Alice married again on 3rd December 1604. Alas this second husband succumbed on 6th December 1608. Alice duly married for the third time on 7th January 1609. This husband died in 1622 and Alice did not find another. She died in 1638 but there were delays and litigation over the construction of the school but it was now eventually opened in 1645 to general rejoicing.

By 1700 the school master was teaching the sons of the yeomen and farmers many of whom boarded at the school. These boys were kept separate from the sons of labourers so that the poor scholars did not contaminate the wealthier pupils. The labourers' sons were taught by the usher who taught them reading, writing and arithmetic during the day. In the evening the usher looked after the master's boarders who came to the school from all parts of Norfolk and Suffolk. Among these were the grandsons of Roger North of Rougham, one of whom set the school-house on fire, twice!

In 1800 the Schoolmaster, Mr Priest, had attracted a large number of day-boys to the school because there was no room for them to board. These boys come to school on dickies (donkeys) which were turned out for the day on to Podmoor. The mischievous village boys took great delight in driving the dickies a mile or two to Daffy Green so that the young gents had to chase and catch their dickies before they could ride home.

Extract from White's Norfolk Directory of 1845

"The Free School was founded by William Seckar who endowed it in 1604, with about 86 acres of land, to which 16a 2r 3p was allotted at the enclosure in 1766. The master occupies the large house and garden, left by the founder, and also about 12a of the land. The other 90a are let for £164 a year, out of which the master receives a salary of £80, and £5 a year to provide stationery for the poor scholars.

The residue is applied as a fund for repairing the premises, and for providing for the arbitrary fines levied on the copyhold lands, on the admission of new trustees. The schoolmaster teaches reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography, without any charge, to all the children of the parish above the age of five years, who are sent to him, and has generally about 50 pupils."

The Trust established by William Seckar still continues as the Scarning School Endowed Charity. It is administered by a board of trustees who are co-opted because of their local knowledge or appointed by the Norfolk Education Committee, Scarning Parish Council and the Parish Church.

The trust's objectives are very similar to those of William Seckar - "for providing special benefits at the Charity's School .... and in promoting the education (including social and physical training) of persons under the age of 25 who or whose parents are resident in the area of benefit or who have at any time attended as a pupil at the Charity's school .... and who are in need of financial assistance ..... "

Over recent years the trust has made a major contribution towards the facilities at the school and the trustees are delighted to witness the school's growth and success. Whilst the emphasis is on providing help to the school so that all pupils can benefit, the trustees can also help individuals.

Applications should be made via the clerk to the trustees:
Mr D Humberston
Hood Vores & Allwood The Priory
Church Street Dereham
NR19 1DW
08453 724240

Sign at front of the school School field This is a view of the School from Rushmeadow Road which skirts the northern boundary of the Parish. This is one of the fields belonging to the Trust which provides a small income for the benefit of the school.

Scarning School Summer Fete

A BIG Thank you to all the parents/carers and staff that helped organise, set up, run a stall and help clear away, the fete was a great success. Even the rain stayed away. The Fete raised roughly £1200. Brilliant work everyone.

If you have any comments or suggestions for this page please e-mail Richard Allan at mail@scarning.info by clicking the logo below.

This view of the school is virtually unchanged since it was rebuilt in 1850.

This view of the school was taken in the 1980's. Today, as a result of recent extensions the school now has over two hundred pupils.

The School is part of the Dereham Cluster; which incorporates 17 schools within Dereham and the surrounding villages.

The cluster has been especially created by these schools to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Individually, schools can offer a limited range of services. Collectively, the cluster can offer full access to extended schools services. Together we are stronger and more supportive. Foor more information see www.derehamschools.org

For more information about the day to day business of the school see here School Website

How it looks today

School Cricket club Shield winners in 1922.

Tony Blades who now lives in Suffolk and was born in 1928 at Woodhill, Gressenhall has kindly given his permission for the following recollections of his time at Scarning School to be included here.

"At the age of 5yrs I started my education at Scarning School, I lived at Woodhill which meant about a 2 mile walk to school with my 10 yr old sister usually stopping to play in the stream at Podmore on the way. School dinners! there was no such thing,it was sandwiches which,regardless of weather had to be eaten in the playground. I can still remember that the head mistress was Mrs Grand who lived in the house attached to the school. One very vivid memory was of twins Olgar and Hubert. One sad day Olgar ran from behind the school bus to cross the road to school and although in 1933 there were very few cars on the road poor little Olgar ran accross at the wrong moment and died. So very sad for her little twin brother who was there at the time. I was only at this school for about a year then moved to Dereham.

I can still remember a silly little song we used to sing as kids.

Young folk old folk everybody come
Come and join our company and have a bit of fun
Bring a bit of chewing gum and stick it on the floor
For Scarning Fen, Daffy Green, Churchgate and Podmore.

That was all such a long time ago but still fresh in my mind. I moved to Dereham at the age of 6yrs and left when I married some 20 years later. It was a happy childhood in spite of the war years, in fact it added to the excitement of those years, dashing out to crashed planes, collecting shrapnel, army badges etc and of course the generous handouts from the American troops of chocolate, gum, cigs plus the grub when we went on to the bases at Shipdham and Wendling, bearing in mind that our food was rationed."

Mad Hatters Tea Party, This was the school's contribution to the 2010 Flower Festival held in the parish Church. pictures of other flower arrangements

Scarning Primary School

A brief History of the School at Scarning