Introduction

From 1827 to late 2015, Welney had its own junior school, first a temporary arrangement in the old CofE Chapel (see map on right, site in churchyard marked with cross), then in 1848 in a new building erected off the High Road, now Main Street, (the A1101) opposite the Lamb & Flag.

The photo below taken in June 2005 is a rear view looking east; the school is the T-shaped group of buildings in the bottom-right quarter of the photo.

The grey-tiled part was the old Shool House where the headmaster and his family lived. Access to the blue school gates is via a slip road off Main Street then a short section of Meadow Lane.

In the Begining

The school owed its existence to Welney's greatest benefactor, William Marshall. His story, and that of the charity he created more than 340 years ago, is told elsewhere on this web site (see links page bottom right). His connection with the school goes back only 200 years though, to 1805 when the then Trustees of the Charity wanted to establish a school. To do so they had to apply to the Court of Chancery for permission to change the use of some of the income from the land William Marshall bequeathed. The process lasted 14 years until 1819 when a revised scheme was finally approved allowing surplus funds from some of the charitable works to be invested until sufficient to establish a "Free School" for the children of Welney.

By 1827 enough money had been accumulated to establish a school, but not sufficient to acquire land or erect a building. The school therefore began in the vestry of the (then) C of E Chapel which was to the south-east of the current Church, the area where memorials are laid for those cremated. By 1843 the funds had increased to an extent that the Trustees were able to commission plans to build a school and schoolmaster's house. They were greatly helped by another benefactor, the Rev. William Gale Townley, Rector of Upwell-with-Welney, who donated land for the school (and also for a new Chapel and Almshouses, described elsewhere). In 1844 John C. Buckler was appointed Architect and he prepared designs and estimated the cost would be £710. In 1847 the project was approved by the Court of Chancery, tenders for the works were sought, and Jeremiah Andrews was awarded the contract. Construction began that same year, and the rector's wife Mrs W.G.Townley laid the cornerstone. The buildings were completed a year later in 1848 at a cost of nearly double the original estimate.

The Buildings

The school buildings and playground occupied just under half an acre. They remained essentially the 1848 construction throughout its time as a school - but with modern improvements such as electric lighting in 1951, a kitchen in 1953, and in 1970, new floors, a false ceiling and fluorescent lighting. In 1971 the old coke-fired boiler was replaced by an oil-fired one, and in 1973 indoor toilets were provided.

In about 2002 the school house was converted into an extension of the school, again with the help of Marshall's Charity. The ground floor of the old school house was used for 5 half-day sessions per week by the Welney Cygnets (later disbanded) and by the school the rest of the time.

The school was well equipped with musical facilities and IT was embraced – it had ts own website, partly written and maintained by pupils, and this site provided a link to it rather than copyng and duplicating the staff and activities described so unable to post details.

Playing Field

Just under an acre of the field beyond the school rear perimeter wall was acquired in 1977 by Marshall's Charity for use as a school playing field.

Pupil numbers

The catchment area varied during its life. Sometimes it included Lakes End, other times excluding it. Likewise the Hundred Foot Bank. Also took in the Norfolk part of Tipps End. Over the years, pupil numbers ranged from 25 to 120.

year	enrolled	reason
1875	90
1878	102
1890	12
1912	104	average attendance only 94
1920s	75
1927	118	Mission Sch 100 Ft Bank closed, pupils transferred to Welney
1935	107
1938	64	100 Ft Bank children transferred to Ten Mile Bank Sch
1939	46	children over age 11 sent to newly opened Upwell High Sch
1948	34
1976	26
1977	52	Lakes End Sch closed, 26 pupils transferred to Welney
1985	48
1990s	c25	remained open due to continued Marshall's Charity support
2000	31
2005	37
2008	36
2011	32
2012	29
2013	19
2014	24	21 from the catchment, 3 from outside. A further 7 eligible went elsewhere
2015	22	6 due to leave, 4 to start. NCC considered only 20 not viable; remaining pupils transferred to Upwell, bus provided
2016	0	school closed.
2017		building and site sold to private investors.

Headteachers

The school has had some long-serving schoolmasters, remembered for very different reasons.

The record belongs to Walter Bearcock with 38 years from 1883 to 1919, a much disliked and feared master.
Charles Ray served 25 years from 1925 to 1948 (and was apparently in the Welney Home Guard, possibly as a Captain, and Welney Civil Defence unit in WW2).
Bryan Turner's 28 years from 1957 to 1985 are very fondly remembered by several generations of current Welneyites. He was very popular, and became involved in virtually all aspects of life in Welney, - see link at bottom right.

From 2004 the school shared a headteacher with Upwell Community Primary School. There is however a full-time 'teacher-in-charge' (assistant head), Miss Lynne Radford, also since 2004.

In 2010 there were also a full-time and a part-time teacher and 4 teaching assistants.

HEADTEACHERS

1827-1833	unknown
1833-1858	Mr Christopher Green
1858- ?	Mr Henry Perkins
1875-1878	Mr John R Sharman
1879-1883	Mr William Gleave
1883-1919	Mr Walter Bearcock
1919-1921	several temporaries
1921-1925	Mr Bertam Topham
1925-1948	Mr Charles Ray
1948-1957	Mr Charles Brotherton
1957-1985	Mr Bryan Turner
1985-1987	Mr John Van Dyke (acting)
1987-2002	Mrs Jasmine Golson
2002-2004	Mr Mike Coates (LEA)
2004-200?	Mrs Fiona Rickard
200?-2010	Mrs Lyn Chatwin
2010-	To be announced

FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOL

Chair	Miss Heidi Cowles
Treasurer	Jo Reader

Friends and Governors

The school was fortunate to have not only the benefit of finance from Marshall's Charity for major capital projects, but also an active Friends of the School group which stages interesting and entertaining events that also raise funds for smaller works and equipment. (March 2011 update: The Friends sadly closed down) The school was governed under the the terms of an order by Norfolk County Council on 7th April 2006, by a Board of Governors comprising nine members: 3 parent governors, 1 LEA governor, 2 staff governors, 1 community governor, and 2 foundation governors.

Foundation governors were appointed by the Ely Diocesan Board of Education and Training. The rector of St Mary’s Welney was a foundation governor ex-officio; but if unable or unwilling to serve or if there was a vacancy in the office, a substitute could be appointed by the Archdeacon.


BOARD OF GOVERNORS Jan 2010

Chair & LEA gov'r	Dr Susan Dobson
Vice-chair & foundation gov'r	Mrs Moss-Eccardt
teacher-gov'r	Miss Lynne Radford
community gov'r	Mr Peter Wood
foundation gov'r	Mrs K. Bone
parent gov'r	Mrs Claire Freer
parent gov'r	Mrs T. Christon
parent gov'r	Mrs K. Hopkin
Clerk	Mrs A. Pollard

August 2010 - Mrs Moss Eccardt has decided to stand down.

School ethos: Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level.

The school's aim was to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encouraged an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promoted Christian values through the experience it offered to all its pupils.




In 1998 the school celebrated the 150th anniversary of the building with a big party. Our then MP, Mrs Gillian Shephard, was guest-of-honour, and unveiled the new school sign on the front of the building (left and right).
Mrs Shephard also toured the school, speaking to staff, parents and pupils, and cut the celebratory cake.

The new sign said the school was founded in 1848, the year the building was erected, but the records suggest the foundation was actually in 1827 as decribed above.

The school had a variety of names, including Welney Mixed School and Welney Old School. In 1969 the name officially adopted was The William Marshall School, Welney. That too changed, the name on the new sign being William Marshall Primary School. Various abbreviations have been incorporated - CE or C of E (i.e. Church of England) and VC (i.e.Voluntary Controlled). However, William Marshall's name remained foremost.
 
The old sign, right, was retained on the front gate and was used as the logo on the school's own official website except the background colour was blue not green.


the old school sign on the front gate. The school building is still essentially the 1848 construction - but with modern improvements! Electric lighting was installed in 1951, a kitchen added in 1953 and in 1970 new floors, a false ceiling and fluorescent lighting were installed. In 1971 the old coke-fired boiler was replaced by an oil-fired one, and in 1973 indoor toilets were provided.

In 2002 (?) the school house was converted into an extension of the school, again with the help of Marshall's Charity. The ground floor of the old school house was used for 5 half-day sessions per week by the Welney Cygnets (later disbanded) and by the school the rest of the time.

The school was well equipped with IT and musical facilities. Read more about todays school, the staff and activities, at the school's own website.

In the spring of 2015, the threat of closure of the school by Norfolk CC surprised and shocked parents, the Welney Parish Counci and many residents. See link on right for a very detailed report for and against the proposal.

Despite the protests, the school closed at the end of 2015 and the children transferred to Upwell.

In 2017 William Marshall Charity sold the building and site and at the time of this update an application has been made to convert the premises to a Christian retreat. See Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council planning dept, ref: 17/00701/F.