EDUCATION.
The history of Steyning grammar
school from 1614 to 1907 has been recounted elsewhere. (fn. 3) The school seems to have existed before
1614. Five schoolmasters were mentioned in the
parish between 1579 and 1607, (fn. 4) and the first
master of the grammar school after its endowment
in 1614 had been licensed to teach in Steyning in
1609. (fn. 5) Part of the endowment of the grammar
school, including its building, had belonged to the
brotherhood of the Holy Trinity before 1548, (fn. 6) and
the school may be a continuation of one run by
that body. From 1912 the school was assisted by the
county council, (fn. 7) and after 1944 it became a voluntary controlled school. Large additions were made
in 1912, including a science laboratory, an art room,
a workshop, a library, and a music room. (fn. 8) The
number of pupils rose from fewer than 50 in 1914
to 133 in 1921 (fn. 9) and 365 (including 93 boarders) in
1958. At the latter date there was no girls' grammar
school nearer than Worthing or Horsham. (fn. 10)
The original school building in Church Street
consists of two identical three-bay timber-framed
ranges probably dating from the 15th century. Each
range has a continuous jetty and a large first-floor
room with crown-post roof. The central brick porch
is dated 1614, but was altered in the 19th century.
The building is cased with brick below and hung
tiles above, the original upper-floor windows having
been removed and dormer windows added. (fn. 11)
Other schools existing in the town before 1800
were a short-lived boarding school in the 1660s
kept by a dissenter and patronized by the Fagg
family of Wiston, (fn. 12) and a school for young children
in 1775 run by a Mr. Baker. (fn. 13) A dame school for
poor children existed in the 1780s and in 1820, the
mistress receiving 2s. a week from the overseers. (fn. 14)
Steyning National school was established in
1812. (fn. 15) In 1818, when it had 74 pupils, (fn. 16) it may
have occupied the schoolroom mentioned as being
in High Street opposite the White Horse inn. (fn. 17) It
was then supported by subscriptions, (fn. 18) but by 1833
fees of 1d. a week were also payable. (fn. 19) A new school
in Church Street was built with a building grant in
1841. (fn. 20) The building, with a cement-rendered
Gothic faôade, survived in 1976. In 1846-7 116
children attended on weekdays; there were separate
schoolrooms for boys and girls, and besides a paid
master and mistress there were several unpaid
teachers. (fn. 21) In 1856 the school was receiving an
annual grant. (fn. 22) A new school and a teacher's house
were built c. 1858 on a new site east of Church
Street. (fn. 23) Average attendance in 1893 was 177. (fn. 24)
Steyning Infant (National Society) school was
established in 1846 in a building belonging to the
vicar at the south-eastern end of High Street. (fn. 25) In
1855 it was supported by subscriptions and fees
of 1d. a week; average attendance was 45. (fn. 26) The
schoolroom was enlarged in 1872, but average
attendance had dropped to 12 by 1874. A new
building was built in 1883 next to the National
school; there were 92 children on the roll in 1887,
when the school was receiving an annual grant. (fn. 27)
In 1914 average attendance was 50. (fn. 28) In 1919 the
two schools were amalgamated as Steyning C. of E.
School. (fn. 29) Average attendance in 1932 was 211. (fn. 30) A
new building on the northern outskirts of the town
was opened in 1963, (fn. 31) the old buildings being
absorbed by the grammar school and afterwards
demolished. There were c. 430 children on the roll
in 1976. (fn. 32)
Numerous other schools were recorded in the
town during the 19th century. In 1818, besides the
National school, there were a day-school attended
by 28 boys and girls, and 7 dame schools accommodating 116 children under seven. (fn. 33) In 1833 there
were 6 day-schools besides the National school,
attended by 153 children in all, and one boys'
boarding school with 23 pupils. (fn. 34) A dissenting
school was attended by c. 15 to 20 children in 1850. (fn. 35)
There were four elementary schools besides the
National school in 1871, with at least 88 pupils. (fn. 36)
Other private schools existed in the town in the
19th and 20th centuries; (fn. 37) most were short-lived,
presumably because of the prestige of the grammar
school. (fn. 38)
There was a short-lived evening-school attended
by c. 40 boys in the 1870s. (fn. 39) Steyning County
Secondary Modern School on the northern outskirts of the town was opened in 1953 to accommodate nearly 400 pupils and to be a cultural
centre for the town. (fn. 40) In 1958 there were c. 450
children at the school. (fn. 41) In 1968 it was amalgamated
with the grammar school as a co-educational comprehensive school called Steyning grammar school. (fn. 42)
In 1976 there were 1,830 pupils, (fn. 43) the old grammar school buildings accommodating the lower forms.
Under a scheme of 1958 the old endowments of
the grammar school, which in 1966 produced c.
£130 a year, were to be used to provide educational
benefits supplementary to those provided by the
education authority, and grants for further education or training. (fn. 44)