Pluckley Church of England Primary School

There's been a school here since the mid 1700s, but no-one is quite sure where! Some say it was an unheated room in the Rectory, others say it was next door to the butcher's shop.

Now, it's in a prime position opposite the church, where it's been since Sir Edward Dering gave the school the land in 1850, "to provide for the education of adults and children of the labouring, manufacturing and other poorer classes."

But there's nothing poor about Pluckley school. The Ofsted Inspector described it as “a secure, happy and harmonious learning environment ensuring that pupils feel very safe and greatly enjoy school".

When it began, there were 53 children on the school roll, and they had to pay threepence a week for the privilege. Lessons closed during August and September, so that children could help with the hop picking.

Quite a lot has changed at the school over the years. In 1891, the headmaster was castigated by the school board for administering over-zealous corporal punishment! He was told he could smack the boys, but couldn't hit the girls. Thankfully times have changed and the teachers no longer smack any of them!

Today, the school has 120 pupils, many who live locally. In 1994 the community raised over £90,000 to build three new classrooms, which were officially opened by HRH Duke of York.

Click here to view the school's website