History of Gunthorpe C of E
In 1883, an education enquiry recorded that there were two schools in Gunthorpe, one of which was a Sunday school offering free education to children from poorer families. In 1833, 51 children were enrolled. The other of these schools was a fee paying day school which had 18 children attending. We cannot be sure of the location of either of these schools. Many children from Gunthorpe would have gone to Lowdham School, which opened in 1843.
In 1873, Gunthorpe Church of England School was opened by the riverside in the building we now know as Tom Browns Restaurant. The school was brand new, having been purpose build using a grant from a Church of England organisation thanks to support from the Rev J H Browne who was the vicar at Lowdham. From 1873 until the 1950’s children would have stayed at Gunthorpe School until they were school leaving age, which would have differed from family to family depending on work opportunities available. When Toothill secondary school opened in 1957 many of the older children would have moved on aged 11, with Gunthorpe then becoming a primary school.
By the early 1970’s Gunthorpe’s school building was deemed no longer fit for purpose and not worth the investment it would require to return it to an adequate standard. Due to the low numbers on role the Southwell Diocesan board and the Notts Education Authority were reluctant to fund a new school for the village. However following much determination and persuasion from the Headteacher, the vicar and the Parish Council the new school opened on Davids Lane in 1974.
Gunthorpe Church of England Primary School, situated on Davids Lane has just celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary with an open event welcoming back families, staff and volunteers who have been involved with the school over the years. Some of the wonderful archive material was displayed, which dates back to 1896, this includes a register and Head Teachers log book, along with many more recent photographs from the 1980’s onwards. Two families are able to document at least five generations of their family line having attended the school.
Today Gunthorpe School is part of the Aspire Academy Trust and takes children aged from 3 years old until the age of 11. Gunthorpe remains a small school with a family feel with strong links to the local community.
Information gathered from ‘View’s of Gunthorpe’ by Julie O’Neil