School History
Lubenham All Saints Primary School is located on School Lane. It is a Victorian building, opened as Lubenham National School in 1858 with the aid of a parliamentary building grant and with voluntary subscriptions collected by the vicar, H.E Bullivant. A Schoolmaster's house was also built. This new school replaced the Parish School that had been based in the church. Records show that the average attendance rose from 71 in 1871 to 113 in 1906.

In 1924 it was decided to teach only children under 9 years of age and to send older children to Market Harborough.

In 1945 Lubenham (C of E) School accepted 'controlled' status under the local authority.

The school house is now incorporated into the school building which maintains many original features and is set within extensive grounds. The school prides itself on the excellent achievement of its pupils, the dedication of the staff and the support of the parents, governors and wider community.

The School expanded in 1964 when Theddingworth School closed an pupils were bussed from Theddingworth to Lubenham school.

A new infant classroom and entrance area was added in 1972.

With the increase in numbers the small hall was converted into a class for Reception children in 2000.

The school field adjoins the building, as does a playground area including a pond and wild life area for environmental studies.
More History of education in Lubenham

The 'Parish School' based in the church vestry seems to have been supported by voluntary contributions and had two separate departments. The north chapel of the church was a schoolroom for the boys and the girls were taught elsewhere in the village. The parish school was open to children from neighbouring villages if their parents paid 1shilling a week. Records show that in 1819 there were 70 boys and 36 girls in attendance. In 1815 the trustees of Alderman Newton's charity in Leicester, wishing to dispose of excess profits, began to make an annual payment of £26 to the parish of Lubenham for educating and clothing boys at the school.This charity still remains to benefit the villages young people.

Historical documents refer to another school in Lubenham, 'The Private Academy of Thomas Eldridge'. This was opened in 1832. In 1835 there were 3 boys and 7 girls on roll.

School Memories
Reading the report on Lubenham School in the April Newsletter, I found myself looking back to my schooldays in the 1930s. How times have changed!

The school had a good name even in those days before the war, when we had just two teachers - Miss Batty, who lived in the village, and Miss Jesson, who lived at Gumley.

The house to the right of the school clock had at one time been the headmaster's, but during my time there it was let to Jack Smith.

Miss Jesson was a real character and a very tough lady. During the summer months she would ride to school on her 'sit up and beg' bicycle; but when the snow came in winter she would trudge through it, well covered against the elements and armed with her walking stick. We seemed to have lots of snow in those days, yet I don't recall Miss Jesson ever being off sick. I don't know what her age was at the time, but she seemed old.

She was so knowledgeable about nature, birds in particular. I think that, although she had a very loud, shrill voice which could be heard way up School Lane during lessons, we were all fond of her.

Our days would always start with assembly: hymns and a prayer. Miss Batty played the piano and Glad that I Live am I seems to stick in my mind as a favourite. Sometimes the Rev. Graham Dilley would come to take prayers and sometimes, on special days such as Ascension Day, we would all go to Church. I recall going to the funeral of a lady who I think was one of the school governors.

In school we sat two to a desk with a lift-up lid in which we kept our books and things and in the top there was, of course, the ink well for use with school pens.

We had school milk delivered daily one-third pint bottles with cardboard tops and a little punch-out hole in the middle for a straw to drink with. In winter we often had to stand the bottles on 'the pipes' to thaw out, but it never tasted very nice after this.

Everyone walked to school for a nine o'clock start and home again for lunch at 12 midday until 1.30 p.m. There was no dining room then and only the children of two families, I believe, stayed because they lived far away. Afternoon school finished, I think, at 3.45 p.m., when we would all walk home at a very leisurely pace.

Margaret Bale