Page 7 - Natioinal School

The National School Redditch Heritage

The National School Redditch

By tradition, the churches were responsible for education so that most schools were built by the
churches or chapels. In Victorian times there was often bitterness and rivalry between the
nonconformists, the Church of England and the Catholics. Consequently, there was tremendous
competition between the denominations to raise funds and build schools.

The Church of England formed the Anglican National Society and built the so-called National Schools'
across England. In 1844 Rev G F Fessey. vicar of St Stephen's, Reditch wrote to the National Society,
saying: 'The Wesleyans, always a powerful sect in this place, though now, I am happy to say.
somewhat declining, are using every means to anticipate us in the establishment of one (a school).'

There were also Board schools which were interdenominational and run by a Board of Governors,
elected by the ratepayers. These were not popular with any denomination because they were
expensive and, they said, Christian teaching could not be guaranteed. At first, there was probably only
one Board School in Redditch and that was on the junction of Ipsley Street and West Street, and only
catered for children up to the age of seven or eight.

As the 1800s progressed there was an ever-increasing interest in education. Schoolrooms were
added to, or converted from, existing church buildings. Rev Fessey's new National school was opened
in 1846.

The National School Championed by the Rev Fessey

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