School History

As a result of the 1870 Education Act. The school site was kindly gifted in trust by Thomas Cubitt for the education of children. Thomas Cubitt was a British master builder, notable for his employment in developing many of the historic streets and squares of London, especially in Belgravia, Pimlico and Bloomsbury.

As a result of local fundraising the school was built and St John’s School was opened in October 1871. The original school building was designed by an architect, Mr Woodthorpe, and built by Mr Birch.  It was 43 feet long by 18 feet wide and was built of local stone, with brick and Bath stone dressings, having an open roof stained and varnished.  The cost of the erection – about £500 – was chiefly defrayed by voluntary contributions. 

The Surrey Advertiser of 21 October 1871 reported about the opening of the school at Churt. 

“There was a harvest festival service at the church in the morning, luncheon at the vicarage for the dignitaries attending the opening, and another service in the evening.  There were a lot of speeches, and a lot of toasting.  The next day, about sixty of the mothers, and those who had taken money boxes to collect for the school building fund, were entertained at tea in the new school room.”

A headmaster, Mr Phillips, was appointed and 48 pupils attended on the first day. The school is also fortunate to have been gifted a School House and a field for the benefit of the education of the children. The school may look small from the outside but is blessed with varied plots of land that enrich the children’s education.

We still have log books starting from 1871

St John’s continues today as an infant school catering for up to 90 pupils aged 4 to 7.