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Village primary school celebrates 200th birthday

Alex Dunlop,in Norwichand
Neve Gordon-Farleigh
News imageMartin Giles/BBC Two rows of school children from Antingham and Southrepps Primary School standing outside their school on the playground. They are all wearing school uniform which consists of dark green jumpers and cardigans, some with white T-shirts. Most are smiling and looking at the camera with their arms in the air.Martin Giles/BBC
At its last Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school had more than 50 pupils in attendance

A primary school which has been attended by generations of families is celebrating its 200th year.

Antingham and Southrepps Primary School in Norfolk was built in 1826 by Lord Suffield who wanted to provide an education for the children of the workers on his estate.

At its last Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school which was rated good, had more than 50 pupils in attendance.

Sam Gowland, executive deputy headteacher, said: "It was built for the community and remains a pinnacle to the community and education for these children."

While the faces may have changed and the education system has come a long way in the past 200 years, the building remains the same.

News imageMartin Giles/BBC The outside of Antingham and Southrepps Primary School. In the picture the sun is shining down on the school and there is blue sky in the background. A concrete path leads across a lawn to a blue doorway.Martin Giles/BBC
Gowland said you could imagine pupils walking through the same door for the past 200 years

Gowland said reaching the milestone is a "massive deal" for the school.

She said: "The building remains in its original form and you think over the 200 years, the amount of children who have come through our doors and come through the same door as they did 200 years ago."

News imageMartin Giles/BBC Cliff and Lesley Sparrow looking at a board of black and white photographs. Cliff who is standing on the left is looking towards the board on the right. He is wearing a white checked shirt with a red lanyard round his neck. On the right is Lesley who is wearing a pink and blue patterned dress with a blue cardigan over the top. Martin Giles/BBC
Cliff and Lesley Sparrow attended the school at the same time

During its celebrations on Friday, the school welcomed past and present pupils and former headteachers.

Cliff and Lesley Sparrow have been married for 39 years and both attended the school at the same time.

They got together years later after Lesley returned to the village.

Lesley said: "It's just amazing it's been going this long.

"My grandfather was here, my mother and aunts and uncles came here.

"Cliff's grandfather was here - it's a long association."

News imageMartin Giles/BBC Margaret Dowland looking directly at the camera and smiling. She has short grey hair and is wearing a blue and orange patterned blouse. She is wearing a necklace and pair of glasses.Martin Giles/BBC
Margaret Dowland, who has written a book about the school, said Lord Suffield made education important

Among the guests was former school governor Margaret Dowland, who wrote a book about the school's "fascinating" history.

From research and going through the school's log books, she believes it is the fifth oldest school in Norfolk that is still functioning in its original building.

She said: "I think what he [Lord Suffield] did was fantastic. He made education important and made it so people wanted to come.

"When you look at this building it's so unique because it's not like other schools. It's big, it makes a statement that these children are important and education is important.

"[Lord Suffield] clearly believed in people, he was an anti-slavery campaigner, he was against capital punishment, he just invested in his workers and his worker's children."

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