Sparkwell All Saints Primary School opened its doors in September 2013 as a Free School (after the original Victorian village school had been closed in the 1980s), set up by a committed group of prospective parents and members of the local community. The school is not a church school, but retained the name from the original school adjacent to All Saints Church.
The original village school building first opened as a school in 1850 and also served as a chapel. The adjoining All Saints church was built in 1859 and from that point the building was used as a school. Sadly, due to declining numbers over a number of years, Devon County Council closed the school in 2009.
The Book of Sparkwell (2001, by Pam James ISBN 1841141127, currently out of print) has some great stories from the past including children taking packed lunches wrapped in cabbage leaves and electricity arriving at the school in 1937. We would love to hear any more memories from anyone who attended the school!
Due to the hard work of a group of parents and villagers, the life of the school continues since it re-opened as a Free School in 2013. There is a new build that opened in January 2016 on land behind the Parish Hall, the photos below show the build in progress. The Victorian building is owned by the Church and will continue to be used for educational purposes in the community.
Until August 2023 the Primary school was a single Free School, that is not attached to a chain of other free schools or academies, then after a period of consultation from August 2023 it joined the Link Academy Trust.
The Book of Sparkwell (2001, by Pam James ISBN 1841141127, currently out of print) has some great stories from the past including children taking packed lunches wrapped in cabbage leaves and electricity arriving at the school in 1937. We would love to hear any more memories from anyone who attended the school!
Due to the hard work of a group of parents and villagers, the life of the school continues since it re-opened as a Free School in 2013. There is a new build that opened in January 2016 on land behind the Parish Hall, the photos below show the build in progress. The Victorian building is owned by the Church and will continue to be used for educational purposes in the community.
Until August 2023 the Primary school was a single Free School, that is not attached to a chain of other free schools or academies, then after a period of consultation from August 2023 it joined the Link Academy Trust.
A school photo from 1914, taken at the original school next to the Church.