Great Amwell School is a Church of England, Voluntary Aided, Primary School. This means that the school is one of hundreds such schools through England that were founded by the church to provide an education for boys and girls within a Christian framework and with a Christian ethos. The Diocese of St Albans continues to provide support to the school both with advice and some limited funding.
The school was founded in the middle of the nineteenth century in a one-classroom building, with a thatched roof. Following the passing of the 1944 Education Act, the parish decided to continue to be responsible for the school - hence its "Aided" status. In the 1960's the school moved from its original premises, some two hundred and fifty yards, to its present site off Hillside Lane. Since those days the school has been extended on two occasions and now has five classrooms and able to accommodate 150 children of primary school age (4+ - 11+).
The school serves the Parish of Great Amwell with St. Margaret's, within the united benefice that also includes the Parish of St Andrew's, Stanstead Abbotts. Priority for admission is given to children living within the parish but others are admitted according to the guidelines laid down by the Diocese and Hertfordshire County Council - the Local Education Authority.
The school has a governing body composed of representatives of the Diocese, the Parish and representatives of the staff and the parents.
The Governors are urgently exploring the possibility of providing an enlarged assembly hall - the present one was designed to satisfy the needs of the original school roll of less than 100 pupils. An "Extension Appeal" has already been launched with a target of financing the Governor's share (15%) of the estimated total cost of £150,000. The remainder of the cost could, if approved, be financed by central government and the diocese.
Donations from Trust Funds and individuals would be much appreciated.
Contact: Bernard Murphy, Chairman of Governors, St John's School, Great Amwell, Hillside Lane, Great Amwell, Ware, Herts, SG12 9SG.