Free schools – the Warwickshire way

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Community support

Nine mums whose children go to The Priors School in Warwickshire recently completed the Lyke Wake Walk, a gruelling 42-mile hike across the North York Moors, in 18 hours. The £5000 they raised in sponsorship will help to pay the running costs at the small primary school that needs £140,000 a year just to stay open.

Fundraising has become a way of life for parents in the village of Priors Marston since Warwickshire Council decided to close their school 14 years ago. Priors Marston C of E School was built in 1847 and given in trust by the great-grandfather of Earl Spencer ‘for the free education of the poor and working class children of the village.’ Education is still free but no longer provided by the local authority. Two months after closing, in July 1996, Priors Marston primary reopened as an independent school with charitable status, thanks to the efforts of the local community, who have played a huge part in its success ever since.