In the1841 census a John Clark, aged 20 gave his occupation as Schoolmaster. He was at that time living in Turvey with William Peat a butcher and his wife Isabella. It is not known where he taught.
William Lane in 1730, in addition to other benefits, left £10 per annum towards a free school. This was to assist the teaching of reading and writing to the children of Long Whatton, with the proviso that a schoolmaster, elected by the trustees should be given £10 per annum by the people of Long Whatton. If however the people of Long Whatton failed to give him this £10, then the bequest would go to Diseworth, for the education of its children. Unfortunately, in 1732 the people of long Whatton, declined the gift and the benefit reverted to Diseworth
The National School
The National School with the Headmaster's residence attached was opened by Edward Dawson in 1847. This was in anticipation of the Education Act, which ensured compulsory education for all children in 1870. The curriculum consisted of the usual reading, writing and arithmetic and also poetry, singing, drawing and for the girls, handicrafts. As a church school religion was compulsory. Pupils, attendance was often interrupted during the summer months and it was accepted that the children needed to work in the fields.
The School Records
These records were compiled, some time ago, by the kind permission of Mrs Sue Landon, the Head Teacher and have now been digitised. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may occur. All the registers were hand written in printed Registers. These are sometimes difficult to decipher.
The first Register is for boys from March 1864 to July 1881
The second register started for Girls in March 1868 and later included boys and girls to September 1882.
The third register is for boys and girls from October 1882 to April 1886
Parallel to the third register, a new register was started in June 1884 and continued through various registers until October 1919. Unlike the previous registers, the admission numbers are consistent and range from 200 through to 678
Teachers at National School
1851 Census:-Henry Cox, 22, National Schoolmaster, Maria Cox, 20, National Schoolmistress, Mary Groves, 32, Schoolmistress 1861 Census:-Alfred London, 20, Schoolmaster, Mary Bailey, 36, Schoolmistress, Tomas Pepper, 16, pupil teacher, Henry Waters, 16, pupil teacher 1871 Census:- Alfred Dawson, 24 School master, Myra Dawson, 25, Schoolmistress, Alfred Holmes, 17, School Teacher 1881 Census:- William Thorpe, 36, Certif 1882ied Schoolmaster, Eliza Emma Thorpe, 35, Certified Schoolmistress 1891 Census:- Thomas King Taylor, 26, Schoolmaster, Florence Mary Taylor, 26, Schoolmistress, Cecilia Jane Townley,18, Schoolmistress 1901 Census:- Alfred Hughes, 37, Schoolmaster, Jane Hughes, 30, Schoolmistress, Cecilia Townley, 28, Schoolmistress 1911 Census:- Alred Hughes, 47, Schoolmaster, Jane Hughes, 40, Schoolmistress, Jane Ethel Hughes, Teacher Assistant, Gertrude Pauline Pratt, 22, Teacher Assistant Selina Elizabeth Bates, 20, Certified Assistant Teacher