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There was a school in Harlton at least 300 years ago, when the rector, Dr. Cooke, left a bequest of £100 to support the teacher.
Sadly this sum was embezzled by the trustees, and the poor got nothing.
Only when James Fendall became the Rector was a new school built. In 1838 the Charity Commissioners reported that Harlton had £35 a year from the will of Henry Fryer, half of which paid a schoolmaster, on condition that all children were instructed free. The other half provided coal for the poor. In 1852 the Revd. Fendall sought financial help from the National Schools Society and from Christ’s Hospital school to build a new village school.
At that time, 24 boys and 25 girls each paid 1d per week to attend. Rebuilding was estimated at £420. Fendall raised £130 locally, and more came from Jesus College, with £50 that he gave himself. The proposed new school was to be 30 feet long and 16 feet wide, for 80 children.
The National Society thought that this was far too small, and stipulated that their grant would come only if the room was made much larger.
The land was given by Jesus College. The opening was reported in the Cambridge Chronicle in November 1852, the building costing £480-3s-9d.
At the ceremony, those attending enjoyed ‘...an elegant cold collation.’
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