Private Schools in Bourne

There are no private schools operating in the urban area of Bourne today but this was not always so. Prior to the Education Act of 1870, which provided for elementary schools to be built and run by the state, private schools thrived in Bourne although the life of many was short-lived. But there was an obvious demand for this type of education, particularly for girls whose parents sought the teaching of certain subjects required in their training to become acceptable young ladies. Instruction was therefore given in such matters as social accomplishments, a subject that was not on the curriculum at the National School, the only other available to them because the grammar school was restricted to boys only.

Local records show that in 1810, two sisters, the Misses Munton, ran a boarding school in the town and in 1819 there was another such establishment for young ladies in West Street. A Miss Dewey was running a boarding and day school in 1832 and by 1857, there were four private schools in the town, the most prominent being one which operated from the Red Hall and the principal of this distinguished boarding school for ladies was Miss Eliza Wood. These establishments, or at least their proprietors, were of a transitory nature because a county directory published in 1861 also lists four private schools but none of the owners mentioned before reappear. All of the names were different while the school at the Red Hall had vanished altogether.

Nevertheless, private education remained a part of life in Bourne through into the 20th century and at the outbreak of the Second World War, Miss E Close was running her school for boys and girls from her home in Elm Terrace, one of a row of red brick houses just off North Road. Her establishment catered for about 35 children, from toddler age through to 14, with a staff of three. The standard of teaching was extremely high and many pupils left to continue their education at Bourne Grammar School, which was by now admitting girls, while others left to go out to work. A recollection of Miss Close and her small school can be found in the article An Alien in the Classroom that has been included in Memories of Times Past.

Miss Close continued in business throughout the war years but closed soon afterwards. It was the last private school in Bourne but by then, the town was being served by three other state schools spanning the entire age groups for both primary and secondary education that has been built on since to the system that we have today.

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