History

Braywood CE First School was built in 1857 by a wealthy couple called Jean Van De Weyer, the Belgian Minister to the English Court and his wife Elizabeth. They built a grand house, a church and a small school on their estate.

The original concept was to build a school which serves both as a place of public worship and as a place to educate the working class. At this time the school educated children from 4 to 11 years old and had 140 children on role. The Headmaster resided in the front part of the school and there was a service held in the chapel at weekends. In the past the Headteacher’s were strict disciplinarians. There are still a lot of the original features left and the school has warmth, charm and character; a very inspiring place to teach and to learn.