EARLY HISTORY OF RUSPER PRIMARY SCHOOL
The school holds several original Headmaster's Log Books. These serve as a fascinating insight into the early history of the school, and aslo as a window into education and social attitudes over the last 150 years.
Rusper primary School was first opened in 1872 by Headmaster John Bullivant. The school served the village of Rusper and the framing community surrounding it. Many pupils were from farming families.
Throughout the remainder 19th Century and into the 20th Century the school was taught mainly by one or two masters/mistresses, with the help of carefully elected pupil monitors.
In the early days the school was organised as Infants (by age) and by standards 1-4 in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Pupils who were behind in the learning didn't progress beyond Infants or beyond each standard until they were ready to do so - regardless of age.
In addition to the three core elements, religious instruction, singing and PE featured in the curriculum. Girls were taught sewing, and boys were taught gardening and other handicrafts.
