SCHOOL
There were no schools in the parish in 1807 and
1818 although at the latter date the rector,
P. Budworth, was helping to maintain a
private school in Moreton, to which presumably he sent High Laver children. (fn. 6) By 1828 a day
school in union with the National Society had been
established. In that year it had 30 pupils, (fn. 7) but attendance declined until in 1832 it seems to have been
closed. (fn. 8) In 1833 there was only a private school in
the parish, founded in 1832. It had 40 pupils and
further accommodation was available at a dame school
in Matching, which some 30 High Laver children
attended in 1839. (fn. 9) In 1833, however, the Sunday
school was refounded in High Laver and by 1846-7
this had apparently led to the setting up of a day school,
under the Diocesan Board, with 27 pupils and a
further 7 on Sundays. The schoolmistress was paid
£16 a year. (fn. 10) This school had ceased by 1865 when
there was only an inefficient dame school in the parish. (fn. 11)
In about 1865 the rector, with the support of the
largest landowner (J. W. Perry Watlington) and other
churchmen, established a Building Committee to collect subscriptions for a new school for High and Little
Laver, with a teacher's residence of six rooms attached.
The school, with accommodation for about 75 children,
was built in 1866 at Matching Green at a cost of £668,
of which the Treasury contributed £143 15s., the
Diocesan Board £35, the National Society £37, and
subscribers the rest. (fn. 12) It was placed in union with the
National Society and was managed by the rector and
churchwardens. (fn. 13) In 1870 there were 75 pupils at the
school and 25 infants in an unsuitable room nearby.
In 1871 an infants' classroom was built with the help
of £24 from the Treasury, £10 from the Diocesan
Board, £5 from the National Society, and some local
subscriptions. (fn. 14) In 1872 the Education Department
said that the accommodation was sufficient for the
parish. (fn. 15) Attendance increased considerably in the
next eight years and the annual grant rose from £26
in 1872 to £58 in 1880. (fn. 16) In 1899, when there was
accommodation for 132 pupils, there was an average
attendance of 95 and a grant of £85 was received. (fn. 17)
In 1900 about 58 people were subscribing money for
the school. (fn. 18) Attendance, however, was falling as the
population of the parish declined. In 1904 there were
84 pupils and 3 teachers. (fn. 19)
By the Education Act of 1902 the school passed
under the administration of the Essex Education Committee as a non-provided school. The average attendance fell to 76 in 1914 and 57 in 1938. In 1939 the
school was reorganized for mixed juniors and infants. (fn. 20)
In May 1952 there were 2 teachers and 44 pupils. (fn. 21)
The school is a single-story red-brick building. On
the front is a combined chimney and bell-cote.
Magdalen Laver school, which is situated a little to
the south-west of Tilegate Green just within the
southern boundary of High Laver, is attended by
children from this part of the parish as well as by those
from Magdalen Laver (q.v.).
CHARITY. For Bell Acre charity see above, Church.