Schools

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The story of universal education in the Parish was begun by the Rev Henry Burvill Rashleigh during the mid-1850s. At this time there existed only the Dame School, which stood on the site of what is what is now Bexley Cottages in The Street and it catered for only a limited number of pupils.

Dame School in The Street, Horton Kirby
Horton Kirby National School and the schoolhouse in School Lane were opened in 1857 and served both communities. By 1894 some 204 children were on the school roll (the Education Act of 1870 having made school attendance compulsory with its obvious effect on numbers). "The Master", as the headteacher liked to be called, at this time was Mr Kemp. It was he who taught the older children of Standards 4, 5, 6 and 7 and, together with his wife, who took Standard 1, ran the school for over 30 years.

South School, School Lane, Horton Kirby, designed by Edward Cresy

Gross overcrowding, led in 1897, to the opening of what was to become known as "The Little School", or Horton Kirby Primary School (North) in Horton Road. The building, clearly showing a date of 1894, was originally built as a hall (or parish room) and cottage.

Circumstances must have altered quite dramatically for a change of use so soon. This school initially housed infants, up to seven to eight years of age, whereupon they transferred to the "old" South building in School Lane.

Little School, Horton Road, South Darenth

Between 1914 and 1918 both North and South Schools were affected by the War. Children were prepared for air raids and some boys were absent helping the police watch telegraph wires on the London Road. The land opposite the South School was secured in order to produce more food, in accordance with government instructions, and the "upper children" cleared and worked the land with help from local gardeners. During October 1917 "an air raid on Tuesday lowered the attendance"

1924 saw the introduction of The Hortonian, the school magazine started to raise money for the school. Early volumes contain fascinating articles and snippets of information including the names of the school houses (Clive, Drake, Nelson and Wellington). Competition was strong to be top house and points were awarded not only for academic achievement but also for punctuality and conduct.

1965 saw a major change in the Parish's schools when the new school was built on the Vineyard Field, Horton Road. Initially this was a Junior school only with four classrooms, the Little School continuing to house the Infants and by 1970 all primary pupils were taught in the new school.

The school role in 2001 is 292.

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