At first the School was run without a government grant, and was funded by the Vicar and monies from the 1803 bequest of the Rev. John Wells, together with donations and the penny fees of pupils. 

By 1875 it became clear that voluntary efforts alone could not suffice and government assistance was applied for. From then on the School was subject to Government Inspection and the Log Books and Accounts kept since then give us a fairly detailed picture of the activities of the School during the past 120 years. Compulsory attendance at school did not come until the Education Acts of 1876 and 1880, but even then many children attended irregularly.

In 1879 the School House was built for the Head Teacher, at a cost of £300, paid for by the Vicar and other subscribers. The longest serving Head Teacher was John Prickett, who was appointed in 1883 at the age of 21 and remained until his retirement in 1919.