Samuel Wilderspin (1791-1866), one of the founding fathers of modern schooling, had a profound impact on educational practice and the design and furnishing of schools and their grounds.

He specialised in the youngest age group, from 18 months to seven years, and was especially concerned with education for the poor. He became best known for his  pioneering work on infant schools, but his innovations gradually transformed schooling for children of all ages.

Wilderspin first developed the school playground and new ways of teaching that still continue today. His influence was international – as well as having a major impact in the British Isles, many of the first infant schools in Europe, the Commonwealth and the Americas were all modelled on his system.

After many years spent travelling and promoting infant schooling throughout Britain and Ireland, Wilderspin moved to Barton and created his own model Infant School at Queen Street.  He was the first superintendent of the Infant School, and taught here with his wife and daughter, as well as training teachers and nursery governesses, and using it as a base for his promotion of enlightened education throughout Britain.

The School on Queen Street

Built in 1844 and still remarkably complete, this grade II* listed former Church School is unique. Wilderspin had a worldwide impact, yet this is the only known survival of a Wilderspin school and playground. It is a Model School which Wilderspin himself helped design and equip, and where he worked for several years as a teacher and educational promoter.

The last Wilderspin school

It has been identified by English Heritage as ‘one of the most important schools in England’, firstly for its unique links with Wilderspin, and secondly for its importance as a design for other Victorian schools and a model example of an enlightened form of schooling that spread throughout the world.

This is the only place in the world where a Wilderspin school building and playground survive, making it a place of national and international importance.

Boys’ and Girls’ National Schools

Adjoining Wilderspin’s Infant School are the former Boys’ and Girls’ National Schools. The National Society (the ‘National Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church’ to give it its full name) was founded in 1811.  It promoted the development of Church of England schools known as “National Schools”. In most of them the monitorial system of teaching was used – older pupils helping to teach younger children.  Religious education was a key part of the curriculum.

How the School was Restored

Since its closure in 1978 the school’s condition had deteriorated. The situation had become especially serious in recent years, and the building had been identified as ’at risk’ by English Heritage and North Lincolnshire Council’s Conservation Section.

The restoration project, which followed previous unsuccessful attempts by various bodies to find a solution, combined heritage uses with community and business facilities in order to create a sustainable future for the historic building and playground.

An educational heritage centre celebrating the Wilderspin legacy including re-creations of schoolrooms and living history interpretations for the enjoyment and education of the local community and visitors from further afield.

Community facility including flexible spaces for rent or hire, educational activities and informal family learning. Visitor amenities including car parking, Wilderspin garden playground, shop and refreshments room.

The original Wilderspin playground, with its rotary swing, trees and flowers, has been reconstructed, whilst the restored school building houses reconstructions of the Wilderspin Infant Schoolroom and a Victorian Classroom, and support facilities including displays of educational history, along with multi-purpose community facilities and visitor services.

As well as providing an exciting and informative experience for visitors and tourists, the school is a centre for developing educational programmes and outreach for schools from the region and beyond. In heritage terms the school ranks as one of the prime educational heritage sites in the UK, and is linked with other leading sites in the UK and Europe. We are developing partnerships within the UK and abroad – especially with partners in Europe – drawing on educational heritage to inform current debates about schools and parenting, and to promote exchange of ideas, skills and practice in the care and development of the young.

Queen Street School Preservation Trust

The Queen Street School Preservation Trust was formed in 1993 by local people and organisations to safeguard the School from demolition.

In 1998 the Trust joined forces with other partners – Barton Civic Society, Barton Town Council, Barton Regeneration Partnership and North Lincolnshire Council – to make the Mission Statement a reality.

The Trust’s work has evolved and our Mission Statement is now:

1. To preserve and maintain the former National & Infants School and former Primitive Methodist Chapel, and re-use them for educational, heritage and community use
2. To celebrate the historic legacy of Samuel Wilderspin’s worldwide contribution to education
3. To maintain a museum comprising a collection of artefacts, images and documents for display and educational study purposes with links to Samuel Wilderspin and the National Schools in particular, and primary education in general, and with the architect Joseph Wright

The Musuem has been operating for ten years – and now includes the Joseph Wright Hall.

Here’s our plans for 2020-25:

http://www.wilderspinschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WNS-JWH-Business-Plan-2019-2024-website-version1.pdf