About our school

Spinning Infant School has a long and interesting history.

Newcomers to Ramsey are often puzzled, intrigued and amused by the name of the school now occupying the attractive 1901 building at the corner of the High Street and School Lane - usually referred to as ‘Spinning Infants’. To local people, however, the name is as much a part of the town as the clock in Great Whyte and the gatehouse of the old Abbey.

The origin of the name goes back into history. Nearly three hundred years ago John Dryden, a relative of the seventeenth century poet, left a bequest of £100 to Ramsey for charitable purposes, in a will dated 2nd January 1707. The bequest was laid out in the purchase of ten and half acres of land, the rent of which was used to provide the salary of a schoolmistress to teach a number of poor girls to read, knit, and spin. The Spinning School was established on Church Green and the building still remains. In 1831, the Spinning School had fifty pupils and the schoolmistress received £25 a year from the charity, together with the profits of the girl’s work.

When the school was transferred to Station Road, and more recently to High Street, the old name was retained. The original Trust Fund still exists, and annually benefits not only the Spinning School, but also other youth organisations in the town.

Our building has recently benefited from an extension in the shape of a purpose-built wing for the Under Fives and a large school Library replacing mobile buildings and out-dated accommodation. We have a school field, a ‘wild’ area, a pond and a play area. Our library is well stocked with updated fiction and non-fiction and children use the library frequently for both class and small group activities.

Our school provides a good range of comprehensive resources to enhance teaching and promote learning.

Where to find us

The school day