A warm welcome to you! I am delighted that you are visiting our website and hope you discover something about the heart of this school. The school is buzzing with success every day. From the children as they go about their task of learning and exploring and the enthusiasm and commitment of all the staff as they deliver an inspiring curriculum. Every individual in the school makes a wonderful contribution to its high standards, achievements and efficiency. It is the team work that moves the school forward and I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to lead such a highly motivated team. The school is at the centre of the community; many local people came to the school and choose to send their own children here. The whole community working together is very powerful and benefits our children as they mature into responsible citizens of the future. It is with great anticipation that all at the school look forward to the next stage of our journey together. If you require any information about the school, or would like to visit us, please contact us by telephone on 01453 810254 or email at admin@berkeley.gloucs.sch.uk.

The school was originally established on Canonbury Street, adjacent to Berkeley Castle. It was built in 1861 and known as the Fizharding School. In 1872 it was said to have 14 boys, 93 girls and 60 infants. In 1920 attendance had increased; 153 boys, 184 girls and 90 infants. During the 1960’s, the construction of the Nuclear Power station had led to an increase in the local population, and consequently the number of children on the school roll. The school building at this time housed eight classes and in 1964, with the headmaster, Mr L. A. Heaven, moved to new premises. Today Berkeley Primary School can be found on Marybrook Street. Originally, the Edwardian building, which was built in 1910, was the local Secondary Modern School. For those who attended the school during the 1950’s may recall that bee keeping was on the curriculum! The school also kept pigs! The Pig Club taught the children husbandry. The pigs were fed with pig meal as well waste from the school canteen. The reward at the end of the school year was the slaughter of one of the pigs and the joints and offal from the animal shared amongst the members of the Pig Club. During the 1950’s the nominated sport for boys in the school was rugby; this was quite unusual as all other schools locally played football. Consequently away, inter-school rugby matches occurred some distance away at Bristol or Gloucester. The school’s preferred sport was to the advantage of one of its pupils, David Davis. David was a talented rugby player and was chosen to play for his country later in life. The Berkeley Secondary Modern School continued until the new Comprehensive School was built at Wanswell. It was not until September 1964 that the school became the Primary School when the original school transferred here from Canonbury Street; the headmaster at this time Leslie Heaven. The school bell which was first installed in 1910 in its tower on the gable end of the main school building is still present today. The bell  has remained  a symbol of our school heritage since its installation one hundred years ago.   If you would like to know more about the school’s history and other fascinating information about the people and development of Berkeley, then David Tandy’s book, “Berkeley – A town in the marshes” would be of interest to you.