Embedded Files
Our school flag was designed by the pupils of Bluecoat Primary School as part of the 2015 Parliament Flag Project. Run by Parliament in collaboration with artist Jonathan Parsons, the project invited schools from across the UK to collaboratively create a shared picture of democracy by designing a flag for a unique digital exhibition.
Our Rich History: Bluecoat CoE School
Our school’s roots trace back over 500 years, growing through centuries of community generosity, innovation and dedicated education in Torrington. The journey began in the late 15th century when a school was established at the old castle site under Margaret Beaufort, Lord of the Manor. Over the following centuries, local education evolved through various forms, operating as a grammar school for the sons of burgesses under Edward VI and holding classes in the Oak room behind the Town Hall. Generous local figures shaped its trajectory; in 1671, John Lovering provided funding for a school serving Torrington, Weare Giffard and Huntshaw, leading local children to walk along what became known as "School Lane". Later, in 1709, Lord of the Manor Dennys Rolle funded a school in Well Street, specifically designating money for coats and caps that gave rise to the iconic "Blue Coat" tradition.
As the town grew throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, so did its educational spaces. A schoolroom for girls was added to the castle school in 1786, and by 1834 the school supported 22 boys. While a large building designed for 300 pupils opened between Well Street and Calf Street in 1835, it closed shortly after in 1838. A major turning point occurred in 1850 when the Castle School at Barley Grove and the Blue Coat School merged into a unified 'National School' under the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. The former castle site building was refitted and enlarged to create a publicly accessible Church of England school for the entire community.
The standard for modern education in the area took shape in the late 19th century. Properties were sold in 1873 to fund the creation of the Board School in Whites Lane, which became Torrington's main primary school in 1875. This site served generations of local children until the early 2000s, when a brand-new, modern school facility was built out of town, allowing the historic Whites Lane site to be converted into housing while our proud legacy continues onward.
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