Warren Farm School, Brighton

<p>For minutes of the Management Committee, 1936-1939 see R/S 17/10; for minutes of the Houses sub-committee (which succeeded the Management Committee), 1940-1948 see R/S 11/16; for minutes of the special (Warren Farm Schools) sub-committee, 1936-1939 see R/S 13/7-8; for minutes of the Warren Farm Schools Visiting committee, 1909-1930 see R/S 17/1-9; for reports of the Superintendent of the Warren Farm Schools to the Management Committee, 1930-1953 see R/S 20/1-3; for reports of the Superintendent of the Warren Farm Schools to the Farm and Gardens sub-committee, 1929-1942 see R/S 21/1; for reports of the Chaplain to the Warren Farm Schools, 1915-1949 see R/S 22/1-3; for admission and discharge registers, 1906-1952 see R/S 34/1-5; for creed registers, 1877-1951 see R/S 35/1-5; for baptism register, 1915-1929 see R/S 36/1; for registers of placement of children from the schools, 1891-1951 see R/S 37/1-3; for log book, 1934-1944 see R/S 39/1; for punishment book, 1913-1948 see R/S 40/1; for Official Visitors' book, 1933-1952 see R/S 42/1; for a copy of a report by the Borough Waterworks Engineer concerning the excessive consumption of water at the schools, 1932 and correspondence with the Secretary to the Education Committee concerning remedial works, 1941 see R/S 48/2; for file of general correspondence, 1937-1944 see R/S 48/3; for file concerning the reduction in staff at the school on the war-time evacuation of many of the children, 1941 see R/S 48/4; for correspondence concerning the loan to local organisations of the school's band instruments which had been put into store on the school's evacuation, 1941-1947 see R/S 48/6; for lists of children baptised at the school, 1918-1929 see PAR 466/2/2; for plans of the infirmary, receiving homes, block and drainage, 1911 see DB/D 56/799G/1-3; for plan of four cottages at the school, 1906 see DB/D 56/799A/1; for file concerning the Civil Defence Headquarters at the school and plans for the conversion into a Roman Catholic Secondary Modern School, 1936-1964 see DB/A 1/118; for papers concerning the school, 1875-1908 see BRD 8/23/1-14</p>

Before 1933, approved schools were called reformatories or industrial schools depending on the age of the inmates. Industrial schools (for children under 14) and reformatories (for children aged 14 to 18) were set up following the Youthful Offenders Act 1854, and the work of industrial schools was further defined in the Industrial Schools Acts of 1857 and 1866. Industrial Schools were established 'for the better training of poor and neglected children' who were 'in danger of becoming criminals' (Industrial Schools Act 1866). Children were housed, fed, clothed, educated to an elementary level, and given some industrial or agricultural training

Many of the schools relied upon voluntary committees and private benevolence. They received per capita grants from the State for children committed by magistrates. In 1860, following an amendment to the Industrial Schools Act 1857, the Home Office assumed responsibility for the supervision of the running of the schools, and provided some financial assistance. Reformatories and industrial schools were renamed approved schools by the Children's Acts of 1932 and 1933

The Warren Farm Industrial Schools were built for the Board of Guardians at Woodingdean in 1862 at which children received practical training for a trade. Many of the children were evacuated during the Second World War. After this institution was closed in the early 1950s the buildings were used by St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Secondary School (E/SC/204). The school was closed in 1988 and the site was sold to The Nuffield Hospital Group in November 1993