The Education Act of 1870 required the Township to further enlarge its school accommodation, the "sufficient amount of accommodation in public elementary schools available for all the children" being interpreted by the Department to mean "room for one-sixth of the whole population, with 80 cubic feet for each child, and 8 square feet in the main room and class-rooms."
A public meeting was accordingly called for Oct. 25th, 1870, "to consider what arrangements will be required for the Parish under the new Education Act, in order to supply sufficient school accommodation, and to prevent the expenses of the Schools being added to the Rates." The meeting was very largely attended, and all the principal ratepayers were present. Mr. Walker, of Kexborough, proposed and Mr. Henry Child, of Holling Royd, seconded a resolution, which was carried unanimously, "That a new Elementary Boys' School for one hundred and forty boys be built in Cawthorne, and that application be at once made to the Education Department for a grant in aid of the building." Mr. Terry, of Norcroft, proposed and Mr. Thomas Armitage, of Deakin Brook, seconded a further resolution, which was also carried unanimously, "That a rate of fivepence in the pound be made towards the cost of the building, to be collected along with the next Poor Rate, and that this meeting pledge themselves to pay this rate when levied." On the motion of Mr. Sidney Silverwood, of Raw Royd, seconded by Mr. John Stones, of Barnby Hall, Mr. W. S. Stanhope and Mr. Benjamin Swift were entrusted with the building of the said School. A large number of ratepayers offered so many days' carting of materials.
The site, containing 1860 square yards, was given by Mr. John Spencer Stanhope, and was conveyed "unto the Minister and Churchwardens of the Parish, to hold the same upon Trust for a School for the education of children and adults, or children only, of the labouring, manufacturing, and other classes in the Parish of Cawthorne, and for no other purpose, such School always to be in 'union with and conducted according to the principles of the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church,' the principal officiating Minister for the time being having the superintendence of the
