Towards the end of the 19th century, the Elementary School accomodation was poor and did not meet the needs of the children in the town. For this reason the first School Board for Newport Pagnell was elected on 2nd April 1894.

The new Board Schools buildings cost around £10,768. The official opening ceremony was on Tuesday November 10th 1896. Among those in attendance were:

Rev. C. M. Ottley, chairman of the first School Board of Newport Pagnell

E M Kenney Herbert, Esq. , Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools

Councillor Wilmer and Messrs Fred J. Taylor, Wm.Rogers Bull, W.R. Chantler, members of the School Board.

The schools were designed to accomodate 350 boys, 280 girls and 296 infants. The National School at Riverside and the British Schools were closed when the Board Schools were opened and the children were transfered to the Board Schools.

The Board Schools were originally built as three seperate buildings. The Boys Department was the largest building, situated at the High St. end. The Girls Department was the middle building, and the Infants Department was the smallest building at the far end.