Founded in 1717 as the Saint Budeaux Foundation School, it is the oldest school in the area.[2][3] Indeed, the school's website considers it might be the oldest free school in Britain.[4] Originally for twelve children, in 1801 it was relocated to the Church Green poorhouse and in 1834 it became a national school, the Saint Budeaux National School, managed by the National Society for the Promotion of the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church.[3][5] In 1903 the School became a "non-provided" School under the 1902 Education Act, then becoming named the Saint Budeaux Church of England Elementary School.[6] Following the Education Act 1944 it became the Saint Budeaux Foundation Church of England Junior School.[7] A new building was provided in 1981 because the previous building was needing to be demolished due to road building.[8]
Previously a voluntary aided school administered by Plymouth City Council,[9] in July 2022 St Budeaux Foundation Church of England Junior School converted to academy status.[10] The school is now sponsored by The First Federation Trust,[11] but continues to be under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Exeter. In September 2023 the school extended its age range to 2 years old and was renamed St Budeaux Church of England Primary Academy.
^Bracken, Charles William (1931). A History of Plymouth and her Neighbours. Underhill Ltd. p. 177. Walton, Jack (1971). The Integrated Day in Theory and Practice. Ward Lock Educational. p. 39.
