Past & Present

Bucknall C.E. Junior and Infants’ School was a school located on Guy Street. It was built in 1868 and it opened in 1869. It was in use until 1975, when the school moved into the newly-built Marychurch C.E (C) Primary School on Piggott Grove.

This school-house replaced Bucknall National School, which was built in 1721, as the old school was believed to have been in a poor condition by the time it was reconstituted - resulting in this newer school being built in 1868. By 1871, it was eligible for teaching a variety of pupils: boys, girls and infants. It was reorganised in 1932 and became under a controlled status by 1953. [2] After a mere 2 decades and 2 years had passed, the school was closed after the new school building on Piggott Grove was completed. Pupils were told to grab their trays and items, and walk up to the new school on the day of its closure for learning - which was believed to have been on Monday 28th April 1975.

The new school on Piggott Grove was built to better-accomodate 240 pupils that were registered with Bucknall C.E. Junior and Infants’ School. Pupils previously had to travel to another city school for PE activities, but the construction of this new one-storey building with 7 classrooms included a spacious hall for PE to be held within the one school. The headteacher at the time, Mrs. Brenda Summers, stated in a local newspaper article: "The facilities in the new school are a great improvement from the old school. The children will be able to have PE activities in the hall and on a playing field which is due to be added.". [3] An adjoining all-weather pitch, known as Marychurch Playing Fields, was handed over to the school in 1976 and included a large football pitch with goal-posts on a pitch surface.

Bucknall C.E. Junior and Infants’ School was believed to have been renamed to Bucknall Language Centre shortly after its closure as a primary school, and had a short spell of alternative usage. However, it was later demolished in 1978. In June 1994, the land was earmarked for housing development when a planning application was submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for residential development. This planning application was approved in August 1994, but no development appeared to begin from this. [4] In October 1996, the land was earmarked for housing development again when a planning application was submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City Council to build a mix of 6 detached and semi-detached houses. This planning application was approved 1 month later, in November 1996. [5] After 1 day of the decision notice being given to build these houses, another planning application was submitted to build a further 2 semi-detached houses on the outskirts of the land on Pennell Street. This planning application was approved in February 1997, and all of the houses are now built. [6] Today, the former school site is now a mix of detached and semi-detached residential homes.