Foreword by Mrs Helen Millward, Head of Steephill School 

Steephill School was founded in 1935, during a time of great social and political change in Britain. But even in those uncertain days between the two world wars, Miss Bignold and Mrs Francis had the vision and courage to establish a school that placed children at its heart. 

With just a handful of pupils and a belief in high expectations, warmth, and personalised care, Miss Bignold and Mrs Francis laid the foundation for a school that would thrive for generations. 

Miss Bignold, in particular, served as the school’s long-standing headmistress. Her influence was profound. She believed deeply in both traditional academic values and in nurturing the whole child. Many past pupils still remember her strong presence, high standards, and a quiet but unshakable belief in every child’s potential. 

Miss Bignold’s legacy is one that we continue to honour today. 

As Headteacher, I am incredibly proud of the direction Steephill is taking. We are building on the strong foundations of the past, but we are also moving forward with clarity and purpose. Our values guide everything we do, from classroom practice to playground friendships, from our curriculum to our community spirit. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to our wonderful board of governors. Your commitment to the school – your wisdom, your support, and your proactive role in helping us flourish – does not go unnoticed. We are incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated Governing Body. 

Thank you all again for your continued support – whether you are a parent who drops off each morning, a former pupil remembering your school days fondly, a past teacher who gave so much, or one of our governors helping to shape our future, you are all part of the Steephill story. 

Steephill School is more than a building. It is a unique place of care, curiosity, community, and character. What we have here is something incredibly special and I look forward with great hope and determination to guiding the school into its next chapter. Here’s to the past 90 years and to an exciting, inspiring future. 

 

Miss Eileen Bignold  

Born on 21st July 1909, Miss Bignold was one of three daughters to Herbert and Edith Bignold.  After attending St Bede’s School, she left the UK for the continent (aged 18) to become a governess, first to two sisters in France and then to two brothers in Spain.  This was around the same time that her family moved to ‘Steep Hill’, as the house was known then, from Dover.  Sadly, eight years after the family moved here, Miss Bignold’s father was involved in a serious accident, which required Miss Bignold to return from Spain to help look after her family. He passed away 2 years later.  

Our school began in 1935, when Miss Bignold opened the doors of her home to two neighbouring children.  At the time the children were being tutored by Mrs Isabel Francis at her home on Castle Hill, when the two ladies decided to join forces and open a school at Steephill.  They were soon joined by 8 other local children and Miss Bignold and Mrs Francis shared the teaching.  

 

 

1930s, 1940s and World War II  

At the outbreak of World War II, numbers had grown to 12 children.  Although the house had an Anderson shelter in the garden it was unfortunately too small to shelter that many children and adults safely, so lessons (mornings only) had to be transferred to another location in the village for a time.  Mr Ball from Hartley offered the use of a room at his house to Miss Bignold as he had a large shelter in his garden. This was recalled by former pupil, John A White, in his article ‘A Wartime Memoir of Steephill’.  

‘When I first visited Miss Bignold’s at the age of four in 1939, it was a strange house with lots of strange people and noise.  So I screamed and screamed, and it’s a wonder she ever accepted me.  There was a long gap before I actually started, and then it wasn’t at Steephill proper, but at the Ball’s house just off the Ash Road.  This must have been before the Blitz started, because lessons were later interrupted by trips downstairs into the earth, into a tunnel-like room, while the planes did their dogfights above.’  

As war continued to rage, parents approached Miss Bignold about providing a full day of schooling with school dinners.  Not wanting to impose on Mr Ball any longer, lessons were transferred back to Steephill with parents accepting the limited air-raid precautions!  With the offer of a full days provision, the number of local children grew and they were then joined by an allocation of evacuees from London.  One of Miss Bignold’s fondest memories from the time was of an evacuee called Willie: 

‘He came down with a party from London under the care of his own teacher.  Willie stayed at Steephill but had to walk to the village hall every day for lessons.  One day, his mother came to take him away, annoyed that he was wearing his shoe leather out too quickly walking to school!’ 

Miss Bignold was paid 10 shillings and six pence for full board, lodging and private tuition for each evacuee.  They boarded in the room that is now our school library, however due to the proximity of Biggin Hill airfield to the school, it wasn’t long before this part of Kent was deemed unsafe and the evacuees were sent to safer areas.  

In 1941 tragedy struck the family again, Miss Bignold’s sister Gladys sadly passed away.  

  

 

Wartime Duties  

As well as educating and caring for the children, Miss Bignold spent her nights working for the air raid precaution at nearby Horton Kirby.  She drove a ‘sitting case’ car, taking victims of the air raids who were well enough to ‘sit up’ to first aid posts.  John White remembers:  

‘Miss Bignold was so important that she was allowed to drive a car!  It was black and the headlights had black fronts with hooded slots in them, so she could see where she was going in the dark, but the bombers couldn’t see her.’  

From 1942 to 1946, Mrs Francis was drafted to work on local farms under the ‘Government Powers of Conscription’, which were extended to include married women.  All ladies had to do war work if they didn’t have children of their own to look after.  

 Miss Bignold and Mrs Francis endeavoured to create a haven for the children in their care at Steephill, sheltering them as much as possible from the realities of war.  

‘Thinking back, I marvel at how the adults protected us from the horror of war,’ wrote John White in his memoir.    

There was no electricity at the school and meals were cooked on oil stoves, Miss Bignold was famous for her sausages! Classroom lighting was provided by huge oil lamps. Despite the practical complications of war, lessons including, scripture, history, geography, arithmetic, writing, handwork and singing continued.    

 

 

 

 

Steephill report cards from 1941/42 belonging to Mr John White.  The report cards, including comments on handiwork and neatness. 

 

 

Mr Martin White’s school report, note comments for domestic duties and table manners. 

Community  

Miss Bignold’s love for the local community also led her to be very active in community life.  She enjoyed a long relationship with St Mary’s Church and the Rector, Canon Ford, was a close personal friend who conducted all of Steephill’s church services and was a frequent visitor to the school. 

In addition to running the school and contributing to the war effort, Miss Bignold also:  

• Taught Sunday School in the village with an attendance of over 40 children.  She loved taking the children on trips and they enjoyed many happy visits to the seaside and surrounding areas.  Sadly, the war finally put a stop to the Sunday school and it was eventually replaced by ‘Children’s Services’.    

• She was appointed Clerk to the Fawkham Parish Council in May 1940, a position she would hold for a total of 33 years.    

• She was also involved with the 1st Fawkham and Ash Guides and Brownies, which thrived under her leadership, until Fawkham’s remote location combined with wartime blackouts made it difficult for girls to attend meetings in the village.  

• Provided care and gave employment to local young adults with additional needs. 

Miss Bignold was an extraordinary woman.  

 

 

1950s 

In the years after the war had ended, Steephill continued to thrive with the number of children in attendance growing. Simon Hicks remembers: 

‘I attended Steephill School in 1949 as, would you believe it, a boarder at 3 and a half years old on a three bunk bedding system.  About 8 to 10 boarded upstairs.  I left Steephill in 1953 the Coronation year.’ 

Often there was a waiting list for those wishing to board at Steephill. Some ‘day’ students would also board at weekends or when their carers went on holiday or away for business. 

Christopher Proudfoot remembers electricity being installed at the school in 1952: 

‘I joined Steephill early in 1952, when I would have been just five; my earlies memories are that electricity was at the time being brought into the building for the very first time, and that we heard the radio commentary of George VI’s funeral...’ 

Andrew White who attended the school from Easter 1950 to Summer 1953 recalls: 

‘I remember with affection many of the activities in which we children took part.  There was playing in the sandpit, where you had to be careful if the rusting remains of a sheet of corrugated iron, probably from a wartime Anderson shelter.  On the edge of the sandpit, I remember a pile of birch tree logs, with which we fashioned castle walls and battlements.  There was a lawn at the back of the house, where much running took place during the breaks.  I remember a ‘sports day’ there, when Miss Bignold awarded me, I think, no less than ten penny pieces, for success in my races.’ 

Ann White attended the school from 1954 to 1960 and remembers the teachers from the time: 

‘The teachers I recall apart from Miss Bignold (founder and class 3 teacher) and Auntie Francis (Class 2, next to the kitchen), were Mrs Scarrott (Class Lower 1, to the right of the front door) and Mrs Garwood (Class Upper 1) who taught in a new porta-cabin between the backdoor and the rabbit hutches at the bottom of the steps up to the lawn/playground.’ 

All the children referred to Mrs Francis as ‘Auntie Francis’.  Mrs Bignold who had remained living at Steephill passed away aged 93 in 1955. 

 

 

 

 

Photos and information kindly provided by Ms Ann White. 

 

 

 

 

1960s 

As news spread about the school or ‘Miss Bignold’s’ as it was often referred to, the number of children increased.  The idyllic rural setting, home from home feel and fantastic education provided at Steephill, meant that by the early 1960s numbers had grown to 90 children aged 3 to 11.  

Please see the delightful advertisement in the ‘Independent School of Kent’ published in 1963. 

 

 

 

 

1970s 

At the start of the 1970s numbers had fallen slightly, and this was in part due to the introduction of a three-tier education system adopted by Kent County Council.  Instead of the traditional primary and secondary education, schools would now be run on a ‘first’, ‘middle’ and ‘upper’ system.  This meant that Steephill could only take on students up to the age of 9 with a number of students transferring to Kings at Rochester or Sevenoaks Prep to complete their education. 

In 1973 Miss Bignold was interviewed by a local newspaper.  The headline being ‘Shy School Mistress – One of the Old School.’ 

In 1977, Steephill no longer accepted children as boarders. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1980s 

In 1985, Miss Bignold and Steephill celebrated its Golden Jubilee.  Mr Gerald Cramp, whose children Edwina and Jane attended the school in the 1980’s and whose wife was a nursery assistant, teaching the ‘Tinies’ as the little ones were called, reported it was: 

‘A nice sunny day was the occasion when Steephill marked its 50th anniversary in July 1985.  There was a special thanksgiving service in St Mary’s church conducted by Canon Ford, followed by a garden party at which Miss Bignold was guest of honour’. 

At the time, the school had 90 children on roll. 

Those old enough will not forget the hurricane of 1987.  The school remained intact thankfully, though unfortunately the same could not be said of Mrs Higgs’ car! 

The End of an Era 

Sadly, Miss Bignold became seriously ill in 1989 and the decision was taken by her younger sister Leila Bailey to close the school.  Arrangements were made to keep the school open until the end of the next academic year, for parents to have time to find alternative school places for their children.  Mrs Yvonne Higgs continued as acting Headteacher but announced the school would close permanently in July 1990.   

Miss Bignold passed away on 27th August 1989 at The Livingstone Hospital in Dartford. 

We continue to remember and honour Miss Bignold by placing flowers on her grave at every school church service, a tradition started by Mrs Maureen Shepherd.  We also remember the beginnings of our school at our annual Founders and Leavers church service.  

 

 

 

The Fab Four 

The Fab Four came to the rescue of the school after the death of Miss Bignold when its closure seemed almost certain. 

The Fab Four were made up of Sandra Scotting, Doreen Page, Nicola Kiley and Vivienne Hyndman, four mums, who one day after dropping their children to school, gathered at the bottom of the drive and discussed what they could do to save the school. 

Doreen Page recalled, ‘I vividly remember the shock hearing the school was under genuine threat of closure.’   

“We felt we couldn’t let it close” said Nicola Kiley to a local newspaper. “The atmosphere is wonderful.  It is very homely and with such small class sizes the children get all the attention they need.” 

Sandra and Nicola arranged to meet with Edward Oatley, Headmaster of Sevenoaks Prep school and a long time friend and supporter of Miss Bignold and Steephill.  He suggested they try and save Steephill by forming a Charitable Trust to buy it.  Sandra and Nicola remember Edward stating: 

‘Steephill had too important a place in the education system in our part of Kent to let it close.’ 

Sandra then contacted Mr Pike (a local solicitor) who advised the ladies on the best way to purchase the school as an Educational Trust.  A committee was set up in the name of ‘S.O.S.S – Save our Steephill School’- and the initial stages of their enquiries were funded by donations from parents keen to keep the school open.  

The four ladies then began approaching local banks to secure a mortgage to buy Steephill from Miss Bignold’s sister.  Most of the banks wrongly assumed they were being approached by four women about a loan for a knitting circle or to open a craft shop!  Fortunately, the manager of the Dartford branch of the Co-op bank listened with interest and instead of turning them away, advised them to put together a business plan for him to consider.   

Sandra Scotting remembers, ‘We left the bank not having the faintest idea what a business plan was, but we soon found out!’ 

The ladies set about researching all the information they would need to include, and after many late nights, produced a respectable plan, bound in a flashy blue folder.  It worked! The mortgage was approved and they could move on with the process of buying the school.   

Steephill School Educational Trust exchanged contracts in May 1990 and the initial Board of Governors were selected: 

Edward Oatley – Chairman 

Jenny Smith-Spark – Secretary 

Sandra Scotting – Parent 

Nicola Kiley – Parent 

Doreen Page – Parent 

Vivienne Hyndman – Parent and Chartered Accountant 

Ron Bailey – Sevenoaks District Councillor 

Steephill – A New Beginning 

Fundraising by way of sponsored events and promise auctions took place in June 1990, ready for funds to be in place once completion of the sale took place in July.   Two of our current governors, Dawn and Peter Bramell who were new parents at the time took part in the London to Brighton cycle ride in support of the school and then took over the running of FOSS. 

A letter was sent to all supporters of the school asking for help by way of donations of goods, materials and services and work began in earnest, to get the school ready for the start of the academic year 1990. 

 

 

Jenny Smith-Spark, 1990 – 1996 

In 1990, having previously been a parent at Steephill, FOSS committee member and having years of teaching experience.  Jenny was invited to become Headteacher of the newly re-opened Steephill.  She was keen to continue the cherished and nurturing ethos of Miss Bignold, that her children had enjoyed. Edward Oatley wrote in his memories: 

‘We knew we had the right person to take over from Miss Bignold, someone who was passionate in continuing to run the school in just the same way.  She knew many of the children and their families whch made for a brilliant start and we couldn’t have wished for a better person to take the school forward and cement the whole handover.’ 

In reality, Jenny took on a school with limited funds and resources.  No school or pupil records (or textbooks!) had been left in place and Jenny had to start from scratch.  Thankfully with a loyal team of teachers and with the help and support of The Fab Four and other parents, who did all the cleaning, cooking, accounts and administration in the early days.  Doreen Page even took the children to Cobham Hall to teach them swimming with the minibus being driven by Mrs McMahon’s husband!  As the numbers on roll increased and when funds allowed, improvements were made to the school and grounds.  

New houses were set up in in the names of Bignold, Francis and Ford in honour of the early days and a new FOSS committee was formed to fundraise for the benefit of the pupils.  

Jenny remembers how Miss Bignold managed all repairs to the school on a shoestring budget, helped by local trades who respected her dedication to the school.  It is worth mentioning here that Jenny was lucky to have Mr Ed Thomas, a local builder, on call.  After retiring, he adopted Steephill as his special project.  The children loved him and treated him like a grandad.   

Jenny retired from Steephill in 1996, with the school well established as an independent educational trust and with a very good Ofsted rating, and returned to her state sector special needs work. 

We are very fortunate to still have Jenny Smith-Spark as a serving member of the Board of Governors. 

 

 

Linda Bramley, 1996-1999 

In 1996, Jenny handed the reigns over to Linda Bramley, her very capable Deputy Head.  Linda had by that time been at the school for 6 years and Deputy Head for 2 years, and she had big plans for the school whilst maintaining the traditional teaching and nurturing environment.   

A compulsory school uniform was introduced, which is very similar to the uniform worn by students today.   

The school field was acquired from a local landowner and increased the outside space available to the pupils.   

By 1997, there were 80 children on roll and plans were in place to increase the leaving age of children to 11, in line with Kent Councils change back to a 2-tier system.  To accommodate the anticipated rise in numbers, portacabins were situated in the school grounds to provide additional classroom space and the shed that was once home to Upper 1 was repurposed as Mr Ed’s workshop and relocated in the orchard.  In addition, plans were submitted to build a permanent annexe that would house a school assembly hall/dining hall, kitchen, office and an extra classroom.  The new annexe was named The Bignold Wing, and was officially opened on 24th June 1998 by the Board of Governors with Mr Joe Price the architect and Terry Thomas as the builder (mr. Ed’s son). 

We are delighted in this our 90th year to reinstate the original brass plaque and rededicate the building to Miss Bignold. 

Linda stepped down from her role as Headteacher in 1999, but continued to be a class teacher at the school.  Linda continues to support the school to this day.  We all look forward to seeing her on Thursday mornings when she comes to school to read with the lower school children.  In addition, she still teaches classes from time to time and is a regular helper on school trips.  We are very lucky to have her. 

 

 

Peter Stradling, 1999 – 2000 

Peter was appointed Headteacher in 1999 and remained in post for 1 year before moving on to new opportunities. 

Caroline Birtwell, 2000 – 2019 

Caroline took over from Peter and led Steephill for 19 successful years.  During this time, Steephill joined the Independent Schools Association (ISA), had a new netball court built, was remodelled and extended to create four new classrooms and an ICT suite.  The sensory garden was created in 2012, and Forest school was introduced in 2016, located next to the orchard in the top right corner of the school grounds. 

The school successfully passed its ISI compliance inspection in 2016 and was rated ‘excellent’ in its ISI inspection just before Caroline retired in 2019. 

 

John Abbott, 2019 – 2024 

John was appointed as the successor to Caroline in September 2019 and had some big shoes to fill.  With only a few months to settle into the role and learn Steephill ways and routines, the world turned upside down and history was made.  The Covid 19 pandemic shook the whole world and Steephill was not exempt.   

In March 2020 we closed our doors to pupils and parents and learning moved online.  Teachers remained at home, logging in to Teams and connecting with their classes throughout the day for online lessons, storytime and catching up.  Mr Abbott’s weekly celebration assembly was recorded and sent to all pupils.  Some members of staff remained at school, supervising and educating the children of keyworkers.  When restrictions began to be lifted, some of the classes returned to school albeit in ‘bubbles’.  The school building, toilets and grounds had to be segregated to ensure bubbles did not mix.  Staff had to test for covid daily and report results to Senior Leadership.  It was some time before school life could return to normal. 

During the summer of 2021, major works took place with the demolition of the old art/science block.  A new modular building with 2 new classrooms and facilities took its place, with Mr Fuller and Mrs Tucker overseeing the construction during the summer holidays.  In September 2021 Reception and Class 1 moved into their wonderful new classrooms.  The building was named The Oatley Building in recognition of the huge contribution Edward Oatley has made to Steephill. 

The official opening of The Oatley Building (September 2021) 

FOSS – Friends of Steephill School  

FOSS was first established in 1984 with Mrs Yvonne Higgs as Chairman.  Miss Bignold recognised the kindness of a group of parents she referred to as ‘Friends of Steephill’ in a letter dated April 1987: 

‘I enclose a copy of a letter the Friends of Steephill sent to our present mums and dads which will show you how kind they have been to me – no more frozen toilets even in the really cold spell in the winter when we were snowed in and many parents came and dug us out!’ 

Today, we are fortunate to still have a dedicated team of parent and staff volunteers, who together with the support of parents and carers from across the school, fundraise to provide fantastic opportunities for our children.  In the process, we celebrate our wonderfully diverse school community. 

All money raised by FOSS is spent directly on the children and the installation of the amazing new play equipment in the orchard was only possible because of their efforts. 

FOSS hosts many fundraising events throughout the school year including Christmas parties, Christmas, Mother’s day and Father’s day fayres, Easter egg hunts, Summer camp out, the summer fete, important events within our community such as Black History Month, Diwali, Christmas, Easter and Eid. 

 

 

  

 

Steephill Celebrates 90 Years! 

In July of 2025, we celebrated our 90th birthday.  After months of planning involving staff, children and parents, Mrs Brimsted and the wonderful FOSS team brought the whole school together for a memorable celebration on the school field.   

 

The rain cleared just in time and the sun shone as we celebrated this landmark moment in our school’s history.  It was a wonderful celebration, full of nostalgia.  Past pupils and staff reconnected and marvelled at both the changes and constants from over the decades. Pupils performed, speeches were made and lots of fun was had.  It was incredibly special. 

 

In addition to the fun and frivolity, we took the opportunity to extend our thanks to our wonderful board of governors. Their commitment to the school – their wisdom, their support, and their proactive role in helping us flourish – does not go unnoticed. We are incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated Governing Body. 

In honour of our founders – Mrs Scotting, Mrs Page and Miss Smith-Spark – We were delighted to officially name three of our key spaces after them: 

• The Scotting Library – a peaceful space that inspires a love of reading, learning, and reflection. 

• The Smith-Spark Music Room – where children can express themselves and grow in confidence through sound and creativity. 

• The Page Science and Art/DT Room  – a place where children will explore, invent, create, and discover. 

These dedications are a tribute to the legacy of those who have invested so much into the school and a promise to honour their vision in the years to come. 

It also seemed like the perfect opportunity to reinstate ‘The Bignold Wing’ plaque that had once been displayed inside the school hall, dedicating the building to our founder.  The plaque is now proudly displayed outside the hall doors and we were delighted that Miss Smith-Spark, Mrs Bramley, Mrs Page and Mrs Scotting could join Mrs Millward in its re-dedication.  

 

Some photos from the day... 

 

And finally, the school wished to have a permanent reminder of this wonderful occasion, so we came together, staff and pupils to decorate tiles and create the most wonderful wall collage commemorating this event in our school’s history.