2026 marks 100 years since Rose Street Primary School was first
opened in 1926. The school has changed and developed a lot over
the years. As it stands today, it is a two-form entry Primary school
with over 400 pupils. It is now part of Sheerness West Federation
along with Westminster Primary School.
🌟 Rose Street Primary School – 100 Years of History
1926 – Rose Street opens its doors: Rose Street County Primary
School opened on 30 August 1926, with Miss Winnifred Wood as
Headmistress and seven assistant teachers.
Built on a rubbish dump! The school was built on a former
rubbish dump and over the Fleet, an underground river. Staff
and children worked together to clear the site, finding everything
from broken china to old pots and pans.
A school that kept growing: By 1951, there were 270 pupils on roll,
with all eight classrooms being housed in the original main
building.
500+ pupils: As the local population grew, two additional
classroom huts were built in 1953 and 1954. At the time, Rose
Street had an incredible 500+ pupils on roll!
A changing school: By 1976, pupil numbers had fallen to around
170, following the opening of Westminster County Primary School
and changes to the middle-school system.
The Rose Street spirit: Throughout its history, Rose Street has
been described as having a happy, family atmosphere, with a
positive “can-do” attitude and a determination to make the best
of every situation.
A lasting legacy
Perhaps the most important highlight is that the values described in
1976 — a happy spirit, a family atmosphere and a positive, can-do
attitude — remain at the heart of Rose Street today.