Our History

Banovallum School: A Short History

• The Wesleyans opened a day school, converted from a foundry, in 1860
• It moved to premises in Cagthorpe in 1905
• It was sold to Lindsey County Council in 1934, when it became Cagthorpe Council School
• Closed in 1937 and reopened as Horncastle Cagthorpe Senior Council School
• It became Horncastle Secondary Modern in 1946
• New buildings were opened in 1963 and the name again changed to Horncastle Banovallum Secondary School
• The first head was Mr Mark Forster, pictured with some of the staff

• This began a tradition of the family serving education in the Horncastle area – his son was Head of Sixth Form at QEGS for many years

Developments over the Years

• 1963 – School Opened
• 1971 – Guthlac House opened
• 2008 – CADT block opened & 2 new science labs were opened
• 2018 – Canteen enlarged & kitchen refurbished
• 2021 – Science Labs refurbished
• 2023 – DofE Hub opened

Banovallum was the vision and drive of one man -
Alderman Tom Scholey

• Campaigned for the building of the school before the war
• Served as Chair of Governors
• One of his proudest achievements was Banovallum
• Another was bringing piped fresh water to Horncastle as part of his role on the council
• Awarded the CBE in 1970
  
  

We believe the values of Banovallum today are similar to those mentioned in the Earl of Ancaster’s speech on opening the school:

“There are other qualities we must not overlook… These were the very necessary qualities of character, loyalty, integrity and kindliness towards fellow men.”