21st March 1811 – 25th April 1891

A priest in the Church of England, Nathaniel Woodard founded an incredible 11 schools for the middle classes in England during his lifetime. His aim was to provide an education with a fundamental foundation based on “sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith”.

In his lifetime, he was surrounded by and shocked by social conflict, poverty, deprivation and lack of aspiration in a chaotic society and he set out to try and transform this situation. He firmly believed that education was the only way to aid this transformation and began his life long work of founding schools. In 1870, he was made Canon of Manchester Cathedral in recognition of his efforts and received a generous stipend with this position. He used the majority of this towards funding the building of his schools.

Today, Woodard Schools form the largest group of independent Church of England schools in England and Wales and as part of the Woodard Corporation, strive to promote Nathaniel Woodard’s educational principles.

His first school, Lancing College was founded in1848 and his tomb is in the College Chapel. 2011 will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of this remarkable, educational visionary.

2011 will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of this remarkable, educational visionary.