1667

Founding of Read School by Charles Reade

Charles Reade, baptised in 1604, is the Founder of Read School. in 1633 Charles Read entered Gray's Inn London to study law, and 1666 saw the return of Charles to Drax Village. Charles set up the school to facilitate boys from poor families to be able to "read, write and cast accounts" and to teach them "Latin, Greek and Hebrew and other languages as occasion should require.

1699

Election of New Trust Association

1812

Charity Commssioners to enlarge School

With the school booming and pupil numbers on the up, it was decided by the charity commission that the school should expand its footprint, and a new building was erected.

1842

Henry Atkinson Appointee Master

1859

School enlarged and improved

Further significant improvements were made within the school as well as embarking on another extensive expansion programme.

1904

WG St George Drennan Headmaster

1905

Large boarding house erected for 50 boarders

1906 - 1909

Almshouses Removed

1909

New Teaching block opened

1912

Goole Selby Railway Line opened

This railway line brought boys in from the surrounding local towns of Selby and Goole. The train stopped at Drax Hales station, and the pupils had to walk 2-3 miles through the village and into the school. Unfortunately, this line was removed in 1964 due to the Beeching cuts.

1917

E.V. Watkins Headmaster

1921

Elementary School taken over by WRCC

1924/1925

Rugby became Read School's major sport

1930

SE Engelhart Gold Medal in 200m at The Empire Games

Stanley was an English athlete who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics where he made it through to the quarter-finals of the 200 metres event and was eliminated at that stage. He also competed in the 4x100 metres relay for Great Britain which finished sixth. Stanley went on to win the gold medal at the 1930 Empire Games in the 220 yards race. He won the silver medal with the English relay team in the 4×110 yards event. He was born and died in Selby.

1934

Westfield House bought from EVW estate

1939

WWII

1946 - 1963

RS Adamson Headmaster

1953

Cricket Pavilion restoration

1950

Unveiling of Memorial Window in Drax Parish Church

1954

Art School Opened

1954

Merger of OD RUFC and Selby RUFC

1970

John Sherwood won Gold

John Sherwood (at Read between 1956-1963). He competed for Great Britain in the 1968 Olympic Games winning a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles. He won a silver medal in the 1969 European Athletics Championships and a gold medal in the 1970 commonwealth Games.

1990

Molony Hall Built

2017

Read Celebrates 350 year anniversary

Read has certainly stood the test of time, and probably stands of one of the oldest schools in the country! 350 years was celebrated in all it's glory at Read with the production of 'The King and I', the CCF march through Drax village to the Church for Remembrance Day and a special 350 commemoration Day celebration.