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Staff and pupils of Walter Evans Primary School joined with the Darley Abbey Historical Group to investigate factors behind the transition from St Matthew’s School to Walter Evan’s Primary School. Evidence was gathered from the County Archives at Matlock, Derby Local Studies Library, the Diocesan Education Office and from interviews with pupils and teachers, past and present.

In 1975 St Matthew’s School in Darley Abbey closed and a new school, Sir Walter Evans C of E Primary School was built. What were the reasons behind the decision to close St Matthew’s and what were the advantages of the new school? These were the questions investigated by the project as it tracked the change in provision of state education in Darley Abbey.