The National Girls School started in 1835 in a rented barn and was still held in the barn in 1854 with 80 pupils. In 1856 - 7 a new School with a Teachers house was built on the South side of Clay St designed by J A Cory to a Gothic design in flint dressed in stone. The School had 2 classrooms. £1,650 was provided by Pembroke College Cambridge towards the building costs. In 1860 the School was under a Mistress and was attended by 120 - 135 Girls. In 1870 it still remained under Church control although other board Schools had been established for other Children. In the 1890's Curates still taught in the School. In 1900 the classrooms were enlarged due to the increase in Children. The School remained a Church School until late into the 20th Century . In later years the School became known as St Andrews mixed Primary teaching Children from 8 - 11 years, it closed in 1990-91 when the new St Andrews opened in the College grounds to replace it. The School is still standing today but was made into flats, but still retaining most of its features.
This particular school was initially to be built on the site of the Old Rectory in the High Street, where the Co-op now stands that at the time was owned by Pembroke College Cambridge, but the vicar of the time persuaded Pembroke to swap the Rectory site for the present site in Clay Street that the vicar had just purchased. Pembroke agreed and had the school built on its present site in Clay Street, the ownership of the Rectory site going to the vicar, who also kept a piece of land behind the Clay Street school for himself.