Our History
The Royal School for Deaf Children Margate was founded in 1792 in the East End of London as the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb Children of the Poor. It was the first
free school for deaf children in this country and is the oldest in the English speaking world. Our founder Rev John Townsend, a congregational minister in Bermondsey, also founded a school in Lewisham for the sons of congregational clergy which has since developed into Caterham School.
The School established an annexe at Margate in 1862, being impressed by the effect of the seaside on pupils sent for short stays at the Sea Bathing Hospital in Margate. Soon the Margate annexe outgrew the original School and in 1903 the School consolidated on its Margate site.
Since the 1980s we have adapted our provision in order to meet the needs of deaf children with additional needs. Many deaf children who would formerly have been referred to us are now included in mainstream education and at the same time
developments in technology mean that increasing numbers of children with complex disabilities will survive into adulthood.
Our History
In the 1980s we also set up a specialist residential College, Westgate College for
Deaf People. More recently we acquired our Farm, Monkshill Farm at Dargate, near Faversham. Our new Community Adult Living Services in Margate includes day and residential services for young adults. At the same time we also set up our Skills Development Centre offering training courses such as British Sign Language, Manual Handling and First Aid to professionals and members of the public in the East Kent area. We have also set up an assessment service for learners applying for programmes in mainstream General Further Education Colleges.
Our new Professional Resource Centre in Margate offers training courses such as British Sign Language, Manual Handling and First Aid to professionals and members of the public in the East Kent area. We have also set up an assessment service for learners applying for programmes in mainstream General Further Education Colleges.
In 2008 we set up our new umbrella Charity, The John Townsend Trust enabling us to broaden our range of activities in order to meet the changing needs of young deaf people. We are very proud that Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was our Royal Patron of the Royal School for Deaf Children for a record 74 years She was succeeded by HRH the Countess of Wessex
Our History
Friends
The Friends of the John Townsend Foundation (formerly called "The Friends of the Royal School 1792) exist to support the work of the Trust and to publicise our work. If you want to keep in touch with the charity, why not join the Friends? The Subscription is £10 per year. The Friends are our ambassadors and notably the sellers (and buyers!) of our Christmas Cards which publicize our work and raise funds for the charity.
Download Application Form [ currently un-available
