It is named after Sir John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, who was a native of Denby and made early and accurate predictions of a solar eclipse in 1666.

In 1838 a school in the village had 25 children receiving a free education in reading and writing with a separate teacher for the girls who were taught to sew and knit.

[5] The school was at Smithy Houses which had previously been the offices of William Drury Holden who inherited Locko Park.

[5] Smithy Houses School was used by the community – in 1919 when the Denby Pottery Welfare committee organised a concert here, four days after the end of World War I.

[5] John Flamsteed now specializes in subjects Maths, Computing and Science.