The school was founded on 19 June 1614 by William James who was the Bishop of Durham.

The board of trustees included nine landowners who had all donated land to create the (then) boys' school.

Each of the founding trustees was allowed to name two boys to be taught a basis education from the age of eight.

This coincided with the abandonment of the 11+ selection process, but the school retained streaming based on ability.

In June 1964 12-year-old pupil Sanchia Hayes was killed when her school bus hit a lorry in Frosterley.