The original school building was the following measurement:-

Length 16yards, breadth 10yards together with a smaller building at the back which measured 4yards by 3yards. The height was 4yards 7inches from the door bottom. The walls were 20inches thick at the bottom and 18inches at the top with two throughs in every square yard. It was all well pinned and mortared. Throughs are stones that bind the wall tight and compact by being laid through the wall and not along it.

But by 1845 the number of scholars had increased so much that the school size was totally inadequate. Therefore the building was widened by 18feet with a new front to be built of dressed stone and the old stone to be used for the gable ends. All this work only cost £183 or nearly £25,000 in modern times.

At this particular time there were 116 scholars on the roll, with male and female teachers. The children paid 3d, 4d, 5d and 6d per week according to age, towards their education. A female teacher at this time was paid £20 and a male teacher £60 per annum. The salaries were raised by children's payments, subscriptions and collections.

By 1863 the school became know as the Charlesworth British School. A report at the time stated that “the working materials were in a wretched condition so the teachers have to teach from the Bible and children were asked to bring slates from home.”

At this time the two houses were built at 21 and 23 Town Lane to accommodate the Headmaster and Headmistress. It is directly opposite, on the other side of Town Lane from the school. The larger house on the right was for the headmaster and the smaller one on the left was for the headmistress. Now a private single detached house.

These houses were financed by the notable village benefactor of the time, Mr Robert Moss JP who lived at Hague View, bottom of Town Lane, also with his wife donated the Village Hall, now the village club, the nurse's bungalow near the Village Green on Marple Road, now private accomodation, and the organ at Top Chapel. He was also among many honourary positions the President of Charlesworth Cricket Club. Mr Robert Moss made his fortune from the formation and growth of the Refuge Assurance Company.

The school was organised under a teaching/monitor system.

In 1894 the school was extended again and further enhanced with brand new furniture and other equipment. - eighteen desks and forms, a large number of backed forms. One double and one single easel, three blackboards, inkwells and pens, Register, Log Book, Portfolio, Cash Book and Reading Books.

By the turn of the century, 1900, it was apparent that part-time schooling was still allowed. Children were employed part-time at the mills and attended school for the other half of the day. It was reported that this was a great drawback to the school for the children would leave at 11.40a.m. to take dinners to the mill for the workers and family members.

In the summer farmers kept their children at home to help with the haymaking.

In 1903 Clement Read became headmaster and was very proud of his

pupils who passed the County Scholarship to attend Glossop Grammar School. In July of that year he received news that Edna Bowers had won a County Scholarship and was second in the county list. He gave the school a half day holiday.

Clement Read organised social evenings devoted to games for the children, who paid 2d each which was spent on school requirements. Clement retired after being headmaster for 27years at the age of 60.

During World War II 48 evacuees arrived from Manchester in September 1939. If the Air Raid siren went the children went into the coke cellar. The warden advised sand bagging the cellar doors and every child was advised to bring a warm coat and a newspaper to sit on.

In 1949 Mrs Annise Braddock commenced duties as headmistress. During Mrs Braddock's time (1964)  Chisworth School closed, with 9 children on the roll, and it was suggested that St Johns would be a Junior School and County School to become the infant school, but nothing was agreed.

When Mrs Braddock retired in 1969 Mr Brian Williams became headmaster and then in September 1993 it became Charlesworth Primary School under the Headmistress of the time Mrs Margaret Buckley.