on 24 september 1900, the chippenham district county school opened in cocklebury lane, now part of wiltshire college (built on an acre of land purchased in 1896 by the county, urban and rural district councils). the ceremony was attended by the mayor and aldermen of chippenham. in addition to mr edward newall tuck as headmaster, the staff included three masters and one mistress; there were 99 pupils. the total cost of the project was £6,000. in addition to the buildings and playground, four acres of adjoining land were rented for playing fields. all day classes were consolidated here and pupil numbers increased rapidly.