The School is named after Mrs Anne Ethelston, who was born in 1799, and was the wife of the Reverend Charles Wicksted Ethelston. After her death in 1854, Reverend Ethelston decided to erect a building in his wife's memory to house the already existing school. Sadly, the main building was not opened until 1873, a year after Reverend Ethelston's death.

Mrs Ethelston's is very much a community school and although the children come from a wide area, they are encouraged to feel involved in village affairs. We also like to feel that the people of Uplyme are involved in and supportive of our School.