Public schools are traditionally closed off communities. But they can be full of stunning architecture and history, presenting an amazing backdrop as students work hard in lessons. Delving into this out-of-bounds world, an author has unearthed what it was like in a Sussex public school 30 years ago. Flora Thompson reports.

A failed publishing deal has seen Sussex school photos transformed into historic relics.

In the 1980s author Mark Draisey captured shots of everyday school life at Lancing College, not realising the pictures would not be used until 2014 – when they became valuable artefacts depicting moments in history.

Initially Mr Draisey planned to combine the pictures, which included snaps of the school’s impressive architecture, in a book about schools across the country.

But when a publishing deal fell flat he took stock of his work. Now, 30 years later, he has compiled the shots into a collection which acts as a comment on public schools in a bygone era.

The book, entitled Thirty Years On: A Private View of Public Schools, started life as a project he set himself during his final year at Brighton Polytechnic.

The illustration and photography student said he was soon “hooked” after he gained a unique insight into life at school.

He said: “I approached Hurstpierpoint College to ask if I could photograph a day in the life of the school over a series of visits.

“Once I started my study I thought there was a book in this if I expanded to ten or so schools.

“Once I had a publisher on board, they insisted I covered 25 public schools spread all over the UK.

“Unfortunately, five years into the work, they pulled out due to the recession of the late 1980s and the early 1990s and I was left with several thousand images but unable to persuade another publisher to print the book.

“Now, 30 years later, the images show a side of boarding school life that no longer exists and so are of historical interest.

“As I state in the book, the public school system has switched from barrack-like stark accommodation to that more synonymous with a boutique hotel to attract more girls, and new and overseas money.”

Mr Draisey said Lancing College’s eye-catching architecture was one of the reasons to include it in the book.

He said: “The selection of schools was purely based on their visual impact, whether it be by way of their building, uniforms, quirky traditions or unique sports.

“I felt Lancing warranted a place because of its world famous chapel, plus the fact the buildings probably represent most people’s vision of a typical Victorian public school.”

Pictures include scenes of the lower quad, an inter-house river relay, a dormitory and a school farm, all captured by Mr Draisey.

He said: “Lancing is important as it is the flagship school of the Woodard Corporation of Schools purposely founded to educate the middle classes as opposed to the aristocracy who went to the long established ‘great schools’ of Eton, Harrow and Winchester.”

Publisher Halsgrove describes the work as Mr Draisey’s triumph for being given “privileged access” and a unique insight into “usually closed and private worlds” which has produced a record of life inside 25 public schools which were generally out of bounds to the majority of people.