in the Strand, for those seeking entry into the lower grades. The prestige of being associated with the university college was an added benefit.The Civil Service Department, as it was known in the early years, started with an intake of 172 men: it did not yet constitute a school for boys. In 1892 Braginton got permission to run a correspondence course, and day classes, for pupils wishing to compete for "boy clerkships" and "boy copyistships". Thus, in 1893, began Strand School.

The school's name was not apparent, however, till 1897, when