History of RMNSF
Created in 1827 to provide shelter for the orphans of British Merchants' (sic) Seamen, the Foundation only started to provide education to its beneficiaries in the late 19th Century as a result of the 1870 Education Act.

The Foundation's name and place of business have changed over the years and it was in 1980 that, to counter a political threat to all fee-paying education, the school Governors, with the concurrence of the Charity Commission, agreed to extend their benevolence to support needy children (as well as orphans) and not only at Bearwood College; hence, the creation of the Foundation.

Our names have changed from:-
‘The Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum’ (1827 - 1902)
to
‘The Royal Merchant Seamen's Orphanage’ (1902 - 1935)
to
‘The Royal Merchant Navy School’ (1935 - 1977)
to
‘Royal Merchant Navy School Foundation’ (1980 to date).

and, in these years, we have moved from
Bow Road, London (1827 - 1862)
to Snaresbrook (1862 - 1921)
to Bear Wood in 1921.