Rayners was the home of Sir Phillip Rose, Bart. Built in 1847, it remains one of the largest Victorian houses in Penn and Tylers Green. It was the centrepiece of a large estate which extended to the main London to Oxford road. A private drive was constructed by Sir Phillip to bring him home, up the hill, from the station at Loudwater.

The estate was sold in 1921 and the house converted into a school for Deaf children.

• Hommerton School for the Deaf transferred to Penn in 1921.
  
  
• The London County Council changed the name to RAYNERS SCHOOL.
  
  

• Pupils were profoundly deaf of both sexes, age range 5 - 16, with additional difficulties. Most were resident.
  
  

• The school served the whole country with pupils from Newcastle to Penzance.
  
  

• The ILEA was formed and became the responsible authority.
  
  

• In 1960 the classroom block, dining room, girl's dormitories and gymnasium were built.
  
  

• In 1962 the admissions policy was changed to offer places for partially hearing pupils with additional disabilities. No provision for profoundly deaf children from 1969.
  
  

• In 1975 PENBURY GROVE SCHOOL was opened in Penn for profoundly deaf pupils with additional disabilities.
  
  

• The two schools were located one mile apart.
  
  

• In 1981 the ILEA amalgamated the two schools to become PENN SCHOOL.
  
  

• The school offered facilities for the whole range of hearing impairment operating on two sites.
  
  

• In 1990 a unit for Language Impaired pupils was opened at the Rayners site.
  
  

• The Government closed the Inner London Education Authority in 1990 and Penn School was transferred to the London Borough of Camden.
  
  

• In 1996 Camden Council proposed that the school should operate on one site.
  
  

• The PENBURY GROVE department was closed and all pupils and staff moved to the RAYNERS site in July 1996.
  
  

• In 1997 a new lift and toilets were installed to meet the needs of a range of pupils with additional disabilities.
  
  

• In 1998 Camden LEA proposed to consult on 'ceasing to maintain' Penn School from August 1999. The resulting closure of the school and the sale of both sites would provide Camden with funds for their future SEN provision.
  
  

• A full public consultation took place and the Governors, Staff, Parents and Pupils began a campaign to prevent the closure of the school.
  
  

• The RAYNERS SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL TRUST was formed and with help from many friends, colleagues and MPs they presented their case to Parliament in March 1999. After a full debate in the House of Commons the Minister of State for Education said he was 'minded to approve Penn School as a Non-maintained Special School'
  
  

• PENN SCHOOL became a Non-Maintained school on 1st June 2001.

• In 2007 the DCFS approved Penn School for ASD provision,  increased the number of pupils up to 80 and increased the age limit for a pupil to 19.

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