The School is finally operational and Thomas Hardye comes onto the scene

At last, in 1569, the business of construction was finished. The establishment was to be called the 'Dorchester Freeschole'. In the town there was a feeling of satisfaction.
According to one historian the original school, was merely ‘a large room in the Dwelling house’ until 1660 as ‘a school for Lower Boys’ when the new building was erected. Mind you, how much credence we can put on this is doubtful as the same historian reported that Edward Hardye of Wyke was responsible for building the school! (Was he getting confused with Edmund who was Thomas Hardye's elder brother and doesn’t appear to have had much to do with his mother and Thomas since the advent of John Browne of Frampton, more of whom you will learn later. Nowhere else is there any mention of Edward or Edmund in relation to the Dorchester school. Even Thomas doesn't seem to have been involved for another ten years.)
But now we can begin the story of the school itself.
There is no record as to who taught in the school when it first opened in 1569. It could very well have been the incumbent of St. Peter’s as it was in the gift of that parish. We also have no idea as to how the school progressed. It would seem, however, that the burgesses discovered that running a school was an expensive business because in 1579, led by the Marquis of Winchester, they appealed to Thomas Hardye to make an endowment to the school. He acceded to their request and the Foundation Deed was drawn up on August 3rd, 1579.
A Master and an Usher were to teach children of the town. Ten Trustees including John Browne, a merchant of Melcome and owner of the Manor of Frampton, who was Hardye’s stepfather, and also John Browne, the son, Hardye’s stepbrother who also seems to have been a close friend and companion. All Hardye’s property in Wyke Regis, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (to be retained by Hardye for his own benefit but would revert to the school after his death). There were also in Dorchester two houses in East Street, plus half an acre in West Walks, a house and garden in the parish of All Saints, a house in South Street in the parish of St. Peter’s, three other houses in the parish of St. Peter and the rent of eight shillings per annum and one pound of pepper from West Shilvinghampton. After his death the Trustees would have the right to lease his property for the benefit of the school. The school and the adjoining house in South Street was to be held in trust for 3,000 years.
According to one set of records written circa 1625,
"The old school, bordering on the East side of South Street, together with the garden behind the same, was for sixty years past belonging to the town and built by the townsmen: but about the 21st Elizabeth the townsmen bestowed it upon Mr. Hardye upon condition that he would endow it with lands and annuities, which the said Mr. Hardye did, and was afterwards advised to buy the lease of Frome Whitfield, or the parsonage thereof, which thing he accomplished and took it for 99 years."
It was agreed that during his lifetime Hardye would be the sole Governor responsible for the appointment of the schoolmaster. After his death this was to be the responsibility of the trustees, followed in the course of time by their heirs. Hardye's first choice was Edward Doughty, who taught at the school from 1580 to 1585.