The Second World War did not result in school closure as had happened in 1914-1918 though it did have a significant impact on school life. Air raid shelters were built in the school yard and were used often during daylight air raids. All children were issued with gas masks. There were many heavy night time air raids which resulted in regular school closures. (If the air raid was after midnight school did not open until the afternoon session the following day.)
Rockcliffe became a major evacuee centre during the war. There are several stories of staff being in school until after 10.00 p.m. to receive evacuees. At one point there were 74 evacuees on the register, many of them being from the London area and some from Holland.