At the age of nine he was sent to Buckfastleigh, five miles up the River Dart, where Mr.Lowndes, the rector and patron of the living, took boarders and taught them, mostly Devonshire boys.
Buckfastleigh was not a bad school for the period.

There was plenty of caning, but no bullying, and Latin was well taught.

Froude was a gentle, amiable child, "such a very good-tempered little fellow that, in spite of his sawneyness, he is sure to be liked," as his eldest brother wrote in 1828.

He suffered at this time from an internal weakness, which made games impossible.

His passion, which he never lost, was for Greek, and especially for Homer.