The Class V 4-4-0 was the last new design of 4-4-0 express locomotives to enter service in Britain. Faced with limitations on locomotive length at some terminals restricting the use of the new and powerful 4-6-0 designs the Southerns' CME Richard Maunsell compromised, using parts of the 4-6-0 designs in a shorter 4-4-0 locomotive. The class V 'Schools' class engines were the most powerful 4-4-0s in Europe and were an immidiate success, being regarded by locomotive crews as the finest engines on the Southern.
The Schools class remained on express passenger and cross-country duties until the class was withdrawn from service during 1961/2, displaced by new diesel locomotives and multiple unit trains.