CLUTTON COUNCIL SCHOOL LOG BOOK 1921 TO 1993 (Extracts)
1921
12 September 1921
Copy of Report by H.M.I. Mr. F. Newman, Inspection Sept.
The numbers in this school is rising & in the interests of efficiency an additional teacher should be appointed. The Head Master is over weighted being responsible for a class of 41, for the teaching of gardening, & for the supervision of five assistant teachers in the Mixed & Infants’ Divisions. There is no Certificated Assistant in the Mixed School. In these circumstances it is creditable to the Head Master & his staff that the work reaches a sound level in most branches & a distinguished level in one or two. On the practical side e.g. in Arithmetic (in which the advanced boys do some elementary fixing arithmetic) Gardening, Handwork & Needlework good work is done. The drawing of the older children is not however more than fairly good in observation & execution. Folk songs were sung with considerable taste & zest. As regards the Primary Subjects a word of praise must be given to the good reading of the younger children. Arithmetic is good on the whole among the younger children; among the older children it is stronger on the oral than the written side. In English Composition while some satisfactory work is done a higher standard might be taken throughout, & greater correctness be expected from the older children. It is very satisfactory to note that the most forward children are now being trained to study a certain extent by themselves & to take notes – a practice which might possibly be carried further still with advantage.
An unusually good knowledge of & an obvious interest in Geography which St. vii displayed when questioned is probably due largely to this cause.
Infants Division – Inspected Sept. 7th
This Division is being well carried on by a Supplementary Teacher & a Monitress in the temporary absence of a Certificated Teacher. The children speak freely, the observation lessons heard were successful in getting the children to express themselves, & games were played with enjoyment. Satisfactory progress is being made in Reading & Writing.
H. Harding
Correspondent of Managers
1923
7 December 1923
Nurse visited school & examined all the children’s heads.
1927
30 September 1927
We have been working under difficulties during the last five weeks as the school is being re-roofed. Sometimes the noise is deafening & when it rains – as it does very frequently – the water comes in in many places.
1928
25 May 1928
This afternoon 53 of the older children are going on an educational excursion to the G.W.R. works at Swindon.
1930
24 November 1930
Extremely bad weather. 50% children came wet through; dried themselves by the fires. Am issuing cocoa to dinner children (from school fund).
1933
30 June 1933
I have suspended timetable today as examinations are in progress.
I have finished examinations today.
Summary.
English – The Reading of the whole school has improved and children read clearly with good enunciation. This is due to speech training and recitation. I should like to see the senior children talk freer – they seem very reticent.
The Composition has improved but there are too many careless mistakes in Std 6. The Handwriting, Spelling and Dictation is of good standard throughout, although the retarded group of each class requires more exercise in these subjects. I have suggested a series of graded reading and spelling cards for this group. The English Literature and Language papers were generally well done.
Arithmetic: Mental - Has improved considerably. Std VII requires more exercise.
Mechanical Arithmetic is good in Stds I, 2, 3, 4 & 5 but is weaker in Std 6. Problems has improved considerably but there is room for improvement in the general method. Children must be taught to estimate as some of the answers were ludicrous.
History: Scheme not completed in Senior Classes. The written work has improved and now history is of a fair standard.
Geography: A good subject. Papers were neat and illustrations and descriptions good.
Nature Study: Good throughout.
Art: Has improved and is reaching a higher standard in Std 7, but standard 6 is still a weak class.
Music: Fairly good in Senior school. V. G in Junior.
P.T.: Children are much smarter through regular exercise.
Miss Evans is doing some very good work with the Infants. The P.T. training here is very good. The Sentence Method of Teaching Reading is proving a success as also is the use of the broad nib for writing.
Ivor J. Hoyal.
Headmaster.
30th June 1933.
1939
18 September 1939
Reopened School today.
We have 57 Evacuee Children from Monteagle School Barking and West Ham Authority. They are being taught as a separate unit in the Central Hall and spare classroom. They have an Infant Head in charge and three assistant Infant Teachers. When they have settled down a new time table will be made, as Central Hall activities will be curtailed.
1950
Ministry of Education
Report by H.M. Inspector
on the
Clutton County Primary School
Somerset
Inspected on 5th July 1950.
The building consists of three classrooms, two halls, one of which is used as a classroom for Infants, two cloakrooms, and a staff room. The second hall is used for Physical Education, Music and Dancing. The small garden is enjoyed by the whole school each class being responsible for the cultivation of part.
The staff consists of the Head Master and three women assistants. As the only experienced teacher in the School the Head Master has had a difficult task. It is much to his credit, therefore, that the School is running smoothly, sound work is being done and that the three assistants are confident and making a good contribution to the life of the School. The number on roll is 101.
Much thought has been put into the planning of the time table and the schemes of work so that the children can be given opportunity to develop their own interest and learn to rely on their own efforts, under the guidance of the teachers, in their search of knowledge. In giving this freedom the importance of the basic skills has not been forgotten; for example, the stress placed on fluent reading and an interest in books bears fruit before the children are transferred to the secondary school; there is no child over the age of nine who is unable to read with reasonable fluency.
Arithmetic is carefully taught along traditional lines. Some practical work has been started and its extension would make lessons both the learning and application of the rules now being taught in the junior classes. Most of the children do not find it easy to express themselves accurately in speech or written English, but nevertheless some good work was seen in all classes, particularly where encouragement was given to the expression of ideas, followed by training in self-criticism of the way in which the ideas were expressed. Painting, handwork and music all play their part in the life of the school and here too self-reliance and initiative are encouraged. The painting is free and confident and the handwork includes woodwork, needlework and modelling.
The School Assembly is sincerely and reverently conducted and the hymns and prayers are suitable for young children.
The School dinner is efficiently served and the behaviour during the meal is good.
This is a School in which the children are treated as individuals and encouraged to do their best. As the assistant mistresses grow in experience it should become increasingly a good village school.
(Signed) S. C. Langford, Correspondent.
1952
21 January 1952
Opened School. 105 children on books. Miss Baley still away. No supply teacher arrived. I have divided school into two — Mrs. Colton taking one half and myself the other section.
1954–55
Staff
Class III (9–11) H.T. – Mr. Loyal – 35 on books
Class II (7–9) – Mrs. K. Read – 33 on books
Class I (5–7) – Infants – Mrs. G. Colton – 33 on books
The school has been redecorated and looks very bright and new.
1956
Reopened School. 107 children on books.
Mrs G.H. Cotton returned, so the services of the supply teacher Mrs Golding elapsed.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Bristol and Chew Stoke to open the Council House (Chambers) in College Green, Bristol and the Chew Valley Reservoir. As she passed through Chelwood on her return journey to Bath I took the children to Chelwood village where Pensford children, Chelwood residents and others were assembled. We had a good position and the children were delighted at seeing her Majesty. She was accompanied by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh.
1963
15 January 1963
150 on Roll.
1965
6 September 1965
141 on Roll, largest intake yet of 15. Now 5 classes.
Class 1 – 21
Class 2 – 31
Class 3 – 27
Class 4 – 32
Class 5 – 29
1973
8 January 1973. 170 on Roll.
1983
1 September 1983
The new term commenced with 152 children on roll. Mrs. Dougherty takes up the appointment as Deputy Head.
The class arrangements are:
Class 1 – 25 children – Mrs. Jones
Class 2 – 31 children – Mrs. Woodland
Class 3 – 22 children – Mr. Baxter
Class 4 – 31 children – Mr. Stock
Class 5 – 32 children – Mrs. Dougherty
1984
28 March 1984
The school B.B.C. computer was collected today. A parents evening was held to give information about the summer camp to Exmouth.
6 April 1984
Our chess team played their last game of the season against Paulton. The team are league winners in the first year of entry in this competition.
9 May 1984
A party of thirty-eight third and fourth year pupils went to Exmouth for our first school camp.
1985
June 1985
13 June 1985
A new “Elliott” administrative building was delivered to school. The building will consist of headteacher’s room, staffroom and stock cupboard. This extra space is much needed.
1 October 1985
Ms. Strickle H.M.I. visited school. Her general comments were:
(i) There was a caring, concerned and happy environment.
(ii) The environment of the school was well thought out with bright and interesting displays.
(iii) The children were articulate, willing and interested in activities and lessons.
1987
14 January 1987
The school was closed today because of the severe road and weather conditions. All members of the teaching staff and the kitchen manager were unable to report for duty because of blocked roads. Pipes in the toilets were beginning to refreeze.
2 September 1987
The new term started with 146 children on roll.
The classes are arranged:
Class 1 – Mrs. Crozier: 21 children
Class 2 – Mrs. Woodland: 31 children
Class 3 – Mr. Baxter: 31 children
Class 4 – Mr. Stock: 29 children
Class 5 – Mrs. Still: 34 children (Deputy Head)
All teachers apart from Mrs. Still and myself are now main grade teachers.
1990
23 April 1990 Summer Term started, 139 on roll.
1991
24 September 1991 Class 2 visited Gough’s Caves.
26 September 1991 Class 5 visited the Fox Talbot Museum.
The school has been burgled for a second time with various pieces of equipment having been stolen so arrangements are being made to have a burglar alarm fitted to the main school building.
1992
27 April 1992 The school now has 131 pupils.
19 November 1992 There was an Edwardian School Day to celebrate our 90th birthday. The whole school dressed in appropriate costume; lessons were conducted in 1902 style as far as possible. Segregated Drill was carried out in the playgrounds. Mrs. Chivers cooked stew and dumplings and sausage and mash followed by treacle sponge. The school was uncannily silent today. The children thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff were exhausted by the necessity of remaining ‘in role’ all day.
20 November 1992 There were few canings! The children presented an open assembly on Edwardian life today. Each class presented one aspect and the whole thing was linked with songs and news items. The two days were pronounced a resounding success by all involved.