Kingston Deverill School
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Unfortunately little is known about the early life of this school. It was built in 1853, a mixed National School for 60 children. The 1859 school census states there were '50-60 scholars, mixed, taught by a mistress, untrained, in an excellent school-room, with a brick floor and wall desks.
The school logbooks do not start until 1898. At this time the average attendance was 40. The headmistress taught standards II-VI, while a monitress taught the infants and standard I. By 1914 pupil numbers had risen to 70 and staffing to 4. The headmaster taught standards III-VI, a supplementary teacher taught standards I and II, and the infants were taught by an uncertificated teacher and a monitress.
The school logbooks do not start until 1898. At this time the average attendance was 40. The headmistress taught standards II-VI, while a monitress taught the infants and standard I. By 1914 pupil numbers had risen to 70 and staffing to 4. The headmaster taught standards III-VI, a supplementary teacher taught standards I and II, and the infants were taught by an uncertificated teacher and a monitress.
Religious Instruction was regarded as very important in this school. The very first entry in the logbook is a scripture report full of praise for the children. The vicar visited each week and there was a scripture lesson every day. The usual subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic were taught, along with geography, grammar and spelling. Each term the older children had to learn a piece to recite. The infants had object lessons. In 1913 the headmaster was keen for the boys to take up gardening. In July of that year the County Gardening Expert called to inspect the piece of land proposed for the school garden. Tools and a box of seeds were delivered the following year. The master was under pressure to keep the garden tidy, as it formed part of the school Inspector's report. After a spell of bad weather he was obliged to devote extra time to the garden.
The length of the school day was flexible, according to circumstances. In the summer, school closed earlier to allow the children to help with the haymaking. Occasionally the school room was required for another purpose, for example a concert, or the head teacher was called away on business. Standard holidays were six weeks in summer, two weeks at Christmas, one week at Whitsun and one at Easter. A half day was given in July for the annual Sunday School Treat, and the school closed for a day in October to coincide with the visit of the fair to Warminster.
The length of the school day was flexible, according to circumstances. In the summer, school closed earlier to allow the children to help with the haymaking. Occasionally the school room was required for another purpose, for example a concert, or the head teacher was called away on business. Standard holidays were six weeks in summer, two weeks at Christmas, one week at Whitsun and one at Easter. A half day was given in July for the annual Sunday School Treat, and the school closed for a day in October to coincide with the visit of the fair to Warminster.
Attendance was affected by the seasons and the weather. Older boys would sometimes stay away to help the farmers gather crops such as potatoes. Girls would sometimes be kept at home to look after younger children, or to help their mother gather wood. Good attendance was encouraged. In 1908 one boy was given a prize for a year's unbroken attendance. On one occasion all the children were a given a few minutes extra playtime as a reward for good attendance. However, there are also constant references in the logbooks to children being away for no good reason. They were threatened with a visit from the School Attendance Officer if things did not improve!
Bad weather often kept children away, as their parents could not afford protective clothing. Heavy rain or snow cut attendances drastically. Sometimes the children were caught in a storm on the way to school, only to be sent straight home again because they were soaked.
All the usual childhood illnesses were present. In 1915 the school shut for a month due to whooping cough. The following year it closed for two weeks due to measles. The authorities tried to cope with isolated cases by keeping other members of the affected child's family at home, but with as many as 20 children ill, they were forced to close. In November 1918 they even closed for a week when 30 children were away with colds.
Bad weather often kept children away, as their parents could not afford protective clothing. Heavy rain or snow cut attendances drastically. Sometimes the children were caught in a storm on the way to school, only to be sent straight home again because they were soaked.
All the usual childhood illnesses were present. In 1915 the school shut for a month due to whooping cough. The following year it closed for two weeks due to measles. The authorities tried to cope with isolated cases by keeping other members of the affected child's family at home, but with as many as 20 children ill, they were forced to close. In November 1918 they even closed for a week when 30 children were away with colds.
Both boys and girls were caned for bad behaviour, usually one, two or three strokes on the hand. Reasons included poor school work and careless mistakes in exams as well as rudeness. The headmaster who arrived in 1913 seems to have been far stricter than his predecessors. In July 1913 he punished four boys 'for calling after and annoying a girl during the dinner interval'. There was also punishment for anyone caught playing near, or misbehaving in, the school 'offices' (toilets).
Diocesan Inspections took place every year. The Government School Inspector visited approximately every five years. Constant references were made to the difficulties encountered in having all the children in one room. In 1914 there were three classes and approximately 60 children. In 1926 the school became a junior school. Any child aged 10 or over went to school at Maiden Bradley. The two remaining classes continued to be taught in the same room until 1957, when a wooden partition was erected.
Diocesan Inspections took place every year. The Government School Inspector visited approximately every five years. Constant references were made to the difficulties encountered in having all the children in one room. In 1914 there were three classes and approximately 60 children. In 1926 the school became a junior school. Any child aged 10 or over went to school at Maiden Bradley. The two remaining classes continued to be taught in the same room until 1957, when a wooden partition was erected.
After the First World War the curriculum was broadened and greater attention paid to the children's health. The boys were encouraged to play football and the girls netball. They were allowed to visit other schools to take part in sports days and play cricket matches. In 1921 six older children were taken to a concert in Bruton. All the children were regularly inspected by a nurse and the county dentist. They were also weighed and measured. The visit by the dentist must have been dreaded. In 1919 he inspected 29 children. Thirteen other children had notes from their parents stating they were not to be examined.
Pupil numbers dropped after the school became a junior department in 1926. In 1924 there were 70 children on the roll - by 1928 there were just 32. There were no Government Inspections at this school between 1943 and 1961. The lengthy report in 1962 drew further attention to the difficulties caused by the cramped conditions in the one divided classroom. Sanitation was primitive, furniture and text books were old fashioned. However, it was noted that the teaching was of a high standard and that the children were bright and happy. During the 1960s pupil numbers continued to fall. In 1969 the school closed and its 13 pupils moved to Sutton Veny School
Pupil numbers dropped after the school became a junior department in 1926. In 1924 there were 70 children on the roll - by 1928 there were just 32. There were no Government Inspections at this school between 1943 and 1961. The lengthy report in 1962 drew further attention to the difficulties caused by the cramped conditions in the one divided classroom. Sanitation was primitive, furniture and text books were old fashioned. However, it was noted that the teaching was of a high standard and that the children were bright and happy. During the 1960s pupil numbers continued to fall. In 1969 the school closed and its 13 pupils moved to Sutton Veny School