National School, Broughton Gifford

A charity school existed in 1782. Francis and Betty Paradice gave £500 to be invested in order to pay £20 per year for a schoolmaster and to instruct 20 children. Any residue of the dividend was distributed at Christmas to the poor of the parish. By 1819 there were 20 free scholars and 12 paid scholars. There were 82 children who attended the Sunday school. In 1828 and 1833 two other schools were founded, catering for 10 boys and 13 girls. Two Sunday and day schools had, in 1846, 54 boys and 50 girls. In 1852 the site and buildings were conveyed in trust by Reverend J. Wilkinson, to the rector and the churchwardens. In 1853 a building grant of £90 was made by the state and just over £463 was raised by local subscription resulting in the rebuilding of the school by 1856. By 1858, 40 pupils attended the National School, 20 of them free of charge.

In 1867 the school was in two sections with two classes in each. The lower school had the first and second standard and the upper school the third and fourth standards. No infants were at the school at this time. The average attendance was 75 pupils. Generally speaking there was a low level of intelligence, as commented on in the school log books. The school was visited regularly by Reverend Wilkinson who often took prayers and inspected the registers. Pupils were disciplined and punished for such things as 'wilful disobedience' and 'truancy.' They were warned not to leave the school playground during recess, and occasionally kept behind if they had not performed well earlier in the school day. For example, they may have to sing a hymn again that had been badly sung at morning prayers. They formed into ranks before entering school in the morning and the 'dull wet weather' could have a 'troublesome' effect on the children. They were tested regularly in a variety of subjects, especially scripture. In the year 1867 there were a number of absences due to chicken pox. On New Years Day 1868 the school day finished one hour early at 3 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. During the month of January the attendance was low due to the roads being impassable and the weather could frequently have a detrimental effect on the school attendance figures. Mrs. Wilkinson, the Rector's wife, inspected the needlework on a weekly basis, although it was actually taught by Miss Alexander.

Ten of the children from the Upper section travelled to Shaw in March 1868, to attend the Diocesan Prize scheme.

There were two days holiday at Easter, these being Good Friday and Easter Monday, but children could also have time off for helping in the fields especially at harvest.

In 1869 the school apparatus was listed as 20 Bibles, 20 testaments, 20 catechisms, 10 maps, 1 alphabet sheet, 3 reading sheets, 1 ball frame, 112 reading books, 12 chronological histories, 10 national school histories, 6 British islands and colonies, 18 national school elements, 2 boxes of pens, 5 gross pencils, 100 penholders, 90 pencil cases and a small bundle of miscellaneous books.

Church was attended on Ash Wednesday giving a half day holiday and on May 25th 1869 many attended a Fair in a neighbouring village. There was also a school treat on July 30th. Punishments were enforced for disobedience, truancy and poorly executed work. By the beginning of August many were absent to help with the harvest and a three week break began on August 13th 1869.

A sample of lessons from 1870 included history lessons on King John, Henry III and Edward I, geography lessons on English mountains, sea ports and rivers, religious instruction on the conversion of Saul, the parable of the rich man and the learning of the catechism, paying particular attention to the duty towards your neighbour. Also in this year the Rector presented the school with a new clock and bell.

The size of the main schoolroom was 27 feet 6 inches by 16 feet; this was enlarged to 42 feet by 16 feet. The smaller classroom measured 12 feet by 9 feet and was enlarged to 27 feet by 16 feet. There was a new infant room as well. These improvements were carried out in the early 1870s when a new school master's house was also added to the school site.

Absences were common for a variety of reasons, perhaps a local fair such as the one of August 1870 that took place in Bradford on Avon, or apple picking at the end of September. In October a circus visited Melksham causing more absences and great excitement and the children were also engaged in acorn picking. The school master frequently despaired of the lack of attendance and hoped that it would soon become compulsory. He says in October 1870 'I have used my intense endeavours to put a stop to it, but quite unsuccessfully.' He also mentions the difficulty of keeping order due to overcrowding, especially when the pupils were engaged in writing, and he had occasion to punish a pupil for throwing stones at his mother, and another for beating a small boy when out of school. The school was visited regularly by the rector and his wife, who inspected the needlework. Sir Charles Hobhouse would also visit the school perhaps once or twice a year.

Sickness and severe weather could prevent attendance, especially during the winter months and the school was susceptible to closure should a small epidemic of a particular illness break out. This could be something like measles or scarlatina. The inspector's report commented on the 'inequality in the children's attainments' and also remarked that 'the area is insufficient for the average attendance'. So the enlargement of the school in 1871 was a huge improvement. It required the pupils to move to the church while the building work was executed during September of that year. The next report from the government inspector in early December 1871 comments that 'discipline is good' and 'examination satisfactory'. He suggests that an accurate account and cash book should be kept.

1872 sees poor attendance due to 'bird-minding' and 'dropping potatoes' as well as 'stubbling'. Reading was improving due to books being changed more regularly and a new rule was introduced that prevented a child from being admitted to school after prayers. This resulted in one child waiting outside in the street until the bell had ceased ringing and then returning home. He then had to be fetched and brought into school needless to say. The cost for attending school increased in January 1873 to 3d. for the first child of a tradesman and 2d. for subsequent children; and 2d. for the first child of a weaver or farm labourer and 1d. for any subsequent children. Non resident tradesman and weavers were charged 4d. and 3d. accordingly.

In 1874 some special subjects were added to the timetable, these being physical geography and history, covering the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The headmaster was concerned that the pupil teacher and the monitors were not keeping proper order, and the whole school was kept in until 5.30 p.m. on July 3rd due to numerous absences in the morning. One child had his name crossed of the register due to being convicted of stealing wheat and another was sent home because he had contracted ringworm.

In 1875 the timetable and the school day was altered to suit the season. For example the school would finish earlier due to the darkness but playtime would be cancelled to compensate. A child is mentioned who had been 'boarded out 'by the Bradford on Avon Guardians, and her attendance was poor, possibly due to illnesses within the household. She was actually found gleaning in the fields, so the master reported back to the Board of Guardians. He also mentions that an Act regarding the employment of children in agriculture was disregarded and wondered how helpful a child actually could be when working in the fields. In April 1875 a total of 87 children were examined. They had been taught poetry such as 'The Village Blacksmith' by Longfellow as well as one hundred lines from Paradise Lost and these pieces might be used for recitation. The inspector's report of 1876 comments on some subjects being weak, the lighting and heating being poor, and the desks not of a 'convenient size or shape'. A new rector, the Reverend A. Broderick, was installed in December 1876 and he continued to play an active role in the school by examining the registers and regularly visiting and taking prayers.

In September 1877 the school was closed for an extra week due to the repairs of the building not being complete. However, these repairs did result in a new window giving better light, and stoves in each room. The attendance in June of 1877 was 104 children and the average attendance in 1878 was 92 children. In January 1878 the first certificate of proficiency was awarded in standard three, this being a result of the 1876 Education Act. The school could be affected severely by outbreaks of illness, and was closed from January 28th 1878 to March 4th because of an outbreak of scarlet fever. The next two inspector's reports comment on a good and fair performance and good discipline. In 1881 prizes were awarded for pupils who had attended more than 350 days in one year and in 1882-3 the reports comment on much improvement and credit the master for this. Punishments were given for truancy, disobedience, inattention to duty, roughness to others, loitering and lateness, and taking money from another pupil.

The school was closed again in April 1884 for five weeks due to an outbreak of scarlatina and again from May to July for the same reason. The following year it was closed for one month because of a diphtheria outbreak and an extra two days in April because of the death of the master's wife.

Infant class lessons in 1886 included such topics as animals and birds, seasonal flowers, agriculture, keeping gardens and the use of tools. In 1887 there was a holiday to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. In 1888 Alfred Noyce left his position as headmaster and was replaced by Moses Thomas whose wife Mrs. M. Thomas became the assistant mistress.

An outbreak of measles closed the school for two weeks in October 1888. In 1889 the newly repaired stoves in the classrooms provided better warmth for the school children. They would often arrive at school damp and wet, having walked through bad weather conditions. The new master improved the school, which received a good diocesan report in December of 1889. By 1890 the average attendance was 103.3 children. New desks were provided and the annual school treat took the children to Edington in wagons.

The inspector's report of 1891 mentions 'room for improvement' with elementary subjects being 'fair'. There was a mention of the 'offices' (toilets) and the 'wet approach to them,' as well as the need for a cloakroom. The infants' class room was overcrowded and this seems to be a recurring problem at that time. Poor attendance in 1892 prevailed and one child was absent due to 'taking gloves to Holt', an example of the cottage industries that still flourished. A circus procession in Melksham also kept children away from school, while the permitted choir outing in 1892 was to Shearwater. 1893 saw more improvements as a result of building work which was often disruptive. Part of the roof was replaced and new windows were inserted meaning that the school was closed for one week in June. In September of that year there was a half day holiday for the consecration of the new burial ground near the church.

The school was used regularly for concerts and diocesan and temperance society meetings, sometimes closing early to accommodate these. The inspectors' report mentions good singing at this time and medals were awarded for unbroken attendance. Illness and bad weather conditions were the causes of many absences, and such problems as whooping cough and ringworm were common in 1894. Severe flooding meant the children had to be taken home by wagons supplied by the local farmers.

The inspector's report for 1895 states that the work of the first standard should be on slate as the children were not advanced enough for paper. The spelling was weak and they were backward in arithmetic. There were a number of children with learning difficulties, one not being able to speak properly, one subject to fits and a number of children with such irregular attendance that they were unable to sustain any level of education. In July of 1895 the choir outing was to Longleat and there was also a school treat at Monkton Farleigh organised by Sir Charles Hobhouse.

In 1897 the attendance committee made a comment regarding the boys aged twelve to thirteen years of age who regularly missed school due to helping in the fields. The families involved were happy to defy the authorities as the amount they earned would pay the summons and fine imposed and still leave them in profit. There was no help from the employers as they were happy to use the young boys as and when required. The report also mentions weak spelling and arithmetic. Two children were vaccinated as a result of a Governors recommendation. In 1898 the highest average weekly attendance was recorded, being 125.4, and a £15 grant was received to help with salaries and apparatus. The toilets were rebuilt at this time improving the standards of hygiene.

Poor excuses were often used for being absent, such as 'minding the baby' or 'gone to Melksham'. The choir outing in July was to Weymouth, presumably by train, and there was a holiday on March 2nd 1900 to commemorate the 'relief of Ladysmith'. The school was then closed, however, for three weeks, as there was an outbreak of measles. In September of 1900 letters were sent by the attendance officer to parents of children who had a less than 70% attendance record. A diphtheria outbreak in November meant that the school had to be 'scrubbed out' and the Ministry of Health stipulated that any child affected was not to attend school. No wonder that the report in December stated that children showed 'little intelligence', they had endured a fractured year of school attendance.

The early part of the twentieth century shows a fall in numbers due to some large families leaving the village. There was still much sickness, including scarlatina, whooping cough, tonsilitis and various other 'weaknesses'. This resulted in another school closure from March 11th to April 8th 1902. In June of that year there was a weeks long holiday to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII.

Further information will be found under St.Mary's Broughton Gifford V.C. C. of E. Primary School