National School, South Newton
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A National School, with a teacher's house, was built in South Newton village in 1838; in 1846 it had 58 pupils. In 1858 the Rev. William Warburton, HM Inspector of Schools, described South Newton National School as a 'tidy, well-conducted little school'. There was a certificated schoolmistress and a pupil teacher. The schoolroom, where 30-40 girls and boys were taught, measured 40 ft. x 16 ft. x 14 ft. The pupils came from Chilhampton and Stoford, in addition to the village of South Newton itself.
The log books from the school survive from January 1863. As in many schools of the period, attendance was a major preoccupation for the schoolteacher as the amount of annual government grant to be received depended upon the numbers of children on roll and the percentages of those attending. Like many rural schools, however, attendance was affected by the farming year, with children helping with various agricultural activities. References to such absences appear from the beginning of the log books: on 28 July 1863, for example there was a very small attendance, 'the elder children being wanted by their parents'... and on 11th August of the same year 'only the smaller children have attended this week, as the barley harvest is not yet over' a fortnight later the older children had still not returned to school after the harvest. The school summer holidays themselves were centred around the harvest.
The log books from the school survive from January 1863. As in many schools of the period, attendance was a major preoccupation for the schoolteacher as the amount of annual government grant to be received depended upon the numbers of children on roll and the percentages of those attending. Like many rural schools, however, attendance was affected by the farming year, with children helping with various agricultural activities. References to such absences appear from the beginning of the log books: on 28 July 1863, for example there was a very small attendance, 'the elder children being wanted by their parents'... and on 11th August of the same year 'only the smaller children have attended this week, as the barley harvest is not yet over' a fortnight later the older children had still not returned to school after the harvest. The school summer holidays themselves were centred around the harvest.
Other farming activities intruded on the children's schooling: 'setting' potatoes and, later, picking them; taking their fathers' dinners to the fields; stone-picking, and the boys going 'nutting' in Grovely Wood. On the other hand, on May 29 1865, the schoolteacher records that 'several children sent for leave to stay at home while their mothers are gone to work'. Nevertheless, the course of the school ran smoothly for much of the time, with the words, 'all going on as usual' recorded repeatedly.
'Object' lessons, in addition to those of reading, writing and arithmetic, included such diverse subjects as the horse, glass, the Temple, the Dreams of Pharaoh, creation of the world, and the cow. Inspections by both Diocesan and HM Inspectors were carried out regularly, the former concentrating in particular on the religious learning of the children. Over the course of the school's history inspection reports were variable - sometimes focussing on areas of teaching, learning and curriculum which were considered deficient or effective, and sometimes more generally congratulatory or critical.
'Object' lessons, in addition to those of reading, writing and arithmetic, included such diverse subjects as the horse, glass, the Temple, the Dreams of Pharaoh, creation of the world, and the cow. Inspections by both Diocesan and HM Inspectors were carried out regularly, the former concentrating in particular on the religious learning of the children. Over the course of the school's history inspection reports were variable - sometimes focussing on areas of teaching, learning and curriculum which were considered deficient or effective, and sometimes more generally congratulatory or critical.
The School Manager at the beginning of the period recorded in the log books was the Rev. Penruddocke and for the ensuing thirty years he and his wife played an active part in the operation of the school, sometimes teaching supplementary lessons such as singing, or sewing, but at other times providing treats for the children, such as on March 10 1863 which was declared a holiday to mark the Prince of Wales' wedding. On this occasion 'the Vicar treated eighty-eight children with cake and tea...'.
Other activities, both formally sanctioned or not, to mark local and national events and customs also intervened: children carrying their garlands about the village on May Day, going to the fair at Salisbury, members of the choir going to the opening of the Union chapel at Wilton, the Vicar's annual treat, again, of tea and cake, after a trip to Old Sarum, and a number of older children travelling to Salisbury to see the review of the Wiltshire Yeomanry by HRH the Duke of Connaught on May 17 1892.
The names of Rev. and Mrs. Penruddocke are absent from the log books from 1894, their final treat of tea and sports in the vicarage grounds being reported on August 28 1893. Now the vicar was recorded as Rev. I.E.G. Bond.
Other activities, both formally sanctioned or not, to mark local and national events and customs also intervened: children carrying their garlands about the village on May Day, going to the fair at Salisbury, members of the choir going to the opening of the Union chapel at Wilton, the Vicar's annual treat, again, of tea and cake, after a trip to Old Sarum, and a number of older children travelling to Salisbury to see the review of the Wiltshire Yeomanry by HRH the Duke of Connaught on May 17 1892.
The names of Rev. and Mrs. Penruddocke are absent from the log books from 1894, their final treat of tea and sports in the vicarage grounds being reported on August 28 1893. Now the vicar was recorded as Rev. I.E.G. Bond.
Incidences of diseases such as measles and mumps were recorded - and on occasion these were fatal; steps were taken to prevent their spread by excluding affected children and their siblings temporarily. When, in May 1877, there was a smallpox case in Chilhampton, all the children from that village were absent for that month and the next. Regular visits by doctor, nurse and dentist, particularly at the beginning of the 20th century, ensured that both the health and hygiene of the pupils was monitored.
Attendance continued to be of the first importance and this was affected detrimentally when, in January 1881, the charge to the pupils for their education at the school was raised from 1d. to 2d. per week. Apparent resistance to this by some families is evident in that a number of children continued to arrive at school with the one penny, only to be sent home again; however, the matter appears to have settled and school life continued into the late years of the nineteenth century, when a holiday was given for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and on into the twentieth.
In the early 20th century the school was taken over by Wiltshire County Council and further information can be found under County Elementary School, South Newton.
Attendance continued to be of the first importance and this was affected detrimentally when, in January 1881, the charge to the pupils for their education at the school was raised from 1d. to 2d. per week. Apparent resistance to this by some families is evident in that a number of children continued to arrive at school with the one penny, only to be sent home again; however, the matter appears to have settled and school life continued into the late years of the nineteenth century, when a holiday was given for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and on into the twentieth.
In the early 20th century the school was taken over by Wiltshire County Council and further information can be found under County Elementary School, South Newton.