Brinkworth Earl Danby's C. of E. Primary School
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On Monday, 20th April 1868, Brinkworth National School opened with 31 children in attendance in the morning and 45 in the afternoon. Seven days dater, on April 27th, 72 children were on the school roll and numbers continued to increase rapidly so that by 3rd August of that year 166 children had been registered.
The dimensions of the 'schoolroom' were 51 feet 4 inches long, 18 feet wide and 17feet 7inches high; the 'classroom' was 19 feet 11 inches long, 13feet 10 inches wide and 17 feet 7 inches high; the Infants' room was 28 feet 10 inches long, 18 feet wide and 17 feet 7 inches high. Later, possibly in the 1890s, the 'principal room' appears to have been divided into two sections, with Standards 3 and 4 in one section and Standards 5,6, and 7 in the other; the Infants moving into the 'classroom' and Standards 1 and 2 going into the Infants' room.
In the early years of the school, in the 1870s, there was a marked focus on religious instruction and testing; subjects taught included events in the scriptures, the parables, and singing 'church songs'. Old and New Testament history lessons were given, including the 'history of Moses' and the 'history of Samson'; the catechism was taught, practised and examined. Psalms and passages from the bible were learnt by heart by the pupils. However, secular subjects were also taught: there were lessons of reading, writing, arithmetic, dictation and geography. Drill practice was also performed by the boys and the girls carried out needlework.
At this time the staff of the school comprised a certificated schoolmaster, an Infants' schoolmistress and a pupil teacher. The children were divided into six standards and it is clear from an HM Inspection report of 1871 that an evening school was also in existence. By the mid 1880s the schoolteacher was concerned by a government ruling that at the age of seven children should be moved from the Infants' school to Standard I, yet children were still only beginning to attend the school at the age of 7 and 8 years, without having received any previous schooling.
At this time the staff of the school comprised a certificated schoolmaster, an Infants' schoolmistress and a pupil teacher. The children were divided into six standards and it is clear from an HM Inspection report of 1871 that an evening school was also in existence. By the mid 1880s the schoolteacher was concerned by a government ruling that at the age of seven children should be moved from the Infants' school to Standard I, yet children were still only beginning to attend the school at the age of 7 and 8 years, without having received any previous schooling.
At this time the school was known as Brinkworth C.E. School. In addition to the core subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic, object lessons in the 1880s were very diverse. The list of subjects for the year 1887 to 1888, for example, included 'Horse, cow, sheep, dog, lion.....coal, glass, sugar, soap.....butter, paper making, brickmaking, room cleaning'!
Each year HM Inspector would visit the school and examine the children in their work. Upon their performance, together with their attendance and the organisation of the school generally, depended the grants awarded by the Government. For this reason attendance figures were a continual preoccupation of the schoolmaster or mistress in their log book entries.
By the 1880s the School Attendance Officer was active and looked into individual cases of repeated or prolonged absence. There are several references in the log books for the 1870s and early 1880s to attendance being low as a result of pupils helping with haymaking, potato planting and digging. In addition, severe weather conditions of rain, cold, and snow affected attendance by pupils who had long distances to walk in order to reach school. On one occasion, in January 1881, the school had to be closed in the afternoon as the rooms were so wet 'from the melting of snow which had drifted under the slates'.
Each year HM Inspector would visit the school and examine the children in their work. Upon their performance, together with their attendance and the organisation of the school generally, depended the grants awarded by the Government. For this reason attendance figures were a continual preoccupation of the schoolmaster or mistress in their log book entries.
By the 1880s the School Attendance Officer was active and looked into individual cases of repeated or prolonged absence. There are several references in the log books for the 1870s and early 1880s to attendance being low as a result of pupils helping with haymaking, potato planting and digging. In addition, severe weather conditions of rain, cold, and snow affected attendance by pupils who had long distances to walk in order to reach school. On one occasion, in January 1881, the school had to be closed in the afternoon as the rooms were so wet 'from the melting of snow which had drifted under the slates'.
Epidemics of illnesses in the village also affected school attendance: In January 1880 the presence of diphtheria in the village led to parents keeping their children at home in fear that the schoolrooms had not been ventilated during the Christmas holiday closure. In September 1888 the Medical Officer closed the school because a member of the schoolmaster's family (apparently his son) was suffering from scarlet fever, and in February 1889, and again in December1893, outbreaks of measles led to the school being closed. In the final decades of the 19th and into the 20th centuries, however, visits from the school nurse and doctor helped to monitor the health and fitness of the pupils.
Absences were sometimes due to more pleasurable activities by the pupils, however, for example, in April 1871 attendance was very low because of the Wootton Bassett mop fair. On occasion, however, holidays were granted by the school enabling, for example, pupils to watch the gathering of the local hunt on Brinkworth village green on two occasions (1870s and Dec 2nd 1921) or, on the morning of 21st August 1885 to enable the children to witness 'Wombwell's Menagery [sic] pass through the village'. For the pupils of Brinkworth school, as those for most others in the country, the 22nd June 1887 was granted as a holiday in honour of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Another day's holiday was granted on 25thAugust of the same year to enable the children to attend a more local celebration, the 'Foresters' Fete Day'. A day of particular interest to the children may have been 2nd May 1871, when they and the school were photographed by 'Mr. Church, of Wootton Bassett'.
In mid-December 1886 the Managers of the school came to a decision that they would make an application to the Education Department for a School Board to be formed for Brinkworth parish. On December 23rd 1886 the school closed for Christmas and did not reopen until the following 4th April when the Board was in place and had taken oversight of the school. The HM inspection that took place shortly afterwards on 2ndMay 1887 noted that in the four months' closure the children had 'apparently forgotten much of their work'.
At the beginning of June 1891 the number of children on roll was 149, of which 90 were in the Infants' school and 59 in the mixed, higher, standards. Object lessons were as diverse as ever - including Wheat, Rice, Salt, Basket, Slate, Pen, Cow, Lion, Camel, Railway Station, Draper's Shop and Minding Baby. The HMI report for July 1891 was good, but concern was expressed that the Infants' mistress had only the assistance of a very young monitress. Numbers on roll continued to rise and at the end of June 1893 were 172.
The existence of an evening school has been alluded to above; again, in September 1895 the logbook records an Evening Continuation School with 19 scholars beginning their work at 7 p.m.
At the beginning of June 1891 the number of children on roll was 149, of which 90 were in the Infants' school and 59 in the mixed, higher, standards. Object lessons were as diverse as ever - including Wheat, Rice, Salt, Basket, Slate, Pen, Cow, Lion, Camel, Railway Station, Draper's Shop and Minding Baby. The HMI report for July 1891 was good, but concern was expressed that the Infants' mistress had only the assistance of a very young monitress. Numbers on roll continued to rise and at the end of June 1893 were 172.
The existence of an evening school has been alluded to above; again, in September 1895 the logbook records an Evening Continuation School with 19 scholars beginning their work at 7 p.m.
At the end of May 1897 notice was received by the school that the children of Standard 4 would be required to attend Dauntsey National School on Wednesday 9 June in order to be tested to obtain a labour certificate, which would enable them to be exempted from attending school if they had achieved the required standard of education. On 2 June 1905 it was recorded that four exemption and four half-time certificates had been granted.
More holidays were granted at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries in recognition of national celebrations: a treat was given to all the children in the village on the occasion of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 1897; on 2nd June 1902 a holiday was given to commemorate the ending of the Boer War and on 26th and 27th June of the same year the school was closed for pre-Coronation celebrations.
The HM Inspection for the year 1903-4 stated that the Infants were progressing very satisfactorily but their classroom was excessively crowded and additional accommodation had to be provided. A similar situation existed in the mixed, older children's rooms which were also overcrowded and, together with the cloakrooms, badly ventilated.
More holidays were granted at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries in recognition of national celebrations: a treat was given to all the children in the village on the occasion of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 1897; on 2nd June 1902 a holiday was given to commemorate the ending of the Boer War and on 26th and 27th June of the same year the school was closed for pre-Coronation celebrations.
The HM Inspection for the year 1903-4 stated that the Infants were progressing very satisfactorily but their classroom was excessively crowded and additional accommodation had to be provided. A similar situation existed in the mixed, older children's rooms which were also overcrowded and, together with the cloakrooms, badly ventilated.
Again epidemics of illness led to the closure of the school in the early 20th century: On 26 September 1904 the medical officer of health instructed that the school be closed since there were local cases of scarlet fever and it was feared that the school premises could be infected. It did not reopen until 16 January 1905, when some children continued to be absent on doctor's orders. Later, in 1916 there was another closure by the Medical Officer of Health as a result of a measles epidemic. After reopening a number of the children were then struck by whooping cough and attendance remained very low.
There is little mention of the First World War until October 1916 when the head teacher received his call-up papers; the Armistice, however, was not recorded. The post-war widespread epidemic of influenza led to the school being closed again a week later on 18 November 1918.
During the interwar years school life continued with the subjects of reading, composition, arithmetic, and geography still at the core of the curriculum. In February 1926 girls from Standards 5, 6 and 7 began to attend domestic science classes held in the old village Reading Room. Special holidays such as that for the Duke of York's wedding in April 1923 intervened in school life and on 11 November every year the two minutes' silence to commemorate the Armistice of the First World War was observed.
There is little mention of the First World War until October 1916 when the head teacher received his call-up papers; the Armistice, however, was not recorded. The post-war widespread epidemic of influenza led to the school being closed again a week later on 18 November 1918.
During the interwar years school life continued with the subjects of reading, composition, arithmetic, and geography still at the core of the curriculum. In February 1926 girls from Standards 5, 6 and 7 began to attend domestic science classes held in the old village Reading Room. Special holidays such as that for the Duke of York's wedding in April 1923 intervened in school life and on 11 November every year the two minutes' silence to commemorate the Armistice of the First World War was observed.
In January 1926 there were 98 children on roll. At Easter the following year these would be joined by approximately 19 pupils of Lady Holland's school in Grittenham which closed as a result of its low pupil numbers.
When Brinkworth Council School opened for the new school year in September 1939 it did so one week later than planned, on 11th September, owing to the outbreak of war. At once evacuated children arrived in the village, a group of whom, from West Ham in London, received lessons in the Rectory Room and Grittenham Old School under their teacher who had travelled with them from London. Other, privately evacuated, children attended the main school - three immediately and a further two by the end of September. A small number of such children evacuated by private arrangement joined and left the school throughout the war years. Subjects taught at this time included reading, composition, arithmetic, history, geography, science and nature study. HM Inspector commented that gardening and handicraft were not available to the boys; the older girls, however, continued to attend domestic science classes. Younger children carried out raffia work. At the end of October 1944 there were 118 children on the register, plus 30 evacuees. On 8 and 9 May 1945 the school enjoyed a two-day holiday, declared nationally, to celebrate Victory in Europe.
When Brinkworth Council School opened for the new school year in September 1939 it did so one week later than planned, on 11th September, owing to the outbreak of war. At once evacuated children arrived in the village, a group of whom, from West Ham in London, received lessons in the Rectory Room and Grittenham Old School under their teacher who had travelled with them from London. Other, privately evacuated, children attended the main school - three immediately and a further two by the end of September. A small number of such children evacuated by private arrangement joined and left the school throughout the war years. Subjects taught at this time included reading, composition, arithmetic, history, geography, science and nature study. HM Inspector commented that gardening and handicraft were not available to the boys; the older girls, however, continued to attend domestic science classes. Younger children carried out raffia work. At the end of October 1944 there were 118 children on the register, plus 30 evacuees. On 8 and 9 May 1945 the school enjoyed a two-day holiday, declared nationally, to celebrate Victory in Europe.
The school continued until 1992 when as a result of the federation of Brinkworth County Primary School with Earl Danby's School, Dauntsey a new school was created. The new school operates on the two sites of the earlier schools but is united through its head teacher, governing body and staff. The Upper School (Years 3/4, 4/5, and Year 6) is located at Brinkworth and the Lower School (Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 classes) at Dauntsey. At February 2008 there were 150 children, aged 4 to 11, on the school roll.