Church of England Primary School, Cherhill

A new school was built beside the Street in 1846 or 1847. This is probably the school described by HM Inspector William Warburton in 1859 as 'a substantial, picturesque, and commodious little school-room; a modern erection of stone, standing in a good situation', with 40 to 50 children taught by a mistress who, although uncertificated, had been trained at the Diocesan College Salisbury - 'a very deserving person'. Given that Cherhill School was later a Church of England school, it is likely that this was a school under the auspices of the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church in England and Wales, although Platts gives the owner as Major G.W. Heneage, who held part of Cherhill manor together with the Compton Bassett estate. In all events, in 1864 leaving ages of the pupils at the school were 13 for girls and 9 for boys. By 1871 the school was attended by 35 girls and 11 boys; the Elementary Education Act of 1870 had by this time provided that children should receive schooling from the age of 5 to 10 years. Numbers rose to 56 by 1909-10 but had fallen by 1935-36 to 29. From 1930 the older pupils received their secondary education in Calne.

Although the Cherhill School log books survive from July 1905 only, it is safe to assume that school life for the pupils during the second half of the 19th century was similar to that experienced in other rural elementary schools in Wiltshire.

Children would walk to their school, often over some distance, and consequently their ability to attend could be influenced by weather conditions. Since the children returned to their homes for lunch there might be an unwillingness, or inability, to return for the afternoon session. However, absences could also be as a result of sickness and at times attendances fell quite drastically when there were local epidemics of measles, whooping cough or chicken pox. On occasion there was a more serious illness, such as diphtheria, which could cause the death of a pupil. The Medical Officer of Health might take the step of closing the school temporarily to protect the children from an actual or threatened epidemic. Late in the century, and into to the 20th century, visits by the nurse to check on the cleanliness and health of the children - including weighing and measuring sessions - became a regular occurrence, as were those of the dentist to carry out inspections and treatment as necessary.

In a rural area such as Cherhill, absences would also be occasioned by boys helping in the fields with planting or harvesting crops.

Attendance was scrupulously recorded by the school teacher and was a constant concern as grants received from the government from 1890 were based on average attendance. This system now replaced the earlier one, from 1870, based on 'payment by results' of tests in the 'Three Rs'. By the end of the 19th century the School Attendance Officer was active in investigating frequent or long-term absences.

However, an agricultural exemption certificate could be granted to a pupil who could show that he had reached a specific proficiency in reading, writing and arithmetic; this would enable him to leave school to work on the land at the age of 11. In more general terms a labour certificate could equally be granted to enable the child to leave school and begin work at the same age.

The teaching received by the pupils always included reading, writing and arithmetic. In addition, however, 'object lessons' would be given on quite diverse subjects, such as, for example, 'cow', 'wheat', 'glass', 'camel' and the teacher would list the planned topics in the log book. A wider curriculum gradually became more commonplace, however: geography, history, drawing, needlework and sometimes nature study were also taught and songs were learnt. Invariably the school teacher would be assisted by a pupil teacher or monitress who would be one of the older girl pupils.

Religious education would also occupy an important place in the curriculum and in a National School would be tested from time to time by the Diocesan Inspector.

However, the school terms were broken from time to time by a day's holiday or treat, such as the annual school treat. A royal event such as a marriage might bring with it a day's holiday granted to the pupils. Empire Day would also be celebrated on or near 24th May, often with the singing of hymns and patriotic songs, or with a service in the parish church.

The early entries in the surviving school log book record precisely the features noted above: the pursuit by the School Attendance Officer of a girl persistently absent from school; a Diocesan Inspector's report; the promotion of numbers of pupils from one standard to another; the absence of some children with chicken pox; the continuing lack of an Infants' teacher with one or other of the older girls occasionally acting as Monitress; a half holiday given on St. James' Day for the Sunday School treat. The following year in, May 1906, H.M. Inspector, a Mr. Curry, reported that,
'The children attending this school are in good order, and are bright and intelligent. They are well advanced in their work, and give evidence of earnest and thoughtful teaching'

As the new century progressed, with new legislation and theories of education taking place, life in the school nevertheless appears to have progressed without major incident - although a particular treat was granted to the children when, on Monday 26th July 1907, the school was closed in order that the older children could go to Calne to see the King and Queen. On the other hand, the Attendance Officer, Mr. Bridges, visited the school on 16th October 1908 to warn the children about staying away for 'potato picking'. The beginning of the First World War in September 1914 was not remarked upon, and log book entries continued to be concerned with new admissions and departures, attendance, health issues and other concerns of peacetime school life. Even the Armistice went unremarked. However, the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 had a more immediate impact on the school; on 11th September 1939 the log book notes that the school reopened after the summer vacation with 27 Cherhill children and 10 London evacuees on roll. Two days later the dentist visited to inspect the pupils' teeth and treat them as necessary and the next day the nurse visited to examine the cleanliness of the children.

By 6th October the new division of classes caused by the arrival of the evacuees was in place: The head teacher took the Junior School of 17 Wiltshire children and 15 London County Council evacuees in the village Reading Room. An LCC teacher was in charge of the Infants and another LCC London teacher was in charge of the Senior children. The fact that a month later another LCC teacher took a group of the head teacher's class (six Wiltshire and five evacuee children) in the 'Skittle Alley' indicates that ad hoc arrangements were being made to accommodate the newly expanded pupil body. Interestingly on 5th July 1940 'long week-end holidays' began instead of the customary summer vacation. In September of that year five evacuees from the Hastings, Sussex, area and one from West Ham were admitted. By this time all the windows had been covered with 'butter muslin' as an air-raid precaution. On 16th September Calne was bombed but 'school remained open and children behaved very well'. The children's gas masks were periodically inspected and repaired if necessary. On 21st April 1944 13 pairs of wellingtons were received at the school from the American Red Cross.

Unfortunately the log-book concludes on 12 June 1944 and therefore any celebrations taking place the following year at the end of the War cannot be known. However, the evacuees would have left and the school reverted to having a student body of primarily local children.

With the development of RAF Compton Bassett and RAF Yatesbury, pupil numbers increased substantially and an extra classroom was leased in 1951. An annexe at RAF Compton Bassett was also opened in 1956.

In 1961 a new school was built at the west end of Middle Lane. In early 2010 the school had 192 pupils, aged from 4 to 11.