Broad Hinton Church of England Primary School

In 1882 the school was placed in union with the National Society for Promoting the Education of the poor in the principles of the established church. In 1833, the school had 53 pupils and by 1868, it had risen to 70, with two teachers. In accordance with county policy, the school ceased to cater for senior pupils in 1950, becoming Broad Hinton Church of England Primary School. On the 4th of November 1946, a Diocesan Inspector wrote a report reading 'The age range of the upper class is, of course, a handicap.'

One of the classrooms was extended in 1882. The teacher's house was last occupied in 1969, after which it was used as an extension to the school. A number of services, were held in the school, especially during the church restoration of 1880; these included two marriages. Other community activities took place in the school until the village hall was constructed after World War One.

In the 19th century the school day was long, in summer from 7 to 11 in the morning and 1 to 5 in the afternoon, but the school day was two hours shorter in winter.

In the early 1800s children went to Broad Hinton School to learn to read and were also taught religious education. In the 1900s children were taught arithmetic, history, geography, religious education and singing, in addition to reading, writing and arithmetic. In the early 1990s they were taught religious education, PE, reading, mathematics, design and technology, ICT, science, art and craft, geography, history, humanities and music.

The term holidays from the 1900s were roughly as follows: Summer holidays were approximately from the end of July to the end of August. The Autumn half term holiday lasted a week at approximately the end of October. The Winter holiday was from shortly before Christmas to the 9th or 10th of January. Finally, the Easter holiday lasted a week to ten days. Broad Hinton School also celebrated Whitsuntide which was usually lasted for approximately a week at the end of May into the first week of June. In 1939 the Summer holiday finished a week later than planned; the Headteacher noted 'Restarted school after summer holidays, a week later owing to outbreak of war.'

Until 1881 it is unlikely that the children had any outside play areas as most of the land belonging to the school was used as the headmaster's garden. This circumstance was remedied when the school bought up a quarter of an acre of neighbouring land to create a playground for the children. A further acre was added to the school grounds in 1975.

There are not many records of punishment in the school log books. One of them states, on the 29th of November 1945, that the headteacher had been 'obliged to 'spank' a girl who was a 'persistently naughty wilful child'. A few other punishments were carried out; '[One boy] - wilful disobedience. He refused to hold out his hand for punishment and so [I] had to enforce obedience by caning on his back.'

There were many cases of illnesses throughout the school years: Some of the worst were indicated on the 22nd of March 1925: 'Three children have German Measles and eight children are consequently excluded.' Then on the 25th of June 1925 the school log book read 'attendance very poor - still several children away suffering from German Measles. 69.8%.' Then on the 24th of January 1927, 'The school remained closed for a fortnight owing to an epidemic of influenza. Reopened today with attendance of 49 out of 62 on the books'. Another entry is that of 26th of July 1943: 'Three [children] gone to isolation hospital with Scarlet Fever. [one] had been in 8 weeks, previous and came home for a fortnight and 2 more children contracted it.' On the 27th of October 1943 'S.A.O called. Mrs Watkins, County Council nurse, called today to see about the cases reported. 4 cases of Scabies and 1 case of suspected 'Pink Eyes'.' There was also a note about a girl who 'was stung on her tongue by a wasp during P.T lesson, and was taken to the G.W.R Dispensary for treatment.'

As Broad Hinton is exposed to the north east, the village was prone to having very bad weather. Only recently have we stopped being too affected by the weather, but before our modern world even a rainy day could stop some children from going to school. In the late 19th century this added to the constant preoccupation of the Headteacher with attendance levels, since these were factors on which Government grants to the school depended. Attendance in the 1900s was very good even though the weather had extreme effects on whether the children or staff could get to school or not, and the percentage of attendance was almost always in the 90s or 80s.
The late winter of 1947 seemed to be extremely bad. Below are some entries from the Broad Hinton School log book which give an idea how bad weather affected the staff and pupils and of the actions they took in that difficult time.

On the 9th of January 1947 the school log book reads 'Temperature in the main room is very low today - in spite of huge fire, temperature is only 30 degrees Fahrenheit at 10 a.m. and 33 degrees Fahrenheit at noon. I had to interrupt lessons every fifteen minutes and give some vigorous exercises to keep scholars in any way warm.'

On the 28th of January 1947, the book reads 'Temp. of main room 24 degrees Fahrenheit at 9 a.m. and 26 degrees Fahrenheit at noon - Children blue with cold - [one child] a sickly yellowish green. Huge fire built up in grate. S.M.O [School Medical Officer] communicated with by phone - afternoon revision abandoned on his instructions and fires banked in overnight.' On the 29th of January 1947 it reads 'Rev. H.V. White came to school at 9 a.m. 11 Children present - blizzard overnight and heavy snow. Temp of main room 26 degrees Fahrenheit and Infant Room 40 degrees Fahrenheit. School closed for remainder of week.'

The next passage in the school log book reads 'School closed on 10th Feb until arctic weather ceases and roads (now impassable to outlying cottages and Uffcott) are open.' The entry for 3rd of March 1947 reads: 'School reopened today - still very cold. In spite of fires and oil heaters (loaned by Rev. H.V. White and Head Teacher) much vigorous exercise is given.'

Because of the awful weather and post-war conditions generally, food shortages were quite common. On the 3rd of March, the entry carries on to say 'School dinners arrived in very short supply from Wootton Bassett Depot - only enough for 18 children not 39 - have made complaint. Have used school emergency rations and have brought a loaf of bread and 2 tins of soup from my own house.' This shows how the community pulled together through tough times. The next day the log book reads that the head teacher also brought in fish to cook at school for the children. An example of a not very appetising school dinner was written in the school log book on the 29th of June 1945: 'Dinners received today were most unsatisfactory. Only 1 slice of bread cut thin with gravy and meat, no vegetables at all and very little Semolina pudding with jam.'

On the 5th of March, the head teacher quite humorously states 'Snow blizzards have made roads to school impassable - drift outside main door filled porch completely. I have literally 'dug myself in' to school!'

The early months of the Second World War had brought changes to this rural school, as it did to many others: On the 19th of June 1940, Broad Hinton School 'received 29 evacuees'.

On the 10th of October 1944 a 'Family of 6 evacuated children returned to London.' We can only guess what happened when later, 10th of October 1944, the log book reads 'Re-admitted the 6 evacuated children who have come back.'

A quite charming, and happier, entry of an absence from school is that of the 5th of February 1946: 'Miss Evans absent to meet brother returning from Burma after 5 years absence from England on war service.'

Here are a few special events that took place in Broad Hinton School over the years. In January 1896, a concert was held at the school on Thursday 30th. It raised £2. 1s. 6d. for school funds. In December 1897, the sum of £14 was allotted to Broad Hinton School - allowed for the purpose of providing increased salaries. In the June of 1898, Sir John Sherton's charity was distributed in buns to the children. In December 1898 there was an entertainment in school, at which the children gave an exhibition of music drill. £1. 5s. 6d. was raised for the prize to encourage children to attend school regularly. In June 1899, prizes for the highest marks at examination and regular attendance were given as follows: Vera Hicks, Herbert Hunt, Thomas Habgood, George Osman, Freddie Hicks, Millie Hacker, John Eatwell, Mabel Ferris, Jane Ockwell having missed only one attendance in the whole year. In August 1899, there was a school outing. The older children went to Weston-super-mare. Lunch was served at Huntley's restaurant. The day was spent on the beach and promenade. The pier and Roman Entrenchments were visited and the children spent time paddling, shell gathering and watching the spring tide. On the 16th of March 1931, the children were treated to a plentiful supply of oranges and sweets.

On the 28th of January 1936 the children had the day off from school on the occasion of the late King George V's funeral. On the 21st of December 1939 all the school children were invited to the Hut to tea by the Hut Committee and Father Christmas afterwards gave each child a gift.

On the 1st of May 1959, the School Log Book states: 'We held our May Festival, which was witnessed by almost 60 parents and friends. Afterwards Colonel Fletcher of the U.S.A.F Hospital, Wroughton, sent a bus and car to convey the May Queen and the whole school to the hospital. There the children presented flowers to the patients, performed their Maypole dances, watched the ceremony of lowering the flag, were given refreshments, and finally brought home. All this made a memorable day for the children and teachers.'

On the 19th of December 1960, the School Log Book reads: 'We held our Christmas Carol Concert... The Infants presented a playlet entitled 'The Christmas Party', and the Juniors a Nativity Play in 3 scenes 'One Night in Bethlehem'. Afterwards we sang a number 6 of carols. About thirty parents and friends were present.'

In 1975 the playing field was added to the grounds. There have been a number of significant developments to the accommodation since then; the most recent projects have been a new ICT suite, a new classroom, a staffroom, toilets (including disabled facilities), a kitchen, conservatory and school hall.

Broad Hinton Primary School remains at the centre of the village in the 21st century with, in May 2010, 109 pupils on roll.