Church of England Elementary School, Wylye
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A new National School and a teacher's house were built near the church in 1873. There was one classroom measuring 36 feet by 18 feet which could accommodate 90 pupils. The average attendance in the 1880s was 60-70. In 1893 the school was enlarged to allow room for 120 children. A second classroom for the infants was added, measuring just 19 feet by 15 feet.
Unfortunately no logbooks from the Victorian period survive in the public domain but we know in general terms what school life would have entailed. By 1880 children were educated up to the age of ten, although they could stay longer. The learning age was raised to eleven in 1893, when children normally started as infants, aged four or five. School fees, one penny or twopence a week, had been removed in 1891. The school day was likely to have been from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Children either brought their lunch and ate it in the schoolroom or went home to eat. The teacher was assisted by paid monitors in their mid teens or by a pupil teacher, who was training to become a certified teacher.
Unfortunately no logbooks from the Victorian period survive in the public domain but we know in general terms what school life would have entailed. By 1880 children were educated up to the age of ten, although they could stay longer. The learning age was raised to eleven in 1893, when children normally started as infants, aged four or five. School fees, one penny or twopence a week, had been removed in 1891. The school day was likely to have been from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Children either brought their lunch and ate it in the schoolroom or went home to eat. The teacher was assisted by paid monitors in their mid teens or by a pupil teacher, who was training to become a certified teacher.
Lessons were the elementary ones of reading, writing and arithmetic with scripture; some lessons in the latter subject were often taken by the vicar. The girls learned sewing and all had singing and recitation. Some geography and history would have been taught. School holidays were about a week or 10 days at Christmas and Easter, a week at Whitsun and five weeks Harvest Holiday in the summer. Full day and half day holidays were given for various reasons such as church or chapel teas or Sunday school outings, Royal and national occasions and the afternoon after the H.M.I. examinations. Unauthorised absences included seasonal work on the farm and in the garden for the older children and visits to local fairs, military events and other local happenings.
In 1906 overall control of the school passed to Wiltshire Council, although there was still a local board of managers.
The one surviving logbook begins in 1924. Three subjects are regularly mentioned; the weather, sickness and attendance. Bad weather often kept the children at home, as many of them had no protective clothing. This could happen at any time of the year. On a particularly wet day in July 1925, only 25 children out of 60 arrived at school. During the winter of the previous year, a child was removed from the register because her parents did not want her to walk 3 miles across the downs in winter.
In 1906 overall control of the school passed to Wiltshire Council, although there was still a local board of managers.
The one surviving logbook begins in 1924. Three subjects are regularly mentioned; the weather, sickness and attendance. Bad weather often kept the children at home, as many of them had no protective clothing. This could happen at any time of the year. On a particularly wet day in July 1925, only 25 children out of 60 arrived at school. During the winter of the previous year, a child was removed from the register because her parents did not want her to walk 3 miles across the downs in winter.
The children regularly had coughs and colds, but whooping cough was the only illness that caused the school to close. Whenever there was a severe outbreak of any illness, the school medical officer closed the school in order to help stop the spread of infection. Wylye school closed for one week in July 1928 and for a whole month in February 1935.
Some of the annual reports of this school have survived. The last male head teacher to teach at this school (apart from one year prior to the school's closure) was Job Wootton. He was master from c.1903 to 1921, assisted by his wife and daughter. In 1920 the children in his care were said to be well behaved, but their standard of achievement was poor.
In 1921 Mrs Sobey took over the headship. She only stayed five years, but did acquire a field for games. The boys played football and the girls played hockey. There were three classes at this time; 30 older children, 16 in the middle class and 23 infants.
In 1926 Mrs Wilson arrived at the school and stayed for 20 years. There were approximately 70 pupils taught in three classes. The annual report noted an improvement in discipline and achievement but the school was untidy and badly cared for. In September 1938 the school changed to a Junior School and the older pupils (11 and over) attended Wilton school. The staffing was reduced to two and there were 43 pupils on the roll.
Some of the annual reports of this school have survived. The last male head teacher to teach at this school (apart from one year prior to the school's closure) was Job Wootton. He was master from c.1903 to 1921, assisted by his wife and daughter. In 1920 the children in his care were said to be well behaved, but their standard of achievement was poor.
In 1921 Mrs Sobey took over the headship. She only stayed five years, but did acquire a field for games. The boys played football and the girls played hockey. There were three classes at this time; 30 older children, 16 in the middle class and 23 infants.
In 1926 Mrs Wilson arrived at the school and stayed for 20 years. There were approximately 70 pupils taught in three classes. The annual report noted an improvement in discipline and achievement but the school was untidy and badly cared for. In September 1938 the school changed to a Junior School and the older pupils (11 and over) attended Wilton school. The staffing was reduced to two and there were 43 pupils on the roll.
There is very little mention of the Second World War in the logbooks. Some schools helped with wartime activities such as collecting large quantities of fruit, but this does not seem to have happened at Wylye. Ten evacuees arrived from Portsmouth in 1940. Fruit juice was distributed to parents of young children once a fortnight from 1942. In 1943 the school closed during the first week in October to help with the potato harvest. At the end of the war the school was forced to close from 11th June 1945 until the 7th July because it did not have a cleaner. It re-opened on July 9th after the headmistress persuaded a parent to take the job.
When Mrs Wilson retired in 1946 she was replaced by Mrs Bowen-Jones. The 1954 report said that Mrs Jones was well-established in village life. The head and her assistant worked well together and the children were happy and co-operative. Unfortunately pupil numbers were dropping. In 1964 there were just 25 pupils. During Mrs Wilson's time electricity was installed (1948) and the school was also connected to the mains water supply (1953). Modern sanitation arrived in 1959.
When Mrs Wilson retired in 1946 she was replaced by Mrs Bowen-Jones. The 1954 report said that Mrs Jones was well-established in village life. The head and her assistant worked well together and the children were happy and co-operative. Unfortunately pupil numbers were dropping. In 1964 there were just 25 pupils. During Mrs Wilson's time electricity was installed (1948) and the school was also connected to the mains water supply (1953). Modern sanitation arrived in 1959.
In 1967 Mrs Bowen-Jones retired after 21 years at the school. The next head was Mrs Sharpe, later to become Mrs Geach. Two years later, with just 19 children on the roll, closure was approved, subject to improvements being made at Steeple Langford school, to where the Wylye pupils were moved. In November 1970 Mrs Wilson, the infant teacher, sadly died of a heart attack. Just days later, the school suffered a second shock when Mr Geach also died. His wife resigned as head teacher in July 1972.
Robert Digges was in charge for the final year. The school closed in April 1973 and the 27 pupils transferred to Steeple Langford school. In April 2005 this school combined with Codford to form the Wylye Valley School. Both school sites were used, the older children attended Codford and the infants used both sites. In July 2010 Steeple Langford closed and just the Codford site was used. In the same year the school opened a new ICT suite with 25 computers. The catchment area for this school is now Codford, Boyton, Chitterne, Corton, Fisherton de la Mere, Sherrington, Stockton, Upton Lovell and Steeple Langford. In 2010 there were 107 pupils on the roll.
Robert Digges was in charge for the final year. The school closed in April 1973 and the 27 pupils transferred to Steeple Langford school. In April 2005 this school combined with Codford to form the Wylye Valley School. Both school sites were used, the older children attended Codford and the infants used both sites. In July 2010 Steeple Langford closed and just the Codford site was used. In the same year the school opened a new ICT suite with 25 computers. The catchment area for this school is now Codford, Boyton, Chitterne, Corton, Fisherton de la Mere, Sherrington, Stockton, Upton Lovell and Steeple Langford. In 2010 there were 107 pupils on the roll.