National School, Ogbourne St. Andrew
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In 1858 the HM Inspector William Warburton described the National School in the village of Ogbourne St. Andrew as consisting of a “sufficiently commodious room, cleared out in a low thatched cottage, with irregular boarded floor and a few loose desks”. The 20 to 30 pupils paid 1d. a week and were taught by a mistress.
A new National School was built in 1871 on the site occupied by a cottage which, according to the building specifications for the school, was to be taken down carefully and the materials cleaned for reuse. The specifications and plans of the new building are held by Wiltshire and Swindon Archives and may be viewed at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.
The school log books for the new school began on 29 February 1876 when William Fish, a certificated teacher, began his duties as schoolmaster:
A new National School was built in 1871 on the site occupied by a cottage which, according to the building specifications for the school, was to be taken down carefully and the materials cleaned for reuse. The specifications and plans of the new building are held by Wiltshire and Swindon Archives and may be viewed at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.
The school log books for the new school began on 29 February 1876 when William Fish, a certificated teacher, began his duties as schoolmaster:
The number of children on the school roll during the first months of the new school's life is not recorded, but on June 30 1876 the total attendance was 72; average attendances, however, appeared to be in the region of 60. The importance of recording attendance numbers, the registers being checked at regular intervals by the Vicar/Manager, was a result of the system whereby government grants to the school were dependant on attendance as well as on examination results. HM Inspector would visit the school to carry out his inspection on a regular basis and in addition to assessing the children's state of learning, would make recommendations as to curriculum, teaching and staffing. Until 1891 each child would pay his or her “school pence” as a fee to the school. On occasion children would be sent home until back payments were made. Fees would finally be abolished in 1891.
Absences from the school would be for a number of reasons: Extreme or prolonged snowy and rainy weather could prevent children who had to walk some distance to attend school from doing so. In July 1885 extreme heat, too, led to low attendance. Illness would also be a factor affecting attendance and would be duly recorded in the log books. In May 1879 an entry reads “Severe weather and deep fall of snow. Many children with whooping cough”. In May 1888 nearly all the Infants were absent with the same illness. The next month several children were ill with measles. Bad colds, influenza, chicken pox, and on occasion isolated cases of scarlet fever, feature in the log book entries and in the course of the 1880s four children would die as a result of illness. From time to time the school would be closed for a number of days in order to prevent contagion between children. By the early years of the 20th century the School Medical Officer and his assistants would carry out regular examinations of the children, which would include weighing and measuring on a twice-yearly basis.
However, absences would not always be for such unfortunate reasons: In an agricultural community the help of the children in the fields was seen as essential. The dates of the Harvest Holiday would vary from year to year according to the readiness of the crops; however agricultural activities would also affect attendance outside the Harvest Holiday as, for example, in October 1876 when there were a number of absences due to potato picking. In November 1884, older boys were absent “due to sheep fair”.
By the 1880s the School Attendance Officer was active. He would visit the school to learn which children had had a number of unauthorised absences or had a record of truancy. In July 1898 he visited the school and wished “to know why a number of children were at work or absent before school had broken up for harvest…. A few winter oats were cut and as the mothers were tying them, they took the children with them. They do it in defiance of law because it is an old custom. The school suffers in consequence”. In December of the same year, parents “of the irregular” were fined 2/6d. each by magistrates.
By the 1880s the School Attendance Officer was active. He would visit the school to learn which children had had a number of unauthorised absences or had a record of truancy. In July 1898 he visited the school and wished “to know why a number of children were at work or absent before school had broken up for harvest…. A few winter oats were cut and as the mothers were tying them, they took the children with them. They do it in defiance of law because it is an old custom. The school suffers in consequence”. In December of the same year, parents “of the irregular” were fined 2/6d. each by magistrates.
The leaving age in 1876 was 10 years; in 1891 it was raised to11 and in 1899 to 12 years. However, children still wishing (or needing for economic reasons) to leave at the age of 11 could attend the Labour Certificate examinations held periodically in Marlborough; if it was judged that they had achieved a certain level in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, then they were awarded a Labour Certificate and allowed to leave school.
In the early years of the 20th century the number of children registered at the school was in the 70s; in September 1908 there were 45 children in the Mixed School and 29, aged from 5 to 7 years) in the Infants’ school.
The schoolteacher was assisted by a ‘Supplementary Teacher’. Details of the school’s ancillary staffing during the 19th century are not clear; however, HM Inspector’s report of May 1894 refers to a female pupil teacher being removed from the school register and brought under the Inspector’s notice for his next annual visit with a view to being approved under “Article 68 of the Code”, presumably the Code of Regulations introduced by the government in 1871.
The subjects taught in 1878 were Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Dictation and Sewing. By the 1880s and 1890s, Drawing had been added to the curriculum. The Infants received ‘object lessons’ on diverse subjects such as ‘the cow, the cat, the limbs, colour, the sheep’.
In the early years of the 20th century the number of children registered at the school was in the 70s; in September 1908 there were 45 children in the Mixed School and 29, aged from 5 to 7 years) in the Infants’ school.
The schoolteacher was assisted by a ‘Supplementary Teacher’. Details of the school’s ancillary staffing during the 19th century are not clear; however, HM Inspector’s report of May 1894 refers to a female pupil teacher being removed from the school register and brought under the Inspector’s notice for his next annual visit with a view to being approved under “Article 68 of the Code”, presumably the Code of Regulations introduced by the government in 1871.
The subjects taught in 1878 were Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Dictation and Sewing. By the 1880s and 1890s, Drawing had been added to the curriculum. The Infants received ‘object lessons’ on diverse subjects such as ‘the cow, the cat, the limbs, colour, the sheep’.
The school and children were regularly inspected by HM Inspector whose reports were persistently positive in the 1880s: In 1884 he reported, “The children are very well behaved, and have passed a thoroughly good examination in the Elementary subjects as well as in Recitation and Grammar….” In July 1885, “The discipline of this school is kind and firm, and the teaching quiet and effective; In May 1886, The School is going on in a very satisfactory manner as to both discipline and attainments…”
The children were also tested in their religious and scriptural knowledge both in the periodic Diocesan examinations and more regularly by the Vicar who also acted as Manager of the school.
In addition, sporting activities were clearly a regular feature: in October 1905 the log book refers to a boy being hurt at hockey, and three years later, in October 1908, to a hockey match with a Swindon school.
From time to time children were punished for disobedience, impertinence or untruthfulness; generally the punishment took the form of one or two blows of the cane – scrupulously recorded in the log books.
However, the work of the children was punctuated not only by the school holidays but by individual days’ holidays to mark national or local celebrations. The following list gives an indication of the holidays received:
“July 17 1885: Day’s holiday. School treat this afternoon in Mr. Long’s meadow….
The children were also tested in their religious and scriptural knowledge both in the periodic Diocesan examinations and more regularly by the Vicar who also acted as Manager of the school.
In addition, sporting activities were clearly a regular feature: in October 1905 the log book refers to a boy being hurt at hockey, and three years later, in October 1908, to a hockey match with a Swindon school.
From time to time children were punished for disobedience, impertinence or untruthfulness; generally the punishment took the form of one or two blows of the cane – scrupulously recorded in the log books.
However, the work of the children was punctuated not only by the school holidays but by individual days’ holidays to mark national or local celebrations. The following list gives an indication of the holidays received:
“July 17 1885: Day’s holiday. School treat this afternoon in Mr. Long’s meadow….
June 21 1887: Day’s holiday on account of Victoria’s jubilee. Dinner, tea and sports for all the village after a Thanksgiving Service...
July 25 1887: Half holiday: Duchess of Albany visiting Marlborough…
June 18 1897: School closed to June 24th to commemorate Diamond Jubilee. Children to be entertained with the rest of the village to dinner and tea, athletic sports and fireworks…
May 21 1900: Monday: News of relief of Mafeking the previous Saturday therefore promised half-holiday today…
May 24 1900: Queen’s Birthday Holiday…
November 9th 1905: Half hour extra play in afternoon for King’s birthday”.
Physical conditions in the school improved considerably when, in May 1897, the school teacher recorded that a new room had been completed; consequently the Infants’ and Mixed Schools could be taught separately. In his inspection of May 1895 HM Inspector had insisted that a new classroom was needed to ensure better conditions in which the children could be taught and could learn.
July 25 1887: Half holiday: Duchess of Albany visiting Marlborough…
June 18 1897: School closed to June 24th to commemorate Diamond Jubilee. Children to be entertained with the rest of the village to dinner and tea, athletic sports and fireworks…
May 21 1900: Monday: News of relief of Mafeking the previous Saturday therefore promised half-holiday today…
May 24 1900: Queen’s Birthday Holiday…
November 9th 1905: Half hour extra play in afternoon for King’s birthday”.
Physical conditions in the school improved considerably when, in May 1897, the school teacher recorded that a new room had been completed; consequently the Infants’ and Mixed Schools could be taught separately. In his inspection of May 1895 HM Inspector had insisted that a new classroom was needed to ensure better conditions in which the children could be taught and could learn.