National School, Great Wishford
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The first school at Great Wishford was built in June 1722 and is thought to have been paid for by the will of Sir Richard Howe, who gave the school tithes from Asserton. This money was then used to pay for a master and mistress to teach 20 boys and 20 girls.
David Oland, who died in 1737, gave the income from a bequest of £200 to boys from the school who were going on to apprenticeships. This was mainly to enable them to buy tools.
The income from the bequest remained relatively high and any additional monies were used to pay for fuel and repairs to the school. In 1810 the income was approximately £63. By 1846, the school had grown to having two rooms as well accommodation for the schoolteacher. In 1901 the school would still receive an income of £51.
There were 43 children at the school in 1846. By 1859, when HM Inspector William Warburton carried out his survey of Wiltshire schools, there were 35 boy pupils and 35 girls, taught by a schoolmistress, and he indicated his understanding that all the poor children were taught ‘almost gratuitously’.
David Oland, who died in 1737, gave the income from a bequest of £200 to boys from the school who were going on to apprenticeships. This was mainly to enable them to buy tools.
The income from the bequest remained relatively high and any additional monies were used to pay for fuel and repairs to the school. In 1810 the income was approximately £63. By 1846, the school had grown to having two rooms as well accommodation for the schoolteacher. In 1901 the school would still receive an income of £51.
There were 43 children at the school in 1846. By 1859, when HM Inspector William Warburton carried out his survey of Wiltshire schools, there were 35 boy pupils and 35 girls, taught by a schoolmistress, and he indicated his understanding that all the poor children were taught ‘almost gratuitously’.
This small rural school went about its business in a similar manner to other rural schools at that time. The teachers were often concerned about the levels of attendance, which was affected by bad weather, illness and children being taken out of school for agricultural tasks. A good illustration of this is the comment made in the log book on 20 June 1895, which reads: ‘The number of scholars present is very small....A great many are away through illness and some are haymaking...Work is almost at a standstill in consequence’.
On 20 October 1899: ‘Salisbury Fair on Tuesday had a bad effect on the attendance for the week.’ On 18 January 1926: ‘Owing to a heavy fall of snow, only 32 children are present this morning’. Wet weather always resulted in a number of absences since all the children would walk to school, some of them for considerable distances; they would then return home for lunch and then go back to school for the afternoon session.
If there was a suspicion of an illness which could spread quickly, any children in likely contact with the illness were kept away from school. For example, on 29 April 1895, the schoolmistress wrote: ‘A case of diphtheria reported this afternoon, the rest of the family sent home awaiting Doctor’s instructions’. Chicken pox, whooping cough, scarlet fever, and influenza were all common illnesses.
On 20 October 1899: ‘Salisbury Fair on Tuesday had a bad effect on the attendance for the week.’ On 18 January 1926: ‘Owing to a heavy fall of snow, only 32 children are present this morning’. Wet weather always resulted in a number of absences since all the children would walk to school, some of them for considerable distances; they would then return home for lunch and then go back to school for the afternoon session.
If there was a suspicion of an illness which could spread quickly, any children in likely contact with the illness were kept away from school. For example, on 29 April 1895, the schoolmistress wrote: ‘A case of diphtheria reported this afternoon, the rest of the family sent home awaiting Doctor’s instructions’. Chicken pox, whooping cough, scarlet fever, and influenza were all common illnesses.
Oak Apple Day on May 29 is referred to in the school log books as “Oaken bough day”, ‘Wishford rights, ‘Oak Apple fete’ and ‘Oak Apple festivities’.
The HM and Diocesan inspectors were invariably positive about the school, although room for improvement was pointed out: An inspection in March 1896 found: ‘The elementary work is fairly satisfactory... Writing should improve in some cases, as well as the setting out of the sums... More regular practice should be given in oral arithmetic... The infants are fairly well advanced, particularly in the first class’.
A Diocesan report from 1899 stated: ‘The school seems excellently taught and to be in excellent order...The written repetition was very good and the written examination corresponded with the oral in showing evenness of attainment throughout. The infants showed brightness and intelligence and some of the smallest answered. The whole reflects credit on the Rector and the staff’.
The HM and Diocesan inspectors were invariably positive about the school, although room for improvement was pointed out: An inspection in March 1896 found: ‘The elementary work is fairly satisfactory... Writing should improve in some cases, as well as the setting out of the sums... More regular practice should be given in oral arithmetic... The infants are fairly well advanced, particularly in the first class’.
A Diocesan report from 1899 stated: ‘The school seems excellently taught and to be in excellent order...The written repetition was very good and the written examination corresponded with the oral in showing evenness of attainment throughout. The infants showed brightness and intelligence and some of the smallest answered. The whole reflects credit on the Rector and the staff’.