Boscombe School

By 1902 a new school, built in 1894, had opened and Anna Brunston was the teacher until 1910; she published ‘Letters of a school Ma’am’ in 1913. The average attendance was 37 pupils in 1902, about 51 pupils in 1906, 60 pupils in 1911 and 34 in 1938, so it was a very small school. The school closed in 1972 and children then went to Idmiston. The schoolroom measured 32’ X 16’, with a smaller room measuring 15’ X 16’ and a small porch. The main room could seat about 34 pupils and the second smaller room could seat 18 pupils.

The Inspector’s report of 1904 commends the teacher for coping on her own but highlights the need for an Infant teacher; this situation is later remedied and the standards of all ages improve. The 1929 report mentions good discipline and progress and comments that the Infants are reading fluently and write well.

Subjects taught concentrated on the three R’s and gradually included more subjects such as geography, history, gardening and nature study. In July 1913, a new set of readers was received by the school entitled ‘Europe and its peoples’ and in 1915 a set called ‘Tales and Travels.’ Labour examinations took place in Amesbury when pupils reached the correct age to transfer to agricultural work. Needlework was done by the girls and the boys undertook carpentry. A nature walk to Boscombe copse revealed such items as the leg bone of a hare and the breast bone of a bird as well as lichen and yew cones. In March 1924 the boys made a clay model of the battle of Marston Moor and later that month a model of the coronation chair. Also in 1924 an evening lantern lecture was given in the school on ‘China’ and was well attended by pupils and parents.

Regular diocesan inspections were conducted with favourable reports. Examinations were held regularly and if a child passed the English and arithmetic exams they could then progress to take the scholarship exam. In 1930 two boys gained scholarships for the Bishop Wordsworth School in Salisbury and one more boy gained a place as a fee paying pupil.

In September 1902 the head mistress was called Anna Bunston and she was assisted by Miss Elizabeth Carter in 1904. After Miss Bunston left in 1910 there was a succession of head teachers until Miss Leslie took up her post there from 1915 to 1919, when she died. Miss Orme became head in 1920 and Edith Jones in 1925, followed by R. H. Stanton in 1927 until 1931. Lilian Cox followed until 1938 and was responsible for improving the scope of subjects, encouraging swimming, drama and the annual sports day. More recent head teachers include Mrs Harrison, Mrs. Airdrie and the final head, Mrs. Marshman.

In August 1905 71 pupils were on the register with 51 in January 1912. Three girls were admitted in 1917 having moved from Langlybury near Watford because of the air raids and they stayed for the duration of the First World War. In 1918 there were 57 pupils, 39 in 1925 and 35 in 1927. The attendance was usually good, around 95%, and was generally only affected by illness and bad weather.

The summer holidays began slightly early in July 1910 so that alterations could be made to the building and on return in September the classroom had been enlarged. Maintenance and upgrading work took place regularly including the receiving of ‘four new buckets for the offices’ and the lime-washing of the interior walls, white washing of ceilings, painting of woodwork and mending of windows in 1913.

In July of 1905 the school had an excursion to Bournemouth and in July 1910 a holiday was granted for Winterbourne Temperance Fete. In October 1910 a half holiday was granted to allow attendance at Salisbury Fair and the school closed from June 9th to June 26th 1911 for the Coronation and Whitsun holiday. Other royal events that allowed an extra holiday included Princess Mary’s wedding day in 1922, the Duke of Kent’s marriage in 1934 and in 1937 a holiday for the King’s Jubilee when oak trees and seedlings were planted in the school grounds. School outings occurred in the summer to places like Weymouth, in 1926, and Bournemouth while some extra half days were given for local events like a visiting circus and Tidworth Tattoo. In 1931 the children visited the ‘Missionary Exhibition’ in Salisbury and they also began attending the Salisbury Baths in 1938, travelling by bus and receiving swimming instruction. When V.E. Day was announced in May 1945 there was a two day holiday allowed.

Absences occurred for reasons often associated with weather, such as heavy snowfall in 1921 and 1945 or illness, and in 1916 some boys took time off to ‘lead the farmers horses’; the school was sometimes closed for lack of coal for the stove. Many of the normal childhood illnesses are mentioned in the school log books, and these include an epidemic of scarlet fever in 1907, which prompted a fortnight’s closure. Regular examinations of the children were taking place by the beginning of the 20th century by medical professionals and dental treatment, when recommended, took place at the school. Whooping cough closed the school in 1915, mumps occurred in 1916, measles in 1918, and in 1927 another whooping cough epidemic occurred as well as cases of impetigo and ringworm, and then diphtheria in 1930.

Special or extra events included a rounder’s match between the Cholderton girls and Allington and Boscombe and a choir outing in 1920. In 1938 the first annual inter house sports day took place, the houses being Cook, Nelson and Drake, and the school log book contains a programme showing a list of the races that were scheduled.

Usual misbehaviour such as lateness, disobedience, cheek and leaving the premises without permission, are mentioned; and one child once threw a book at the teacher’s head. Being sent into the porch was one of the punishments given as well as receiving strokes of the cane and play was forfeited by one pupil for bullying a small boy on his way home from school in 1931.

The weighing machine and books were regularly passed onto either Newton Tony School or Idmiston School. A new piano was received in 1921 and a school photo was taken in 1938. The children listened on the radio to the launching of the Queen Elizabeth and they were taken to see the film ‘Snow White’ at the Gaumont in Salisbury in 1938, which must have been a wonderful experience. The head teacher had the children into her own house to listen to the cenotaph service on the radio in November 1938. A concert was given by the children in the stone barn in 1938 by permission of Mrs. Macan; items included singing and dancing routines like ‘the chestnut tree’ and a tap dance interpretation of the Lambeth Walk. The main item was the play ‘Snow White’ performed in four acts and there were also piano recitals. This event was written up in the local paper and was very well received, showing how drama and dance and acting were becoming part of the school teaching and increasing the confidence of the children. Also in 1938 a large tin of Horlicks tablets was bought from the Horlicks representative and the children could buy the tablets in lesser quantities - five for a halfpenny.

With the war imminent, the ARP and child evacuation arrangements were discussed, and included excusing scouts and guides from school to act as messengers, teaching the children to scatter quickly and ‘lie down in hedges if a sudden raid happened.’ In February 1941 there was an alert at lunchtime. In 1942 on ‘American Thanksgiving Day’ the school listened to the broadcast from Westminster Abbey. School dinners were supplied for the first time in May 1945 from the Wilton depot at a cost of 5d. per head; 21 children took them initially rising to 27 by the end of the week. One day in July the school dinner van did not turn up and the children were sent home early from school. The school closed on 18th July 1972 when a final end of term service was held in Boscombe School. Then the children and teachers were transported by coach to their ‘new’ school in Idmiston and given a tour. On return to Boscombe the pupils left their school for the last time.