Wilcot Church of England School
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There was a small school in Wilcot in 1783 and two or three petty schools in 1808. In 1818 the Vicar gave a Sunday school for about fifty children. However, in 1818 there was still recorded a lack of educational opportunity for the poor children of the village. In 1833 approximately 50 children were taught in 4 schools at their parents’ expense.
In 1841 Colonel Wroughton built a new school next to Wilcot Green. It had a flagged floor and a cottage for the use of the teacher attached. In 1846-7 it housed a day school for about 75 infants and an evening school of 21. The teachers were paid £51 a year and the costs were met by subscriptions and the payment of fees; Colonel Wroughton assisted financially. In 1859 the building is described as having a flag floor, wall desk and residence (house for the teacher). A master taught 50 boys and girls. In 1914 the average attendance was 57; by 1938 this number had fallen to 38. In 1949 the school was bought by Wiltshire County Council. By 1969 numbers had fallen to such a level that the school was closed and the children sent to Oare.
In 1841 Colonel Wroughton built a new school next to Wilcot Green. It had a flagged floor and a cottage for the use of the teacher attached. In 1846-7 it housed a day school for about 75 infants and an evening school of 21. The teachers were paid £51 a year and the costs were met by subscriptions and the payment of fees; Colonel Wroughton assisted financially. In 1859 the building is described as having a flag floor, wall desk and residence (house for the teacher). A master taught 50 boys and girls. In 1914 the average attendance was 57; by 1938 this number had fallen to 38. In 1949 the school was bought by Wiltshire County Council. By 1969 numbers had fallen to such a level that the school was closed and the children sent to Oare.
The school log book dates from 1943 to 1969 and provides an interesting picture of school life. Some events are regular fixtures such as school holidays, visits from the District Nurse or the attendance officers, entertainments of plays or songs given to parents and friends, public examinations and Christmas parties, often given by the vicar or in later years by Sir Philip Dunn, a large landowner in the area.
Other recorded events were sporadic and some indicate the impingement of the wider world on Wilcot. In 1943 gas mask drill was given to the seniors and juniors on the last Friday in every month and to the Infants every Friday. On the 24th of March 1944 Sergeant Shephard of Pewsey Police Station spoke to the school on the dangers of explosives, trespassing on government land and begging from American soldiers. On D-Day the children listened to the radio broadcast and a service was held, with special mention of relations and friends serving in the forces, the national anthem was sung. VE day was marked by prayers of thanksgiving, two days holiday and a picnic, held at the vicarage.
Other recorded events were sporadic and some indicate the impingement of the wider world on Wilcot. In 1943 gas mask drill was given to the seniors and juniors on the last Friday in every month and to the Infants every Friday. On the 24th of March 1944 Sergeant Shephard of Pewsey Police Station spoke to the school on the dangers of explosives, trespassing on government land and begging from American soldiers. On D-Day the children listened to the radio broadcast and a service was held, with special mention of relations and friends serving in the forces, the national anthem was sung. VE day was marked by prayers of thanksgiving, two days holiday and a picnic, held at the vicarage.
Other occasions deemed sufficiently important to justify special holidays included the wedding of Princess Elizabeth on the 20th November 1947, the wedding of Princess Margaret on the 6th May 1960 and between them, the coronation on June 2nd 1953, which was marked by a three days’ holiday, a sports day with tea party at which each child was given a commemorative mug filled with sweets and a special evening service. The importance attached to the occasion also justified a trip on the 24th June to the cinema to see a coloured film of the coronation. School trips are also recorded, to Devizes museum, to visit HMS Victory, the 1951 Festival of Britain, the Roman Baths and Bristol zoo.
The condition of the fabric of the school and school cottage was a matter of ongoing concern. In December 1944 the school was closed for 2 days by flooding from a blocked drain in the yard, and the problems caused by the faulty stove recur throughout 1947. In February of that year problems caused by the stove, combined with heavy falls of snow and high levels of absence closed the school for 2 days. Electric light was installed at the school in the Easter holiday of 1946. The entry for the 20th November 1962 ‘the bathroom in school cottage now functions and no words can describe the exaltation of the headmistress’, testifies to a truly personal joy.
The condition of the fabric of the school and school cottage was a matter of ongoing concern. In December 1944 the school was closed for 2 days by flooding from a blocked drain in the yard, and the problems caused by the faulty stove recur throughout 1947. In February of that year problems caused by the stove, combined with heavy falls of snow and high levels of absence closed the school for 2 days. Electric light was installed at the school in the Easter holiday of 1946. The entry for the 20th November 1962 ‘the bathroom in school cottage now functions and no words can describe the exaltation of the headmistress’, testifies to a truly personal joy.
The Headteacher left the school on the 24th October 1946 to head Boscombe and Allington School, this may have been unexpected as an interim head was appointed and the new Headmistress did not arrive until February 1947. This teacher did not stay long as there was again a new Head in the September of 1951.
The logbook also records the number of pupils on the roll. This number descends steadily for most of the period covered by the logbook though there are periods of recovery. In 1952 there were 35 pupils, the reorganisation of 1954 when the older children were sent to Pewsey school reduced this to 27. By 1965 this had become 21. In 1968 the headmistress was informed that the hours of part-time assistance were being cut. She protested at this but was informed that no further expenditure could be justified by the number of pupils at the school. At a meeting on the 2nd of July she refused to continue without more assistance. It was decided that the numbers at the school did not justify the required assistance, and after discussion with parents it was arranged that transport should be provided to take the children to Oare School. Wilcot School closed for the last time of April 1st 1969.
The logbook also records the number of pupils on the roll. This number descends steadily for most of the period covered by the logbook though there are periods of recovery. In 1952 there were 35 pupils, the reorganisation of 1954 when the older children were sent to Pewsey school reduced this to 27. By 1965 this had become 21. In 1968 the headmistress was informed that the hours of part-time assistance were being cut. She protested at this but was informed that no further expenditure could be justified by the number of pupils at the school. At a meeting on the 2nd of July she refused to continue without more assistance. It was decided that the numbers at the school did not justify the required assistance, and after discussion with parents it was arranged that transport should be provided to take the children to Oare School. Wilcot School closed for the last time of April 1st 1969.