National School, Stert
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In 1842 William Bruges of Chirton sold a piece of land to the Rev. Spencer-Clerk of Stert and the three churchwardens for £1 to allow the building of a school in the village. The piece of land measured 33 by 46 feet and a small school was built, aided by a £20 government grant, and opened in 1842 with accommodation for 25 children. In the Warburton survey of 1858 it was described as a fair schoolroom measuring 17 ½ x 13 ½ feet, with a brick floor and walls desks, which were shortly to be replaced with parallel desks. Seven boys and ten girls were taught be an untrained mistress and instruction and discipline were said to be unsatisfactory at that time.
There are no earlier Victorian log books for Stert help in the Wiltshire & Swindon Archives but the following general information will be applicable to the village school:
Fees were paid for each child until 1891, normally at the rate of one penny (0.4p) or twopence a week and the ‘school pence’ were collected by the schoolteacher. There would have been a schoolmaster, or schoolmistress, with assistant teachers, pupil teachers and monitors. The pupil teachers were taught by the head before lessons started, took exams, sometimes went to the Diocesan Training College and eventually became teachers themselves. They mainly taught the younger children. Monitors were also paid but tended to be younger and helped to look after the younger children or teach the infants.
There are no earlier Victorian log books for Stert help in the Wiltshire & Swindon Archives but the following general information will be applicable to the village school:
Fees were paid for each child until 1891, normally at the rate of one penny (0.4p) or twopence a week and the ‘school pence’ were collected by the schoolteacher. There would have been a schoolmaster, or schoolmistress, with assistant teachers, pupil teachers and monitors. The pupil teachers were taught by the head before lessons started, took exams, sometimes went to the Diocesan Training College and eventually became teachers themselves. They mainly taught the younger children. Monitors were also paid but tended to be younger and helped to look after the younger children or teach the infants.
School holidays were at similar times to those of today but often there was only 2 days at Easter but a week at Whitsun. The summer holidays were of five or six weeks and were called the Harvest Holidays as the children either helped with the harvest or carried food and drink to their parents, who were working in the fields. There were more half-day and whole day holidays for special events. Half a day would be given after the annual H.M.I. or Diocesan inspections and there were holidays for school treats, choir outings, chapel teas, Christmas parties and at times when the school was needed for other purposes.
There were also many unauthorised absences. These would be for seasonal work, such as haymaking (June) and early or late harvest (July or September), being kept at home to help their parents, and working when they should have been at school. Bad weather such as heavy rain, cold weather, or snow kept children away from school, often because their parents couldn’t afford to buy them suitable clothes. Apart from the usual colds and coughs there were more serious illnesses than today and these included, mumps, measles, whooping cough, scarletina and diphtheria.
There were also many unauthorised absences. These would be for seasonal work, such as haymaking (June) and early or late harvest (July or September), being kept at home to help their parents, and working when they should have been at school. Bad weather such as heavy rain, cold weather, or snow kept children away from school, often because their parents couldn’t afford to buy them suitable clothes. Apart from the usual colds and coughs there were more serious illnesses than today and these included, mumps, measles, whooping cough, scarletina and diphtheria.
The elementary subjects were the ‘3 Rs’ – reading writing and arithmetic. Scripture was often taught by the vicar and children would have attended church for services on some days. Older children were taught history and geography and there may have been some study of natural history. Singing was taught to all ages and all the girls and some of the boys would have done needlework. Drawing had been introduced by the 1890s.
The existing log book for the school begins in January 1898, when there were 25 scholars.
A report from H.M. Inspector dated March 1923 states that ‘27 children are taught in a room with accommodation for only 25, by a Headmistress and 1 monitress. The orderliness, pleasing manners and regular attendance of the children are a good feature to mention. It should be possible, however, even in difficult circumstances, to bring the children’s attainments more into conformity with the classification and to raise the standard of work as a whole to a considerably higher level.’
The existing log book for the school begins in January 1898, when there were 25 scholars.
A report from H.M. Inspector dated March 1923 states that ‘27 children are taught in a room with accommodation for only 25, by a Headmistress and 1 monitress. The orderliness, pleasing manners and regular attendance of the children are a good feature to mention. It should be possible, however, even in difficult circumstances, to bring the children’s attainments more into conformity with the classification and to raise the standard of work as a whole to a considerably higher level.’
In addition to maths and English, reading and religious instruction, the children were taught elementary science, geography and history and the dangers of coal mining was an annual topic. In 1898 sewing was taught to infant boys, and pupils also knitted socks. In 1910 they were taught basket weaving from rushes gathered in the meadows. The senior girls attended Devizes Domestic Science Centre for instruction in housewifery in 1911. By 1916 the domestic subject classes were held Urchfont Reading Room. On Saint George’s day the lesson was patriotism.
In November 1911 a new monitress was employed at a salary of £7.16 shillings per annum. October 1925 it was noted that the employment of the monitress was automatically terminated as she was now 18 years of age. A 15 years old was appointed as monitress, on probation.
Attendance was often affected when the weather was bad. In April 1922 there was a heavy snow storm and only nine children were present. Pupils were absent on the occasion of Devizes Fair, and the children were granted a national holiday at the request of the King, to celebrate the marriage of the Duke of York. Children were also absent on the occasions when there was a Sunday School Treat. At harvest time the school would close early in the afternoon, to enable pupils to help with the harvest.
In November 1911 a new monitress was employed at a salary of £7.16 shillings per annum. October 1925 it was noted that the employment of the monitress was automatically terminated as she was now 18 years of age. A 15 years old was appointed as monitress, on probation.
Attendance was often affected when the weather was bad. In April 1922 there was a heavy snow storm and only nine children were present. Pupils were absent on the occasion of Devizes Fair, and the children were granted a national holiday at the request of the King, to celebrate the marriage of the Duke of York. Children were also absent on the occasions when there was a Sunday School Treat. At harvest time the school would close early in the afternoon, to enable pupils to help with the harvest.
The school had five weeks holiday in summer, with two weeks at Christmas and one week each at Easter and during May. An extra week was granted to celebrate the Coronation. In 1918 a half-holiday was granted to celebrate peace.
The school was often closed when illnesses were in the village. During 1898 Measles caused a closure of 1 month. In 1904 a family of 6 children were banned from school as a member of the family had diphtheria. Whooping cough was present from May to July of 1906 though the log book does not record a closure. In 1914 it was closed for three weeks because of measles. January 1923 the reason for closure was mumps. In 1924, whooping cough and influenza caused a two week closure, but when the school re-opened, attendances were still low. When the teacher was ill, the school was closed. On one occasion it is also noted that one boy was absent, working.
In 1900 an older boy was admitted who had never been to school. In 1913, Empire Day was celebrated with a march to Etchilhampton Manor where the children were entertained to tea. In 1915 a pupil was awarded a Foundation Scholarship for four years at Devizes Secondary School. The following year a presentation was made to a pupil who had attended the school for seven years without absence. In 1917 a group of 22 children from London stayed in the village and attended the school for a period of 6 weeks. There had been air raids in London.
The school was often closed when illnesses were in the village. During 1898 Measles caused a closure of 1 month. In 1904 a family of 6 children were banned from school as a member of the family had diphtheria. Whooping cough was present from May to July of 1906 though the log book does not record a closure. In 1914 it was closed for three weeks because of measles. January 1923 the reason for closure was mumps. In 1924, whooping cough and influenza caused a two week closure, but when the school re-opened, attendances were still low. When the teacher was ill, the school was closed. On one occasion it is also noted that one boy was absent, working.
In 1900 an older boy was admitted who had never been to school. In 1913, Empire Day was celebrated with a march to Etchilhampton Manor where the children were entertained to tea. In 1915 a pupil was awarded a Foundation Scholarship for four years at Devizes Secondary School. The following year a presentation was made to a pupil who had attended the school for seven years without absence. In 1917 a group of 22 children from London stayed in the village and attended the school for a period of 6 weeks. There had been air raids in London.
The first visit of a dentist was noted in 1919, while 1920 saw a visit from the school nurse. During this year a pupil aged three years and eight months was admitted. Father Christmas visited for the first time in 1911, when the children received presents. The receipt of library books, from Bishop’s Canning was recorded in 1920. Punishment is rarely recorded but there is a note of one child received a ‘slap’ for ‘idling’, coming late , also disobedience and ‘playing’.
The first school outing was recorded in 1922, to Bournemouth. In 1923 the outing left the school at 6.00 a.m. and went via Frome and Wells and Cheddar, to Weston super Mare. They arrived home at 10.30 p.m.
In 1924 a pupil gained a Silver Star and first class certificate at the Wilts Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Maximum points were gained for a child’s smocked frock, and in 1925 two pupils also gained awards.
The school came under the management of Wiltshire County Council from 1902 and was then known as an Elementary (all age) School. At that time 26 children attended the school and the headmistress was Mrs Mary Orr. Numbers on the school role were falling as was the village population after the First World War and at the end of January 1927 the headmistress, Miss Hawkins, resigned and Margery Mannings took temporary charge until the school closed at noon on the 12th March 1927.
The first school outing was recorded in 1922, to Bournemouth. In 1923 the outing left the school at 6.00 a.m. and went via Frome and Wells and Cheddar, to Weston super Mare. They arrived home at 10.30 p.m.
In 1924 a pupil gained a Silver Star and first class certificate at the Wilts Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Maximum points were gained for a child’s smocked frock, and in 1925 two pupils also gained awards.
The school came under the management of Wiltshire County Council from 1902 and was then known as an Elementary (all age) School. At that time 26 children attended the school and the headmistress was Mrs Mary Orr. Numbers on the school role were falling as was the village population after the First World War and at the end of January 1927 the headmistress, Miss Hawkins, resigned and Margery Mannings took temporary charge until the school closed at noon on the 12th March 1927.