Winterbourne Stoke School

The first mention of a school in Winterbourne is in 1684. A letter written by Thomas Harward, vicar of Winterbourne Stoke, and sent to the Bishop of Salisbury, informs the Bishop that Harward is building a school house and will shortly open a school. Harward also built Maddington Vicarage, where he resided as curate, at the same time holding the living of Rollestone. 

In 1818 a dame school had about 23 pupils when a schoolroom was built. 

The Bishop’s visitation return for 1842 recorded a school that was not endowed. The pupils were taught by a mistress, and the poor scholars were assisted by private charity. The boys stayed at school until the age of 10, the girls until 12. This rule had been in place for 25 years and was generally adhered to. The boys were then judged fit to plough or be shepherd’s boys. The girls helped at home or went into service.

An evening school was offered in the winter for a few weeks; in the vicar’s opinion it was very useful. 

In 1858, a report compiled by a school inspector recorded a good schoolroom where 40-50 pupils were taught by an uncertificated mistress and a monitor. They replaced a certificated mistress and pupil teacher; the school manager had chosen to decline government aid as he believed the standard of requirements was too high.  

The schoolroom was replaced in 1875 by a gabled red-brick school on the west side of Church Street near the Vicarage, built to accommodate 80 children. 

Unfortunately, no logbooks from the Victorian period survive in the public domain but we know in general terms what school life would have entailed. By 1880 children were educated up to the age of ten, although they could stay longer. The learning age was raised to eleven in 1893, when children normally started as infants, aged four or five. School fees, one penny or twopence a week, had been removed in 1891. The school day was likely to have been from 9.00 to 12.00 noon and from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

Children either brought their lunch and ate it in the schoolroom or went home to eat. The teacher was assisted by paid monitors in their mid-teens or by a pupil teacher, who was training to become a certified teacher. 

Lessons were the elementary ones of reading, writing and arithmetic with scripture; some lessons in the latter subject were often taken by the vicar. The girls learned sewing, and all had singing and recitation. Some geography and history would have been taught. School holidays were about a week or 10 days at Christmas and Easter, a week at Whitsun and five weeks Harvest Holiday in the summer. Full day and half day holidays were given for various reasons such as church or chapel teas or Sunday school outings, Royal and national occasions and the afternoon after the H.M.I. examinations. Unauthorised absences included seasonal work on the farm and in the garden for the older children and visits to local fairs, military events and other local happenings. 

The schoolroom measured 41’ by 15’ and all the children were taught in the one room.

In 1929, the headmistress was teaching the 22 pupils in standards II to VII (ages 8-13) and her assistant taught the 13 infants and standard I (possibly as young as 3, up to 8). 

In 1932 the school changed to a junior school and the older children went to Shrewton. There was only one teacher looking after 26 pupils in 1937. 

In 1939, the teacher commented in her annual report that the farmer, who was the main employer, could not keep men for long. This meant a constant change of pupils, which in turn caused disruption. The teacher found it a challenge teaching on her own, with no adult support or company. 

By 1948 there was much discussion about closure. The plan was for the Winterbourne children to attend school at Berwick St.

James, which would become a junior school.  Berwick seniors would go to Wilton Secondary Modern. 

The parents objected to closure, but it was inevitable, and the school closed in 1949. 

In 1954 the school was changed into a cottage.