Lowden Church of England, Chippenham
Click on a photograph to view it.
Early history.
Lowden School was opened on 15th June 1896 with 69 children aged from 3 to 8. Mary Coombs, a certified teacher, was in charge with a staff of three, one of whom was on loan from The National Infants School.
The school grew rapidly and the HMI report of 1898 recommended that a third qualified teacher be recruited.
Mary Coombs noted in April 1902, that she had so many children admitted at the age of 6, who had never been to school or attended so infrequently, that she was forced to drop all subjects except the basic three Rs for the first two classes, to bring them up to the required level.
The staffing had improved by this time to 4 teachers, two of whom were probationers. But with so few qualified teachers, if any of them went off sick, classes had to be grouped together and lessons rearranged. Sometimes however, help was available from another school.
New classrooms were added in 1910 and 1914 to accommodate the growing numbers.
Subjects taught.
Recitation, clay modelling, embroidery, sewing, drawing, stenciling, singing, physical exercise and games supported the staple structure of reading, writing and arithmetic. Fairy tales stimulated the imagination.
The first year classes were instructed in the use of common objects such as coal, wheat, knives, the vegetable world, animals that work, animals for food and natural phenomena.
Scripture teaching was an important part of the lesson framework and sometimes the children were taken to church for a service instead of a lesson in class. Occasional special services of thanksgiving were held in the playground to encourage compassion and social awareness. The children were asked to bring gifts of flowers and vegetables to distribute to the hospitals.
The older children were given an insight into practical work, brick building, bead threading, ball making and weaving.
At the age of eight, the children were transferred to Ivy Lane mixed school.
The School log records a red-letter day when three Lowden pupils won cash prizes in The Bread Project Colour Work Competition, organized by the Millers' Mutual Association. One child, Jean Morse, was third in what was virtually a national competition.
Subjects and activities were added over the years. A percussion band was formed in the 1930s. 1953 saw the introduction of the Janet and John series as textbooks for emergent readers. By 1956 the children were being given lessons in the use of a film projector and in the mid 1960s the school joined the County Library book exchange scheme and chose books from the visiting mobile library.
HMI reports.
The progress of the school was monitored by yearly HMI reports and Diocesan inspections every term.
The older children were given an insight into practical work, brick building, bead threading, ball making and weaving.
At the age of eight, the children were transferred to Ivy Lane mixed school.
The School log records a red-letter day when three Lowden pupils won cash prizes in The Bread Project Colour Work Competition, organized by the Millers' Mutual Association. One child, Jean Morse, was third in what was virtually a national competition.
Subjects and activities were added over the years. A percussion band was formed in the 1930s. 1953 saw the introduction of the Janet and John series as textbooks for emergent readers. By 1956 the children were being given lessons in the use of a film projector and in the mid 1960s the school joined the County Library book exchange scheme and chose books from the visiting mobile library.
HMI reports.
The progress of the school was monitored by yearly HMI reports and Diocesan inspections every term.
The very first HMI report June 5th 1897 was an excellent one ' The infants are being taught with great care and are making very satisfactory progress'
The reports continued to be good until 1902 when one comment stated, ' the interest of the children is not secured. They are restless and inattentive and the standard of work disappointing' The report did acknowledge that the reason for the decline was largely the many outbreaks of sickness amongst the children and staff throughout the year.
Reports were good, on the whole, from then on, despite absence due to recurring epidemics. However, in 1921 it was commented that ' in the upper standards backward children are not taught separately' and although writing was neat, spelling was poor.
The termly Diocesan reports were always glowing and complimentary, often drawing attention to the success of using simple 'kindergarten methods' to illustrate points and aid the children's understanding.
During the 1950s details of HMI and Diocesan reports are no longer recorded in the logs.
Holidays.
The school adhered to the standard pattern of holidays at Midsummer, Christmas, Easter and Whitsun. However, there were many special day or half-day holidays granted. The school managers granted holidays for the annual Sunday school outing, Empire Day and Mayor's Day. Then there were the royal occasions - weddings, deaths, coronations, birthdays, jubilees.
The reports continued to be good until 1902 when one comment stated, ' the interest of the children is not secured. They are restless and inattentive and the standard of work disappointing' The report did acknowledge that the reason for the decline was largely the many outbreaks of sickness amongst the children and staff throughout the year.
Reports were good, on the whole, from then on, despite absence due to recurring epidemics. However, in 1921 it was commented that ' in the upper standards backward children are not taught separately' and although writing was neat, spelling was poor.
The termly Diocesan reports were always glowing and complimentary, often drawing attention to the success of using simple 'kindergarten methods' to illustrate points and aid the children's understanding.
During the 1950s details of HMI and Diocesan reports are no longer recorded in the logs.
Holidays.
The school adhered to the standard pattern of holidays at Midsummer, Christmas, Easter and Whitsun. However, there were many special day or half-day holidays granted. The school managers granted holidays for the annual Sunday school outing, Empire Day and Mayor's Day. Then there were the royal occasions - weddings, deaths, coronations, birthdays, jubilees.
General and local elections meant that the school was used as a polling booth
Local events, such as a cattle show, circus or pantomime, might mean that the school day finished early to give the pupils the chance to attend.
It is recorded in the 1962 log that the school was closed on 10th December for a 'shopping holiday', presumably for children to help their parents buy the Christmas presents!
July 1965, at the bidding of the Secretary of State, the children were given a holiday to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Simon De Montfort's parliament and the 750th of Magna Carta.
Special events.
Events of significance outside of the usual routine of the school were recorded in the log.
On March 1st 1900, three cheers were sounded for the relief of Ladysmith in the Boer War and the National Anthem was sung.
Pupils entered an exhibition of needlework displayed in the Town Hall in November 1901. Four children exhibited pinafores and three of them won second prizes. Four others displayed babies' bonnets with less success.
There is a record in 1909 of Christmas presents, donated by 'benefactors', given to each child before the Christmas holidays.
The celebrations on Empire Day 24th May 1911 sounded great fun, as the children formed a living union jack, sang patriotic songs and played a game called Alfred and the cakes.
Local events, such as a cattle show, circus or pantomime, might mean that the school day finished early to give the pupils the chance to attend.
It is recorded in the 1962 log that the school was closed on 10th December for a 'shopping holiday', presumably for children to help their parents buy the Christmas presents!
July 1965, at the bidding of the Secretary of State, the children were given a holiday to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Simon De Montfort's parliament and the 750th of Magna Carta.
Special events.
Events of significance outside of the usual routine of the school were recorded in the log.
On March 1st 1900, three cheers were sounded for the relief of Ladysmith in the Boer War and the National Anthem was sung.
Pupils entered an exhibition of needlework displayed in the Town Hall in November 1901. Four children exhibited pinafores and three of them won second prizes. Four others displayed babies' bonnets with less success.
There is a record in 1909 of Christmas presents, donated by 'benefactors', given to each child before the Christmas holidays.
The celebrations on Empire Day 24th May 1911 sounded great fun, as the children formed a living union jack, sang patriotic songs and played a game called Alfred and the cakes.
There is a surprising lack of mention of the First World War in the school log. Perhaps an all female staff, dealing with very young children thought it was best to play down any atmosphere of fear, but the fathers, uncles even older brothers of some of the pupils must have been fighting and dying in the trenches.
Attendance.
Attendance was seriously affected from the outset by epidemics of childhood diseases.
Absenteeism due to children helping out with seasonal work like harvesting and potato picking was not a problem because most of the children were too young for much work.
Very little purposeful truancy was reported, although absentee notices were sent out when no excuse had been given by parents for a child's absence.
It was as late as 1971 when one case of a boy, who frequently played truant, was reported in detail. Mentions of unwashed clothes and abusive parents suggest his problems were social ones.
The weather affected attendance and also contributed to illness. The roads were blocked with snow in January 1900, then heavy rains and bitter winds made things worse. 1908 was a particularly wet year. Children were often late or missed school because the rain came down in torrents and the roads were flooded.
The water pipes were constantly freezing up in the winter. In January 1940 the children were sent home because all the toilets were frozen and the caretaker could not clear them.
Attendance.
Attendance was seriously affected from the outset by epidemics of childhood diseases.
Absenteeism due to children helping out with seasonal work like harvesting and potato picking was not a problem because most of the children were too young for much work.
Very little purposeful truancy was reported, although absentee notices were sent out when no excuse had been given by parents for a child's absence.
It was as late as 1971 when one case of a boy, who frequently played truant, was reported in detail. Mentions of unwashed clothes and abusive parents suggest his problems were social ones.
The weather affected attendance and also contributed to illness. The roads were blocked with snow in January 1900, then heavy rains and bitter winds made things worse. 1908 was a particularly wet year. Children were often late or missed school because the rain came down in torrents and the roads were flooded.
The water pipes were constantly freezing up in the winter. In January 1940 the children were sent home because all the toilets were frozen and the caretaker could not clear them.
The fierce winter of 1962/3 also caused problems. When the children returned from the Christmas holidays, they found snowdrifts half way up the door of the toilets and two feet deep inside. The school had to open on a day- to- day basis.
Childhood diseases were by far the biggest cause of absence. An outbreak of whooping cough and measles had caused the school to close for a week before the Whitsun holidays in 1898 and after the holidays were over, only 49 children turned up.
Flu, tonsillitis, scarlet fever, impetigo, ringworm, scarlatina, chickenpox, rheumatic fever and bronchitis were all rampant.
There were severe outbreaks of scarlet fever in 1903 and 1904 and in 1905 five pupils from the school died of diphtheria and the head teacher, Mary Coombs, was seriously ill with the disease.
The school was closed for three weeks due to gastric problems in 1922, another three weeks in July 1927 because of mumps and two weeks in 1931 for chicken pox, measles and scarlet fever.
As late as 1963, there was an outbreak of dysentery. The children were required to dip their hands in disinfectant on arrival in the classrooms after playtime and each visit to the toilet.
Inspections at school were important in monitoring and improving the children's health. Medical inspections are first recorded in the Lowden School log in 1908, weighing and measuring in 1911 and a dentist in 1918.
Childhood diseases were by far the biggest cause of absence. An outbreak of whooping cough and measles had caused the school to close for a week before the Whitsun holidays in 1898 and after the holidays were over, only 49 children turned up.
Flu, tonsillitis, scarlet fever, impetigo, ringworm, scarlatina, chickenpox, rheumatic fever and bronchitis were all rampant.
There were severe outbreaks of scarlet fever in 1903 and 1904 and in 1905 five pupils from the school died of diphtheria and the head teacher, Mary Coombs, was seriously ill with the disease.
The school was closed for three weeks due to gastric problems in 1922, another three weeks in July 1927 because of mumps and two weeks in 1931 for chicken pox, measles and scarlet fever.
As late as 1963, there was an outbreak of dysentery. The children were required to dip their hands in disinfectant on arrival in the classrooms after playtime and each visit to the toilet.
Inspections at school were important in monitoring and improving the children's health. Medical inspections are first recorded in the Lowden School log in 1908, weighing and measuring in 1911 and a dentist in 1918.
Attempts were made by the school to improve the social conditions of some of their pupils. The head teacher wrote to the workhouse in 1911, complaining that some boys were sent to school in such a dirty condition that the older boys, who brought them, were in tears because they feared they would be held responsible.
Children were sometimes kept back from school in poor weather, because they lacked adequate footwear and in 1921 the log recorded that a Mrs. Cols had provided two children with two pairs of boots each.
By 1960 immunization had begun to improve pupils' health and in 1964 the polio vaccine was first administered at the school
During this period also, more detailed records of accidents to pupils and teachers began to be kept. Amongst some of the more bizarre cases recorded were a teacher bitten on both legs by a dog, a child taken to hospital because she had pushed a shell up her nose, a boy who had run into a wall, on the way back from the toilets, a cleaner blown off the steps of a paten hut, when a gust of wind filled the empty coal bucket she was carrying and a pupil hit on the head by the end of a crossing patrol lollipop!
Punishment and misbehaviour.
Children were sometimes kept back from school in poor weather, because they lacked adequate footwear and in 1921 the log recorded that a Mrs. Cols had provided two children with two pairs of boots each.
By 1960 immunization had begun to improve pupils' health and in 1964 the polio vaccine was first administered at the school
During this period also, more detailed records of accidents to pupils and teachers began to be kept. Amongst some of the more bizarre cases recorded were a teacher bitten on both legs by a dog, a child taken to hospital because she had pushed a shell up her nose, a boy who had run into a wall, on the way back from the toilets, a cleaner blown off the steps of a paten hut, when a gust of wind filled the empty coal bucket she was carrying and a pupil hit on the head by the end of a crossing patrol lollipop!
Punishment and misbehaviour.
There is very little record of misbehaviour and punishment in the log. However there is one entry in February 1963 concerning four boys who were ' spanked for persistent bad behaviour at the dinner table and cheeking the dinner helpers'. Two more were spanked for throwing ice at the doors and windows. These two were sent for Child Guidance because they were persistent offenders.
Parents too could behave badly. A year earlier, in 1962, the Head Teacher put up a notice asking parents to leave and collect their children at the school gate, rather than coming into the cloakroom, so that the children could learn to look after themselves. Apparently, some of the parents were making unpleasant remarks, unsuitable for children to hear and violently shaking the doors if they were shut out.
History 1920-40.
Throughout the 20s school numbers varied from 108 to 140. In 1924 the school buildings were renovated during the summer holidays, but the work was not completed by the time the children were due back, so they had an extra week's holiday.
The playground was subject to flooding and a fete was held in June 1926 to raise funds to resurface it, after the water had been drained.
That same year, Mary Coombs retired after 30 years service as Head Teacher and was succeeded by Blodwin Addis, who proved to be an energetic replacement.
Parents too could behave badly. A year earlier, in 1962, the Head Teacher put up a notice asking parents to leave and collect their children at the school gate, rather than coming into the cloakroom, so that the children could learn to look after themselves. Apparently, some of the parents were making unpleasant remarks, unsuitable for children to hear and violently shaking the doors if they were shut out.
History 1920-40.
Throughout the 20s school numbers varied from 108 to 140. In 1924 the school buildings were renovated during the summer holidays, but the work was not completed by the time the children were due back, so they had an extra week's holiday.
The playground was subject to flooding and a fete was held in June 1926 to raise funds to resurface it, after the water had been drained.
That same year, Mary Coombs retired after 30 years service as Head Teacher and was succeeded by Blodwin Addis, who proved to be an energetic replacement.
She sent all her teachers to Jennings Street Infants School in Swindon to 'observe modern methods of education'.
A new piano was delivered in 1927 to improve music and singing lessons and was declared 'open' in a special ceremony.
An American Negro, Mr.W.Thompson, was invited to the school in 1929, to give a description of Negro life and sing folk songs.
The HMI report of 1930 warmly praise Mrs.Addis' work, highlighting a generous supply of toys and picture books in the school and an attractive garden replete with grass plot, ponds, crazy paving, flower borders and garden seats.
The number of pupils rose during the 30s reaching 188 mid decade. The 1938 HMI report praised the staff for coping so well with such overcrowded conditions.
Lowden School was redesignated as an Infants school only in the 1940 reorganisation of Chippenham schools and started life as Lowden Infants with 220 pupils.
Moving into the modern era. 1941-73.
There is mention in the first entries of the reorganized school of the provision of boots and clothing for evacuees from London, but World War II is not often reflected in the pages of the log.
Mrs. Addis retired in 1952 and was succeeded by Dorothy Hooper.
During the 50s and 60s we begin to recognize more familiar elements of modern school life. The County Psychologist is mentioned and ways of teaching remedial classes.
A new piano was delivered in 1927 to improve music and singing lessons and was declared 'open' in a special ceremony.
An American Negro, Mr.W.Thompson, was invited to the school in 1929, to give a description of Negro life and sing folk songs.
The HMI report of 1930 warmly praise Mrs.Addis' work, highlighting a generous supply of toys and picture books in the school and an attractive garden replete with grass plot, ponds, crazy paving, flower borders and garden seats.
The number of pupils rose during the 30s reaching 188 mid decade. The 1938 HMI report praised the staff for coping so well with such overcrowded conditions.
Lowden School was redesignated as an Infants school only in the 1940 reorganisation of Chippenham schools and started life as Lowden Infants with 220 pupils.
Moving into the modern era. 1941-73.
There is mention in the first entries of the reorganized school of the provision of boots and clothing for evacuees from London, but World War II is not often reflected in the pages of the log.
Mrs. Addis retired in 1952 and was succeeded by Dorothy Hooper.
During the 50s and 60s we begin to recognize more familiar elements of modern school life. The County Psychologist is mentioned and ways of teaching remedial classes.
The P.T.A was formed in 1952. The price of school dinners rose to 1/- in 1957. That same year the wireless was used for the first time to listen to school broadcasts.
More and more fundraising events were staged to improve conditions in the school and to buy more up-to-date equipment. An electric water heater was installed in 1955.
The children's Christmas presents were now bought from Woolworth's from school funds and the funds were also used to buy prints of modern art works to decorate classrooms.
Miss P Rintoul served as Head Mistress 1961-66 and as the pupil numbers continued to grow, conditions became more cramped.
Extra prefab classrooms were opened by the Bishop of Malmesbury September 23rd 1963, but by 1966 pressure was growing for a completely new school building on a different site. This was supported by the HMI report of that year which recommended that, as numbers were likely to rise above 300, better facilities were needed for staff and much more teaching space for the children. The constant problems with water pipes and drains were stressed.
When, in 1970, the D.E.C declared that it was not prepared to spend any money on temporary improvements to the school and changed its status from 'aided 'to 'controlled', the fate of the old building was sealed. Plans for a new building began to be drawn up.
Head Mistresses came and went. Mrs. Bayfield [ 1967-69] was replaced by Mrs.P. Brinker, as the life of the school went on.
More and more fundraising events were staged to improve conditions in the school and to buy more up-to-date equipment. An electric water heater was installed in 1955.
The children's Christmas presents were now bought from Woolworth's from school funds and the funds were also used to buy prints of modern art works to decorate classrooms.
Miss P Rintoul served as Head Mistress 1961-66 and as the pupil numbers continued to grow, conditions became more cramped.
Extra prefab classrooms were opened by the Bishop of Malmesbury September 23rd 1963, but by 1966 pressure was growing for a completely new school building on a different site. This was supported by the HMI report of that year which recommended that, as numbers were likely to rise above 300, better facilities were needed for staff and much more teaching space for the children. The constant problems with water pipes and drains were stressed.
When, in 1970, the D.E.C declared that it was not prepared to spend any money on temporary improvements to the school and changed its status from 'aided 'to 'controlled', the fate of the old building was sealed. Plans for a new building began to be drawn up.
Head Mistresses came and went. Mrs. Bayfield [ 1967-69] was replaced by Mrs.P. Brinker, as the life of the school went on.
In 1963 the Argyle Theatre of Youth began yearly visits to the school with productions of favourites like ' The Nightingale' 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Pinocchio'. The Westinghouse Male Voice Choir staged regular concerts in aid of school funds.
A television set arrived in 1970 and in 1971 the log records that the children brought decimals coins to pay for their school dinners. Another sign of changing times was the fact that Lowden was one of the schools that had a policemen stationed in the building over night because of a spate of vandalism in the town. The school had developed good relations with the police over the years, enlisting their help to escort children though the town on local outings and the local police sergeant visited the school regularly to publicize campaigns like the green cross code.
A new school building and a new name.
The last official day in the old school building was 20th July 1973. It re-opened on the new site in October 1973, renamed St. Peter's Primary School, taking pupils from the ages of 4-11.
A television set arrived in 1970 and in 1971 the log records that the children brought decimals coins to pay for their school dinners. Another sign of changing times was the fact that Lowden was one of the schools that had a policemen stationed in the building over night because of a spate of vandalism in the town. The school had developed good relations with the police over the years, enlisting their help to escort children though the town on local outings and the local police sergeant visited the school regularly to publicize campaigns like the green cross code.
A new school building and a new name.
The last official day in the old school building was 20th July 1973. It re-opened on the new site in October 1973, renamed St. Peter's Primary School, taking pupils from the ages of 4-11.