Nelson Haden Senior Boys' Secondary Modern School, Trowbridge

This school opened on a 22 acre site on Frome Road in June 1940 along with the girls' school, it was attended by all the senior pupils in the town who did not go to the High Schools. There was an initial average of 273 on the register under the headmaster E. Hughes and he was aided by a growing number of assistants as the school continued to expand.

Opening in the midst of war, it had all the problems of blackouts and air raids, as well as an evacuee population throughout the war. The war also meant female supply teachers had to be used as cover for the teachers who had enlisited. There were also problems of space as the Royal Corps of Signals occupied 4 classrooms until May 1943. It still managed to raise a credible amount of war savings and bonds totalling, over the war period, £2,347 11s 6d. The saving habit continued after the war with a National Savings club. The boys were given trips to the cinema and film shows and there were school sports and athletics. There were six regular after school clubs, speech days,  Christmas plays, carol concerts and annual photographs. There were also school fetes and a record of a pole vault pit being dug, as well as in 1955 a French exchange and afterwards other foreign trips to Belgium and Paris.

In 1951, E. Hughes retired to be replaced by Mr Cooke who was assisted by 13 masters. As well as the regular subjects taught, extras such as gardening, metal and wood work were added.  A school tuck shop was opened in 1956, and school dinners appeared and were charged for. The use of television began in 1958 and was soon followed by exams such as the G.C.E. and the Parents and Teachers Association.


It closed at the end of Summer term 1974 and re-opened in August 1974 as The Clarendon School when Trowbridge adopted the comprehensive system.