1878
Oct.21st

I, Annie Johnson, formerly pupil Teacher at St. Edmunds School, Northampton, began my duties here as Mistress of this school. There were 41 children entered on Monday morning and 8 more during the week. Mr. Sheffield, the School Attendance Officer came during the week to see whether there were any absentees. Arranged the children in classes and found them very backward.

Nov.8th

School closed this week because of the village feast.

Nov. 15th

Ellen Desborough began her duties as monitress.

Nov.22nd

School visited by Rev. W. Monk. Mr. Henry Monk came to hear the children sing.

Dec.6th

Several children still absent through illness.

Dec.20th

Rather small attendance this week. Closed school on Friday for Christmas holidays of one week.

1879
Jan. 10th

Small school this week owing to the severity of the weather.

Jan. 17th

Very small school this week owing to the weather.

Jan.31st

Resigned my position as Mistress of this school on Friday 31st January 1879.

Feb.7th

I, Rose Truss, formerly a Pupil Teacher in Bisbrook Hall School, Rutlandshire, entered on my duties as head teacher of the school February 3rd 1879.

May 2nd

School closed on Thursday morning for Maying. Also on Tuesday afternoon for Confirmation.

May 9th

Kate Salter left school though under age.

May 16th

Very small attendance on Wednesday afternoon owing to a thunder storm.

May 23rd

Rev. W. Monk came into school this week to examine the register.

June 27th

A very small attendance on Monday owing to the Chapel Anniversary Tea.

July 4th

School opened on Saturday morning instead of the previous Monday afternoon.

Sept.5th 

Broke up today for harvest holidays. Resigned my position as mistress on Friday September 5th.

Oct.13th

I, Charles L. Wagstaffe, took charge of the school for a few weeks. Attendance very bad owing to the lateness of the harvest. Average attendance for week 12.6.

Oct.20th

Examined the school and found the children in a very backward state indeed.

Oct.25th  

School Attendance Officer called and took a list of absentees.

Oct.27th  

Attendance greatly improved. Examined school in Geography and Grammar and found the children very backward.

Nov.21st  

Attendance smaller today owing tro a heavy fall of snow.

Nov.28th

School visited several times during the week by the Rev. Monk.

1880
Jan. 16th

I, Hannah Thomas, formerly ex Pupil-Teacher at Union Street Schools, Accrington, Lancashire, entered my duties as Head Teacher on January 12th 1880. Did not mark registers on Monday on account of taking that time to find out what children could do, also for arranging them. Found them very backward, standard I especially so, they were not able to set down scarcely anything in numeration, or to spell easy words.

Mar.5th  

Received from Mr. Monk several articles for the use of the school such as books, natural history sheets and arithmetical Test Cards.

Mar.19th  

Received for the use of the school a new board and easel.

May 8th 

School visited by Inspector of Factories.

July 31st 

School closed on Wednesday owing to a Band of Hope Festival in Bedford.  (Band of Hope has been formed at the Chapel.)

Aug.14th

Very poor attendance this week on account of harvest having commenced.

Oct.1st

Re-opened school. Very poor attendance owing to the feast at Rushden.

Oct.22nd

Owing to a mistake being made in the ordering of fresh registers, one being sent instead of four, I was ordered by the Rev. W. Monk to copy the whole of the names dowm on the one register and make use of that till the proper registers arrived.

Nov.12th

Attendance very poor owing to Wymington Feast - holiday on Monday and Tuesday.

1881
Jan.14th

Attendance not so good this week owing to the severity of the weather.

Jan. 21st

Attendance very much lower owing to the continuation of severe weather.

Jan.28th

Several children away through illness.

June 25th

Received some inspection schedules from Rev. Monk to be filled up - returned one Thursday morning filled according to directions.

July 2nd   Received papers (examination schedules).

July 9th 

Attendance low - several scholars gone on a trip to Skegness. Filled in examination schedules this week.

July 15th

School visited on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday by Rev. Monk who examined the children in some of the subjects prescribed by the Code.

July 22nd

Her Majesty's Inspectors visited school and inspected the scholars on Thursday 21st July. Rev. Monk also examined the children in reading, writing and Mr. H. Monk heard the children sing. In the afternoon Miss Monk inspected the needlework.

1882
Nov.13th

School visited by Mr. H. Monk who, finding that I placed the pence (which should have been in the 1st space in the Summary for this quarter) in the 2nd, to make the number of spaces sufficient I placed the pence which should have been in the 6th space in the 1st.

1883
Jan.5th  

I, Emily Elizabeth Wood, formerly of St. Michael and All Angels, London Fields, Hackney, commenced my duties as Head Teacher of this school January 1st 1883.

Examined the children and found them very backward in Arithmetic and Geography especially.

Jan.26th

Rev. W. Monk died this morning.

May 18th

Opened school on Wednesday but there being such a small attendance closed for rest of the week.

Aug.17th

Her Majesty's Inspector W. E. Curry Esq. visited school on Wednesday morning. Attendance low this week on account of Harvest having commenced. School closed for Harvest Holidays.

Oct.5th  

Re-opened school - very poor attendance owing to Harvest not being finished.

Oct.12th

Some of the children still away gleaning.

1884
Apr.4th

Received as a loan for the school from Rov. E. Eade, Rector of Farndish, six Historical Readers Standard II and six of Standard III, eight primers and Arithmetic books for Standards III, IV and V.

June 4th

Opened school today but owing to their being so small an attendance closed for rest of the week.

Nov.14th

Dismissed the children at half past three on Monday afternoon on account of funeral of Ada Westley so did not mark register.

1885
Jan.16th

School visited on Friday by Mr. Robert Goosey who examined and tested the Registers.

Aug.7th 

School visited this week by Rev. J. Napleton.

Her Majesty's Report 1884.
The School is in a very inefficient state. The Infants are fairly well taught but the elder children almost all fail in Dictation and Arithmetic. English is a failure, Needlework unsatisfactory.

One tenth has been deducted from the grant under Article 115(1) in consequence of the unsatisfactory Report by Her Majesty's Inspector.

Her Majesty's Report 1885
The results of the Examination are extremely bad.

My Lords have ordered a deduction of one tenth to be made from the Grant for faults of instruction (Article 115).

Poor Miss Wood had to sign both reports and she resigned on 30th October 1885 and was succeeded by Miss J. M. Tyrer.

Nov.3rd 

Preparatory to drawing up a new Time Table now allow a recreation of 15 minutes every afternoon.

Nov.4th 

Devoted the last part of the day to improving the writing in all classes.  Gave a collective Grammar lesson in the morning.

Nov.16th

Gave special lesson on "A Teapot".

Nov.25th

Children rather dull, the weather being so gloomy, so had a little singing from 3.00 to 3.40p.m. in order to liven them.

1886
Jan.6th

Weather very severe and consequent low attendance. Several children away ill with coughs, colds and sore throats.

Jan.12th

The Rev. Napleton called in the afternoon and told the scholars of the Managers' decision to change the present system of School Fees - the fee now to be 2d (pence) for every scholar.

Exception in families of four or more than four children in regular attendance, the fourth child to be free.

Jan.15th

Order greatly improved today, whole tone of school is healthier.

Jan. 18th

Attendance poor again. Many children sent home for their school fees.

Jan.25th

Only about 50 present owing to bad weather.

Feb.12th

Mistress took Infants and found them very dull - in fact ignorant under the tuition of P, Settles.

Mar. 1st

A heavy snowstorm.

Mar.8th 

More frost and snow.

Mar.15th

Inclement weather continues.

Mar.22nd

Bad weather and poor attendance.

Mar.29th

Poetry lessons are a source of pleasure to all.

Her Majesty's Report 1886
The School has been brought into a proper state of organisation and ought now to go on well. Much credit is due to Miss Tyrer for the improvement. My Lords have also awarded the "Excellent" Merit Grant in the Senior Department.

Aug.18th

Resigned my position as mistress. J. M. Tyrer.

Oct.3rd 

I, F. E. Clifton, took charge of the school today.

Oct.22nd 

Punished two first class girls on Tuesday for rude behaviour having previously warned them.

Nov. 19th

Ellen Salter has had charge of the Infant Class this week but she is a very inefficient Teacher.

1887
Jan.21st

Visitors - the Rector and a Lady friend.

Mar.5th 

Frederick Houghton sent home with ringworm.

May 6th 

Rector visited the school on Tuesday and expelled John Church for insubordination.

May 20th

Many children absent with whooping cough.

July 14th

School visited and examined today by Her Majesty's Inspectors Mr. Currey and Mr. Simpson - 76 children present.

Aug.4th

Total Grant £41.17s.8d.

Nov.3rd

Ernest Hills re-admitted having apologised for his bad conduct and promised to behave better.

1888
Aug.15th

Inspector's Report.
Order excellent. Instruction generally pretty good. Grant £48.0.0d.

Sept.24th

Attempted to open school today but the attendance was so small owing to the late harvest that we wore obliged to close for another week.

1889
Mar.8th

Nearly all the Infants absent this week with severe coughs and colds.

Sept.20th

Mary A. Higginson commenced duties as Mistress of Wymington C.3. School on Monday morning. Average attendance for the week 14.

Dec.13th

Milton Desborough unable to attend this week not having any shoes to wear.

1890
Mar.7th

Gave a lesson on the "Pig" to the Infants.

May 2nd

Joseph Rivett had his attendance mark cancelled on Wednesday morning, his mother having taken him from school before 12 o'clock in order to carry dinner to Rushden.

Aug.8th  

School closed on Monday afternoon as there were only ten scholars to be marked, the rest of them having absented themselves to attend the Chapel Sunday School Feast.

Oct. 10th

We regret the death of a scholar and companion this week namely James Bull, Standard I. He was taken ill during the holidays with "Inflammation of the brain" which proved fatal on Wednesday evening.

Nov.28th

Poor attendance - deep snow having fallen on Wednesday.

Miss Goosey visited school and distributed sweets and gingerbreads among the children.

1891
Feb.27th

Some First Class boys have absented themselves to carry-shoes to Rushden, others to work in the fields.

William Church (infant) unable to attend school as he received a severe kick from a horse.

Apr.24th

Mr. Henry Coulson summoned today for not sending his children to school. Fined one shilling and four shillings costs.

July 17th

Punished an Infant boy for inattention to his lessons.

Dec.24th

Miss H. Goosey visited and gave each of the children a bun and an orange.

1892
Jan.8th

Elizabeth and William Church are unable to attend being ill with "Scarlet Fever".

Feb.12th

Mrs. Pendred came to the school to say that Violet was suffering with biliousness and that the Doctor prescribed a week's rest from lessons.

Apr.1st

Emma Matton's mother came to the school to inform me that she wished to take Emma from school as she was thirteen last Harvest and she wanted her to go to work.

Nov.11th  

Miss Goosey visited and inspected the boys' Drawing and the girls' Needlework and Knitting.

Dec.9th  

The children repeated tables or poetry from 3.45 to 4.10 p.m. each afternoon this week as there was not sufficient light to pursue the ordinary lessons.

Dec.16th

We regret the death of a scholar and companion this week, Thomas Perkins, Infant. He was taken ill with Cramp and died two days later.

1893
Mar.3rd

Very small attendance indeed in consequence of an outbreak of Scarlet Fever.

Mar.8th

Mr. A. Peet visited school for serving notice on the teacher, a notice of withdrawal from Religious Instruction with the names of nine parents. The children concerned are employed in learning Spellings and Tables during time fixed for Religious Instruction.

Mar.10th

Received a note from Mr. John Ward to the effect that it was a misunderstanding that he wished his children withdrawn from Religious Instruction; he wished them withdrawn from Catechism only.

May 26th

As the children had lost a great deal of time at school with the Fever and the school was closed a fortnight at Easter on that account, it was thought advisable not to close the school for any Whitsuntide holidays.

Nov.3rd 

Commenced having fires on Tuesday 31st October.

1894
Jan.19th

Arthur Coulson's name is taken off the Register this week as his parents and he were removed to the Union.

May 4th 

Small attendance on Tuesday, it being May 1st the children absented themselves to go round the village with Maypoles.

June 30th

From H. M. Inspector's Report.

There was a very bad smell in the girls' offices and the urinal in the boys' would be better outside the building.

Nov.2nd

Joseph Fairey ......... unable to attend school as he met with an accident on Monday, the wheel of a cart passed over his leg cutting it so severely that he had to be conveyed to the Bedford Infirmary.

1895
Jan.4th 

Inclement weather caused poor attendance.

Jan.11th  

Weather still severe.

Jan.18th 

Weather still very severe.

Jan.25th

Weather very severe indeed.

Feb.1st 

Inclement weather prevents children attending school.

Feb.8th 

Good attendance considering the severity of the weather.

Mar.29th

Small attendance on Tuesday afternoon many of the children having absented themselves to witness a Funeral.

May 3rd

Found it necessary to lock school door at 2.00 p.m. for the marking of Registers in order to make the children more punctual, as quite half the scholars had acquired the habit of entering after 2.00 p.m. and I found the confusion and noise of their entering to considerably interfere with the marking of Registers.

July 5th

Punished a girl for using bad language.

Aug.9th

Attendance very poor among older children, several of them having gone harvesting.

Nov.8th 

Holiday on Monday and Tuesday for the "Feast".

Dec.20th

Miss Goosey visited in the afternoon and gave oranges, biscuits etc. to the children on their dismissal.

1896
June 5th

Many children absent with mumps.

June 30th

H. M. Inspector's Report - Grant allowed for £58.8s.6d.

Sept.18th

Poor attendance - children absented themselves to go blackberrying.

Oct.23rd

Attendance hindered by severity of weather.

Dec.4th 

Weather too severe for children's recreation.

1897
Jan.8th

Very severe weather prevented good attendance.

Jan.15th

Weather still very severe. Jan.22nd   Weather still very severe.

Jan.29th

Weather still very severe. The Rector visited on Wednesday morning and spoke to the children of the 'Famine in India' and brought a bos in which the children may deposit their contribution for that cause.

Feb.26th

Attendance improved weather having become more favourable.

Apr.30th

Poor attendance this week - children absenting themselves to gather cowslips.

June 25th

Re-opened school after Jubilee Holidays of two days. H. M. Inspector's Report.

Habits of punctuality and personal neatness should receive greater attention.........  Grant will be endangered at next visit unless improvement can be shown in the punctuality and personal neatness of the children.

Nov.24th

Punished a boy for carelessly breaking a Drawing ruler.

Nov.30th

An "Aid Grant" of £12 had been granted to this school for the purpose of providing desks.

1898
Mar.4th

Scarcely more than half the children present in consequence of whooping-cough. Grace Smith absent with dyphtheria.

Mar.25th

Four more children absent with dyphtheria.

Apr.1st

We regret the death of a scholar and companion, George West. He died on Saturday from dyphtheria.

May 13th

Number on Register 108.

June 17th 

Only 34 children present on Thursday afternoon.

July 1st  

Two families absent with scarlet fever.

Sept.19th

M. Goodwin took charge of the school.

Oct.28th

The Attendance Officer called on Thursday morning and said that Herbert Parker is to be thrashed by some of the Managers but not sent home. This being the decision of the Magistrates at the Attendance Committee Meeting.

Nov.11th

Several fresh cases of scarlet fever.

Nov.25th

Object lesson on the "Hippopotamus" changed for the "Horse" as suitable apparatus was not obtainable.

Dec.23rd

M. Goodwin resigned duties as Head of this school.

1899
Jan.9th

Miss Annie Todd took charge of school.

The children are most disorderly and rude and if spoken to either laugh or are saucy.

Jan.13th

I must say they arc the worst behaved and the most untidy children I have ever had to teach.

Jan.31st

I have been obliged to use the cane in several cases with satisfactory results.

Feb.24th

The discipline is dreadful. I have never met such ignorance in bohaviouJ?. I feel more disheartened every week and cannot stand it much longer. It so works upon my nerves that I feel quite ill after battling with them and were it not for the Rector I would throw it up and be off.

Unfortunately the log "book for the next period fron 1899 to 1926 is missing. The following extracts are taken from the Parish Magazine.

1907
March

H. M. Inspector visited this school on 15th March. Mr. Burley has taken the place of Mr. Baldrey, who had been inspecting in Bedfordshire for a good many years. Mr. Burley seemed very pleased with the school, and remarked on the cheerful appearance of the children, and their good order. The attendances for the past quarter have been very good and happily we have had no epidemic to keep the children away.

October

The prizes and certificates awarded by the County Council were given away by the Rector on 20th September. Mrs. Drew and Miss Goosey being present. Books for good conduct and progress in work were given to:- Cecil Page, Arthur Tilley, Jessie Desborough, Winifred Lilley, George Dickenson, Frederick Dilley, Clara Whiteman, Harold Parish, Reginald Coley, Julia Pendered, Florence Hardwick.

Books for being present for two years on every occasion on which the school were open:- Joseph Dickinson, Violet Phillips, Hay Dickinson, Fanny Brown.

1908
February

All will congratulate Richard Bull on having obtained an artificial leg, through the kindly interest which Miss Kneebone , of Kempston, has taken in him, and we all hope that he nay soon obtain some suitable employment.

June

Empire Day was kept in the school on 22nd June. The children all appeared with bunches of daisies and many wore their attendance: and good conduct riedals. The school lessons were those selected by the Education Committee. The Rector was present in the morning, when the children sang and saluted the flag. In the afternoon they had a holiday in commemoration of the day.

July

Dr. Butcher came on 18th July to examine children who will shortly leave the school, and also those who have been lately admitted.  This regulation has so lately came into operation that it was not possible this year to examine all the children, but it is hoped that another year all the children may be examined on entering and leaving the school. A record will be kept of the state of the child's health, and the recommendation given to the parents, and it will thus be possible to ascertain how a child's health has been affected by its attendance at school, and if the doctor's advice to the parents has been complied with.

During Whitsun week, four young sen entered the Church, played the organ, rang the bells and disarranged several things in the vestry. The Rector will be glad if any of those living near the Church would interfere, should such a thing occur again, as he is very unwilling to close the Church, which has been open daily for private prayer for the last sixteen years.

1909
November

The School Inspector paid a visit on 5th November and seemed pleased with the attention and order of the children and thought the school greatly improved by the alterations that have been made. His Report is as follows;

"As usual, the school is going on thoroughly satisfactorily. The instruction is sound and intelligent. One of its most noticeable features is that it is by no means mere instruction but aims at, and succeeds in, developing the children's powers. All through the school the scholars are trained to do much for themselves under very careful supervision. Composition all through is unusually well taught and Arithmetic is intelligent. The teaching of Reading and number in the infants' class is particularly good and the general condition of the class is very satisfactory."

1910
February

Miss Goosey kindly gave a tea to the school children as she has done for several years during the Xmas holidays. This year they net on 4th January, a beautiful bright afternoon and the Rector was able to be present at the tea; afterwards the children played games, into which they entered with great heartiness. Before leaving, each child was presented with a Xmas gift and Mr. Drew handed to each successful child the prize gained for attendance and good conduct during the past year. A hearty cheer for Miss Goosey, Mrs. Drew and Mrs. Stratton, and teachers who had helped to amuse then, concluded a very pleasant afternoon.

The church was looking very bright with its Xmas decorations when Herbert Windsor married Caroline Lee Hilton. There was a large congregation and happily three of the parents were able to be present, which was gratifying as parents seen to cone so seldom when their children are married.

1926

Reverend Drew is still Rector.

School visited by A. E. Kenney-Herbert, H. M. I.

His report said that "This school is keeping up its reputation for good solid work very well".

1927
Jan.14th

Attendance 96%.

June 3rd

The King's Birthday - the children saluted the Flag and sang "God Save the King".

Sept.5th

School re-opened today. Received two door mats.

1928
June 29th

I, Elizabeth Rutter, resign my position as Head Teacher of the Wymington C. E. School after a period of 28 years.

July 18th  

Mr. F. Abbott gave us permission to use one of his fields for suitable lessons today as the weather was unbelievably hot in school.

July 19th

I propose starting a school library for the children.

July 20th

The children bring contributions amounting to 16 shillings and 6 pence which I spent on suitable books.

1929
Feb.    

Attendance very poor due to very severe weather. Temperature of classroom 29° at 9.00a.m. rising to 40°.

May 1st

A half holiday was given today as a meeting in connection with the "League of Nations" was held in the schoolroom.

1932
May 23rd

Caretaker refused to light the fires saying she received her orders from the Rector and refused to take orders from me.

July 14th

The Director of Education called in the morning and discussed certain difficulties connected with caretaking and cupboards.

Oct.10th

Children taken to Irchester to see the Air Display under direction of Sir Alan Cobham.

1933
Feb.6th

School re-opens after having been closed for a week on account of influenza.

Mar.27th

Fire drill this morning. School cleared and children counted in 50 seconds.

The Rector has decided to give up teaching Scripture in school.

Dec.11th

No fires as supply of coal had run out although this had been reported to the Managers three days previously.

1934   

H. M. I. Report
Playground surface is abominable and should be made suitable for Physical Training and play.

1936
Jan.29th

This afternoon the brook overflowed and the road from New Wymington was flooded. Shoes, stockings and skirts had to be changed and dried. Mr. Rogers carried the small children across after school.

Sept.23rd

I lit the gas radiators as the morning was cold and foggy... there was a strong smell of gas, on going to investigate there was an explosion, a considerable amount of dirt was blown out and the gas was still lit.

1937
May 28th

22 senior pupils left to commence at the new senior council school at Harrold on 1st June.

1938
Sept.5th

Fire drill. School cleared in 1 minute.

Sept.29th

Fire drill. School cleared in 50 seconds.

1939
Apr.25th

H. M. I. Report.
The children's native intelligence is quite good but they are not easy to control. The village is a dormitory for the neighbouring industrial town of Rushden and they display those disquieting characteristics which are all too common in such communities.

June 23rd

Head Teacher attending Conference at Bedford - Air Raid Precautions and Evacuation of London schoolchildren.

June 28th

Respirator drill.

June 30th

Dispersal drill.

Aug.31st

Recalled to duty today.

Sept.6th

Two London teachers to help as seniors are to return from Harrold.

Sept.11th

Re-opened school today. 92 on roll. Desks for 50.

Oct.2nd

Wesleyan Church Schoolroom is to be used from today as extra classroom. 22 Walthamstow evacuees were admitted to the school today - 116 on roll 84 Bedfordshire children and 32 evacuees from Walthamstow.

1940
Feb. 14th

Some children again came to school without respirators. They were sent home to get them - five failed to return.

Nov.30th

High explosive bombs fell in Wymington last night, the blast damaged windows on the west side of the school.

1943
Apr.12th

30 children away with measles today.

June 7th

Holiday granted by Managers because children collected so well for Wings for Victory week.

Nov.30th

P.C. Duncan visited school and talked to children about 'dangerous objects’ which they may find.

1944
Jan.3rd

Seniors returned to Harrold, a conveyance having been obtained.

July 3rd

Two garden forms borrowed from Rectory as so many evacuees are coming from London and the desks in school will seat 52 children, there now being 65 on books.

1945
Mar.21st

Director of Education and Canon Cockbill visited school to report upon fabric.......
They agreed a new school was necessary.

July 4th  

As two children wore found to be suffering from scarlet fever the school to be fumigated and scrubbed.

1946
Jan. 16th  

The Rector gave his usual lesson this morning.

May 28th  

District Nurse visited the school and treated some heads.

1952
Oct.13th 

Buckets placed in infants' room to catch the water which dripped through the ceiling.

1954
Mar.10th  

A piece of 'stone’ amongst the coal exploded in the infants' room. Two children hit by hot pieces.

1955
Feb.28th   

A telephone has been fixed during the weekend.

1960
Sept.6th  

Workmen are busy levelling and surfacing the playground.

Sept.8th  

The sun shone this morning and the playground is softer than yesterday. Tar is lifting on all shoes and sandals

1963
Jan.8th   

W.C.'s frozen.

Jan. 21st  

W.C.'s still frozen.

Jan.23rd  

H. M. I. visited the school this afternoon. Inspected frozen W.C.'s.

Jan.24th  

All W.C.'s and tanks now frozen. School closed.

Jan.28th.   

Sewer frozen and blocked.  Children sent home. Sewer unblocked.

Jan.29th  

Re-opened school.

Feb.2nd   

All water and W.C.'s frozen this morning.

Dec.21st   

Mrs. Jones resigned after nearly 29 years.

1966
Oct.30th  

New school buildings dedicated by the Bishop of Bedford.

1975
Oct.21st 

The Bishop of St. Albans dedicated the new classroom and the nursery classroom.

F. L. L.    October 1978