School work was resumed this morning. All the teachers are in attendance and the attendance of the children is fairly good.

Average for the week 237.5

I left school this morning at 9.30. I was very unwell. I returned to school this afternoon at 2 o’clock. Average for the week 237.8

I shall examine Standards II & III in Drill today, meanwhile the teachers are preparing needlework.

Average for the week 231.1. This school is closed for Monday & Tuesday owing to Rushden Feast.

School work was resumes this morning. All the teachers are in attendance and a fair attendance of the children.

Average for the week 223.5

Examined registers and found them correct. J. Colson.

I have examined Standards IV,V & VI in their work done in July & September. The work is progressing but I am not satisfied with the composition of V & VI. The work of IV (figures, lines and writing) shows a general carelessness. I have made a full report of the weakness of each class and I hope to see it remedied before next examination.

Average for week 241.5. I have examined Standard II & III and full reports of the same have been made. They are fairly satisfactory for the time of year.

By some means or others I made a mistake in my Summary in Standard I. This accounts for the alteration made. I have finished the examination of Standard I and thus finished the examination of the school. The teacher of this class as done some good work with her class but the results are still far from satisfactory. The condition of the children when they come to my school accounts for this. Some of them do not know their letters and few, very few, know how to behave themselves. It is thus very difficult to build a school from such material.

I did not come to school this morning until 6.45. I am suffering from a very bad cold. Average for the week 241.4

Average for the week 246.1

The attendance is affected this week by colds and also by the inclement weather. Average 241.

The attendance is very poor this morning. This is owing to the inclement weather. 216. The afternoon attendance is better 246.

Instead of the lesson on the time table from 2.45 to 3.20 I assembled all the children in the main room. I did this so that the teachers might get their names written in their registers, also so that I might speak to the children on their general behaviour. I am suffering from severe cold and sore throat and an unable to attend to my duties as I should wish.

I did not get down to School until 9am. I am still suffering with my throat

Average for the week 236. Average for the quarter 236

The attendance this afternoon is very poor indeed owing to the Circus being in the town.

Two girls in standard III were marked absent this afternoon. They were assisting in the school room and the teacher did not know. I made the necessary alterations.

Average for the week 229.5

Miss Packer is absent from school this morning through illness.

Average for the week 234

Average for the week 232

Average for the week 225. The attendance is poor owing to illness amongst the children. On Wednesday Nov 29^th a lecture on alcohol was given to the Upper Standards of this school.

The attendance of the children is still very poor. There is much sickness. Average for the week 222

The attendance is very poor this morning only 195. Two girls in standard II registers are not marked; one came in after the registers were closed and the other having been away for many weeks was marked “LEFT”

Violet Colson is absent from school this week to attend the Scholarship Examination.

Checked registers J. Colson.

The attendance continues to decrease daily. The average for this week is 202.3

I have examined the school throughout and on the whole the results are fairly satisfactory. The remarks and reports have been duly entered. The school closes today for the Christmas Holiday until Monday January 8^th 1900. Average for the week 193

The school re-opened this morning after the Xmas Holiday. Miss Packer has been transferred to take charge of North Street Infant School. The attendance this morning is very poor. I shall send after the absentees this afternoon.

Average for week 215.6

I left school this morning at 10.30. I returned to school at 1.45 this afternoon. I was too unwell to remain this morning.

Miss Clark was absent from school this morning. I sent for her father and complained of her frequent absence and inability to work.

I have today assembled the teachers and I have asked Miss Clark to explain certain statements which her father made to me; she was unable to do this and I have censured her. Average for week 202.1

Average for week 202.1

Average for week 210.3

The Songs for the Year 1899-1900 are as follows.

Division IV

1. Gipsy Chorus
2. The Children’s Home
3. Fairy Elves
4. Sweet the Angelus is ringing.
5. Shepherd of Souls.

Division III

1. the River
2. A Song of Peace
3. The Happy Peasants
4. The New Kingdom
5. A New Year Dedication

Division II

1. Under the Willow
2. Oh! Have you seen my Dolly
3. A Child’s Evensong
4. Hush – a- bye- baby
5. Go to sleep dear Dolly.

Average for the week 207. Attendance still continues poor owing to illness in many of the homes. Average for the quarter 216.

Miss Sargent is absent from school this morning. Her mother is dangerously ill and she wished to be absent from school for the day.

Average for the week 203.1. miss sergeant has been absent from school Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings owing to her mother’s illness.

I have arranged to teach Standard I during the morning and in the afternoon will leave them to Miss Colson and Miss Childs so that I may go round the other classes. I have still many children in Standard I who are quite unable to do the work. they were sent to me in a most unprepared state.

The attendance this morning is very poor 109. This is owing to the stormy state of the weather.

The attendance on Thursday afternoon was again very poor and the Board decided to close the School until Monday. Average for the week 174

I shall be absent from school this afternoon. I am going to Bedford on business. I have acquainted the chairman with my absence.

The attendance this week is slightly improved 212.3

The schools are closed for the afternoon. “Ladysmith”. Average for the week 224.5

I have examined all the work of all the Standards. I intend to repeat this examination at the end of the month and will then book up the results. Average for the week 217

Checked registers. J. Colson.

Average for the week 215. Miss Clark was absent from school on Wednesday morning through illness.

Average for the week 211.8

I intend to exhibit the children’s needlework on Tuesday April 3^rd. the children will have occasional Drill Lessons to prepare them for that day. Violet E. Colson has obtained a First Class in the Queen’s Scholarship Examination at Bedford Xmas 1899.

Average for the week 216.4. The schools will be closed on Monday April 2^nd. They are being used for election purposes.

School work was resumed this morning.

A Singing Lesson will be taken this morning in each class.

Average for the week 217.1

This afternoon the School is thrown open to the Parents of the Children: the children will sing, drill and recite.

Average for the week 211.2.The schools are closed for a week – Easter Holiday.

School work was resumed this morning after the Easter Holiday. All the teachers are in attendance.

Average for the week 217.1

Average for the week of one day 221

I have today admitted over sixty children. The classes are now very large. For the remainder of the week the school will not adhere to the present time table. Lessons in figures, writing, marching, knitting will be given and the school organised generally. I hope to have all the classes set to their year work on the following Monday May 7^th. Miss Knock is absent from school. She has sprained her ankle. Miss Knock has been absent during the whole  week. Average for the week 271.5. The standard II & IV registers were marked in Monday’s column instead of Tuesdays. I am sorry that this mistake was made but I was pressed with work, being short of a teacher.  Miss Knock has now been absent from school for a fortnight. Average for the week 266.1

Miss Knock returned to school on Monday.

Average for week 264

Average for the week 269.4

Average for the week 257.2. The school closes today for one week – Whit Week Holiday.

School work was resumed this morning and all the teachers re in attendance. I have still many children absent from school.

Average for the week 272

Checked registers. J. Colson

Average for the week 275

Miss Sargent is too ill to attend school today. The schools are closed this afternoon for the Wesleyan Sunday School Treat.

Miss Sargent returned to school on Tuesday afternoon.

I received the government report this morning. All the children had an extra play this morning in honour of the same.

The school still continues to be overcrowded especially the Standard I classroom. Average for the week 267.2 the schools are closed on Monday July 2^nd for the Band of Hope Trip

I have received the Inspector’s Annual Report which is as follows.

The School is in admirable order, the teaching is intelligent and thorough and the girls are making commendable progress. Many of the subjects of instruction reach a very high standard of Merit. Some of the wooden blocks in the classroom should be re-laid and care should be taken not to overcrowd any of the classrooms.

V.E. Colson has obtained a first class in the Queen’s Scholarship Examination.

Annie E. Adams 1^st Year – Passed Well

Elsie M. Childs 1^st Year – Passed Well

Annie Adams. Arithmetic, Music, Theory, Elementary Science.

Elsie M. Childs – Elementary Science.

School Staff for the Year Ending April 30^th 1901

Head Teacher – Margaret Soutar

Cert. Assistant – Jane Jaques.

Assistant Art. 50 “A” – Louisa Sargent.

Assistant Art. 50 –Carrie Clarke

Assistant Art. 50 – E. Jane Knock

Assistant Art. 50 – Violet Colson.

Second Year R.T. – Annie Adams.

First Year P.T. – Elsie M. Childs.

Monitress – Florence Willmott

Monitress – Ellen Clipson.

Miss J. Knock is absent from school this week. She is sitting for Certificate at Leicester.

Average for the week 262

Attendance this morning is very poor 224. Owing to the over crowding in my school about forty children have been transferred to the Newton Road School. The school is closed this afternoon for the Baptist Sunday School Treat.

Average for the week 226

This school was closed on Thursday afternoon July 19^th for the Church Sunday School Treat. Average for the week 225.

I have now finished my quarterly examination of the school. On the whole the children have made a fair attempt at the work. The worst papers were done by the girls who attend badly. In their cases I have transferred them to a lower standard.

This morning the school is being examined in needlework. They will have no play at eleven o’clock.

Average for the week 227. Average for the quarter 255. The school closes today for the Midsummer Holiday of one month to resume work on August 27th

School work was resumed this morning. All the teachers are present. Miss C. Clarke has been transferred to Newton Road Mixed School. Average for the week 217.1

Average for the week 227

Average for the week 228.2

Nos 19 and 20 in Standard V register were marked absent in mistake. They had been sent by me before school hours to tidy the store cupboard and their teacher was not aware of it.

Average for the week 225. The school is closed on Monday and Tuesday of next week owing to Rushden Feast.

School work was resumed this morning. The attendance is very poor owing to this. I have promised the girls to go home at 4 o’clock provided they get to school before 2o’clock so that I may have the registers marked and closed by 2 o’clock.

Average for the week 216.

I had to leave school this morning at 9.40 owing to illness. I returned to school again this afternoon at 2 o’clock.

Average for the week 228. I find that Miss Knock is unable to manage her needlework without assistance as I have altered her hour of lesson to 11 to 12 am. I am thus able to go round her class and give the assistance she requires.

The school are closed on Thursday Oct 9^th for election purposes.

Average for the week 223.5

Checked the registers. J. Colson.

Average for the week 219.5

Average for the week 226.1 Average for the quarter 224. Eighteen girls have today begun cooking lessons at the Newton Road Schools.

Average for the week 223.1. I have not examined the school as I proposed to do at the end of October. I hope to get some of the needlework finished when I shall be free to leave the classes

I was absent from school the whole of Wednesday through illness. I returned to school on Thursday morning at 8.45am

Average for the week 220

We have decided in each of the three departments to open the school at 1.30pm during the winter months and close at 4pm. I have started to examine the oral work of the school and will continue doing so until the end of the month when I shall examine the paper work.

In Standard II register there are two mistakes this morning. No. 7 marked present when absent and no. 42 absent when present. I have made the necessary alterations and added a footnote. Average for the week 217.9

I have superintended the work of Standards V & VI on Wednesday and Thursday so that the teacher might be free to get on with the needlework. I shall continue doing so during the following week. The registers in the afternoon are closed at 1.50pm. On Fridays there is no playtime and we close school at a quarter to four. Average for the week 219.1

Instead of the needlework lesson this afternoon Standards II & III will take writing as I am not satisfied with the progress they are making.

Average for the week 221.2.

Average for the week 218.4

In Standard V register 26 – 26 should have been 25 – 25. I have made the alteration in red ink.

Average for the week 203.6. The school closes today for one fortnight Xmas Holiday.

School work was resumed this morning. All the teachers are in attendance but many of the children are still absent

Attendance this morning 208. Nellie Clipson and Connie Scholes are now paid candidates in the school.

I neglected sending the late girls in this morning and this accounts for the red marks in this morning’s attendance. I punished each child who was late this morning. I have previously warned them that I should do so.

Checked registers. J. Colson.

Average for the week 22.7.

Alice Hoaby in Standard II came to school this afternoon at 1.45. Miss Knock had just marked her absent. I questioned the girl and found out that there had been complications at home and that the girl had been sent to school without any dinner. I gave her the mark owing to the circumstances, also something to eat. Average for the week 220.5

Mr. Donald gave a lecture on Alcohol to the girls in standards III,IV,V & VI. I have altered the lessons in Standard I Time Table on Tuesday afternoons. Grammar and Recitation.

Laura Smith, Standard I, came to school this afternoon too late to receive her mark. I found on questioning her that she had been sent to the doctor and that the mother was ill in bed. Because of this I have not sent her home. Annie Hoaby Standard V was marked present by mistake. I have added a footnote.

Average for the week 216. Owing to the Proclamation of the King, the schools did not assemble today until 1.45pm.

Average for the week 207. Average for the quarter 217.

I shall examine the school in needlework this afternoon. In consequence of this I shall not be able to adhere to the Time Table. Mr. Salt H.M.I visited my school on Tuesday afternoon and the girls worked a set of needlework specimens for him; they were afterwards forwarded to Mrs. Colson for the inspection and report.

Average for the week 204

Average for the week 208

Miss Colson made a mistake in marking her register this morning. She marked the first eight marks with afternoon marks instead of morning. Average for the week 208.8

I was absent from school this morning through illness.

Average 208.4

Average for the week 211.2

The Songs for the School Year 1900-1901 are:-

Division IV

1. Brightly dawns our Wedding Day
2. Butterfly Fairies
3. The Fountain
4. The Polka
5. The Twilight Star.

Division III

     1.Men of Harlech

     2. Ah! Could I with Fancy Stray

     3. Farewell to the Forest

     4. Cherry Ripe

     5. Ringing Cheerily (Sleighing Song)

Division II

1. Merrily Sliding
2. Dancing Leaves
3. Hushabye Lullaby
4. Come buy my Flowers
5. Now in Groves of Shining Beeches.

Average for the week 210. I was absent from School on Friday from 11.15am. I was too ill to remain in school but hope now to be able to continue my work.

Checked registers. J. Colson. The schools are closed on Monday March 25^th for Election Purposes. Average for the week 205.5.

Average for the week 202

The schools are closed today for the Easter Holiday until April 15^th Average for the week 199.

School work was resumed this morning. As we are preparing for the Annual Mother’s Day the work will not be taken according to the Time Table.

I was absent from school through illness during the whole of Wednesday.

Average for the week 215

Average for the week 216. The Mother’s Day was held on Thursday April 25th. The children recited, sang and drilled to a crowded audience. The needlework was displayed as well as the writing figures and drawings. I trust that it may make the parents interested in the school work.

I have admitted 72 children into Standard I. The school is now very full. Average for the week 282

I have been absent from school for the entire week before the Whitsuntide Holiday. I have now resumed work and hope my health will permit me to continue my work here.

The schools are closed this afternoon for the Church Sunday School treat. I have taken the Knitting lesson this morning from 11 to 12 so that the children may get on with their garments.

The schools are closed this afternoon for the Congregational and Primitive Methodist School Treat. I have taken the Knitting Lesson from 11 to 12.

In the Summary I have written W.S. Holiday through our entry. I did not notice that the week numbers had been entered and so I entered them again.

School is closed for this afternoon for the Wesleyan S.S. Treat.

Miss Knock has been absent from school on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. She is too ill to attend to her duties.

School closes this Friday afternoon until Tuesday morning July 2^nd for the Band of Hope Trip. Misses Colman and Knock are absent from school this week attending the Certificate Examination at Leicester. There are many children absent from school today through measles being in the home.

School closed this afternoon for Park Road Sunday School Treat.

The attendance grows less daily owing to the measles epidemic.

School closed this afternoon for the Old Baptist Sunday School Treat.

These schools could not be opened on Friday afternoon July 19^th owing to a disastrous fire in the factory of Messrs. Cave which is just opposite our schools. My examination of the Schools has been interrupted and I am thus unable to enter the reports up in a detailed form. We received the Inspector’s Report on Wednesday. It was as follows:-

The Girls’ School continues in a highly creditable state of efficiency. The teaching is thorough and intelligent and the order exemplary. The needlework is very good and all subjects of Instruction are treated skilfully. There should not be long desks five rows deep. (Schedule VII rule 2 of the code.) The room is dark.

The presentations in cookery of the scholars numbered 4, 5, and 12 on the schedule have been disallowed. (Art. 101.g of the code.) It appears from E. Clipson’s medical report certificate that she has not been successfully vaccinated. Until this operation has been effectively performed this Board cannot, both for her own sake and in the interest of the children attending the school, consent to her engagement.

Annie E. Adams has passed “well”

Elsie M. Childs “Fairly”

Gross amount of claim £262.14.0

School staff for the year beginning May 1^st 1901

Head Mistress -  Miss M. Soutar

Cert. Assistant – Miss J. Jaques.

Article 50 – L. Sargent

Article 50 – J. Knock

Article 50 – V.E. Colson.

Cert. Assistant transferred from Infant Dept. – E. Brigstock

Pupil Teacher 3^rd year – A. Adams

Pupil Teacher 2^nd year – E.M. Childs

Candidates – Helen Clipson

                   Constance Scholes

James Heygate – Clerk to the Board.

The schools are now closed until August 26^th. Five weeks holiday are given instead of four.

School work was resumed this morning.

Miss Jaques has returned to assist me with the school work until the Christmas Holiday.

The attendance is very good; the average last week was 261.

Miss Jaques finished at school last night until October the First.

School work was resumed this morning after a holiday of two days for Rushden Feast.

Miss Jaques returned to school this morning and will assist me in this school until Christmas.

I shall continue the needlework lesson until playtime.

Checked registers. J. Colson. Mr. Colson called this morning and checked the registers. There were 251 in attendance.

I left school on Friday morning and did not return that day. My absence was on account of illness.

Owing to the dense fog today no playtime drill could be taken. Miss Knock left school today at 3 o’clock owing to illness. The attendance is poor today owing to the severe weather.

I was absent from school the whole of Wednesday through illness.

I have taken extra lessons in needlework in the various classes during the whole of this week. I left school on Wednesday Morning Nov. 20^th at 10.30am ad sine then have been absent from school and confined to bed suffering from a severe illness. The teachers will each day take needlework from 1.40 – 3pm so that the garments may be finished. Mrs. George is in charge of the school.

I returned to school this morning and found all the teachers at work and also a good attendance of children.

I have been down to school each morning and afternoon of this week, not for the whole time but for about two hours from 9.30 to 11.30 and from 2pm to 3.30pm. I hope next week to remain in school a little longer.

I was present in school each morning and afternoon for over two hours during the second week. This week I hope to be in school for the whole time of school lessons. The average for the first week after the Xmas holiday was 260. For the second week 253.

Average for the week 253. I left school on Thursday morning at 9.40. I was too unwell to return to school that day.

Today the weather is most winterly and the attendance is very poor. 211. The average for the last quarter ending January 31^st was 253. On Monday afternoon instead of needlework a History Lesson will be taken so that the children may got more acquainted with their History Reader.

Checked registers. J. Colson. Owing to the severe weather the attendance at school this week is very poor. A good number of the children are suffering from colds. Average for the week 232.1

The attendance this week has varied a good deal. There is much sickness amongst the children. Average for the week 245.

Sickness still continues amongst the children. Average for the week 241.5. I have now finished my examination of the school for the third period. A report of the same has been entered up in each record book.

Registers were marked this morning at 9 o’clock and closed at 11 o’clock to enable the teachers to attend a drawing examination. Average for the week 238

The School songs for the Year.

Division II

1. the Postman
2. The Land of Counterpane
3. The Snowflakes
4. The Iron Tongue
5. Hush-s-bye, Lulla-bye

Division III

1. Come lasses and lads.
2. Alone(Mendelssohn)
3. Minstrel Boy (Balfe)
4. Merry May (Weber)
5. Home Sweet Home (Sir H. Bishop)

Division IV

1. I am the Silver Dawn (J.L. Rocchel)
2. The Old Green Lane (G. Rathbone)
3. At length the day in beauty dies. (Selby)
4. Sweet tender flower (J. Stainer)
5. Sleep gentle lady (Sir H.R. Bishop)

Isabella Dowling in Standard V was absent from school on Tuesday morning. I asked her when she was going to make her time up. She said she was not going to make it up and further gave me much insolence in front of the children. I sent her home until I should see Mr. Bayes.

Isabella Dowling returned to school this morning bringing a note of apology from her father.

Instead of the map-drawing lesson occupying the whole hour on Friday afternoons I have decided to divide the lesson into Geography and Map Drawing.

The schools will be closed this afternoon. Average for the week.

Average for the week 238. The schools are closed today for the Easter Holiday of One Week. Mr. Tailby presented the Temperance Certificates this morning. There were 82 in all.

I am preparing the children for the Mother’s Day so I shall not be able to allow the classes to strictly adhere to their time tables. The classes are practising drawing, drill singing etc. Miss G. Floyd from Northampton began duties in this school on Monday April the 7^th.

Average for the week 251

The Annual Exhibition of the children’s work will be held today in the Public Hall. The children will go up there at 9.30am for a full rehearsal and this afternoon the school will be closed.

The children from the various Infant Schools were admitted on May 1^st. Altogether I have admitted 80 girls. As the Standard I is so large I have divided it into two sections and placed an Article 50 teacher to each section.

Miss Colson marked the new registers in Monday and Tuesday’s place instead of marking in Thursday and Friday. The attendances are quite correct and I have made no alteration. Average for the Year 250.

The new room is so far completed that a class has been taught there all this week. The school accommodation is now 300. I have in attendance each day about 325.

Helen  Clipson has resigned her position in this school as candidate for Pupil Teacher. Her parents require her assistance in the business.

In Standard I register Miss Floyd marked a girl present who was absent. I made a footnote and cautioned the teacher. In Standard V on two afternoons two half-timers were not marked. The mistake was made in counting – the girls were helping the teachers.

Average for the week 324. School closed this afternoon for the Whitsuntide Holiday. One week.

The schools are closed today in honour of the “Proclamation of Peace” and shut for the Independent School Treat.

School work was resumed this morning with a very bad attendance of children.

Mrs. Floyd has marked morning marks instead of afternoon in her Standard I register as for a nos. 29 Miss Floyd’s registration is most unsatisfactory. See – Tool holes in registers. I have cautioned the teacher.

School is closed this afternoon for the Independent Wesleyan School Treat. I wished Miss Floyd to get back to Rushden in time to begin her work with the others on Monday morning. She has not done so and as she is a very, very poor teacher, I had wished her to send in her resignation so that I may have some help worthy of the name.

The schools are closed this afternoon for the Congregational School Treat.

As the schools are to be closed during next week I am taking some extra knitting lessons so that the work may be finished. Owing to this I am not able to work according to time table.

School closed today for a week’s  Coronation Holiday.

I have today received the Government Report

“This department is conducted with unabated zeal and ability, although the loss of the Certificated Assistant during the year has greatly weakened the staff. The order is admirable in spite of the overcrowding and the general character of the work throughout deserves commendation. Singing and needlework are very satisfactory. I am glad to hear that the accommodation for these girls will soon be increased.”

Elsie M. Childs has passed “Well”

School Staff for the Year beginning May 1^st 1902

Head Teacher – Miss M. Soutar.

Cert. Assistant – Miss E. Brigstock

Assistant Art. 50 (Left) – L. Sargent.

Assistant Art. 50 – E.J. Knock

Assistant Art. 50 – V.E. Colson

Assistant Art. 50 – G. Floyd

Assistant Art. 50 – A. Adams.

Pupil Teacher 3^rd Year – E.M. Childs.

Candidates Connie Scholes, Gladys Colson (Left), Ada Wright. Winnie Berry.

James Heygate Clerk to the Council.

We marked early this afternoon and will leave school at 3.45pm. the rooms in the Infant Dept were required and I considered it advisable to open the school at the same time that they did, so that all in a family could come down together.

The schools will be closed this afternoon for the Baptist Sunday School Treat. Mrs. George helped me in this School during Certificate Week, and she has promised to take Standard III up to the Midsummer Holiday.

Miss Sargent left today.

Checked the registers. J. Colson. The quarter ended on Friday July 25^th. The average for the quarter is 318. In the sixth week in Standard III there was a mistake of one in the weekly totals. 404 instead of 405. I marked the register and made it up for the week and I cannot understand how I managed to make the mistake. I have made the alteration in Red Ink.

The schools close today for the midsummer holiday of one month. I have examined all the classes throughout the school. Standard I shows the worst work. I have noted in the record books those children who have been sent to me from the Infant Schools from the Second class.