2. In every department of a school there must be kept by or under supervision o the Head Teacher the following records and registers.

(a) A Log Book.

The Log Book – Entries in the Log Book must be limited to:-

(a)    Any Report on the school sent by the Board to the Authority or the Managers together with any remarks thereon made by the Board.

(b)    If the Authority so direct any report made to them by their committee or by their officers.

(c)    Events worthy of record for future reference or for other reasons, such as alterations to premises, introduction of new book and apparatus, or of new courses of instruction, visits of manager, the absence, illness or failure of duty of a teacher.

(d)   The reasons for the closure of the school, for a substantial variation in the average attendance, or for a marked deviation from the ordinary routine.

Except as provided in (a) and (b) above, the Log Book must contain statements of fact only, and not any expression of opinion upon the conduct of efficiency of the school. In addition to the Head Teacher, entries may only be made by the Correspondent, by the Managers who check the registers, or by the Officer (if any) authorised by the local Education Authority.

Managers

F. Green J.P.

E.A. Sugars

A.Chambers

E. Freeman

C. Faulkner C.C.

Mrs. A. Muxlow

Mrs. A. Weale

A.Allebone C.A.

W.E.Capon

H. Viccars.

Re-opened at 9am after the first part – three weeks – of the Summer Holiday as Junior Mixed Department with eight classes, four “A” classes and four “B” classes. There being only seven classrooms one class is accommodated in the Hall. There are three hundred and twenty native children on roll. In addition to myself staff

4a Miss C.M. Bennett

4b Mr. H. Hales

3a Miss M. Wright

3b Mr. A.W. Morris

2a Miss S.J. Lawrence

2b Mrs. M. Levy

1a Miss E. Bull

1b Miss J. Holt.

Mr. A. Woodhead H.M.I. visited school at 1.30 until 3pm and discussed matters arising from the re-organisation.

Mr. H. Wyles County Fruit and Horticultural Supervisor called at 2pm to discuss the closure of the school garden and the letting of the same and also of matters connected with the Tennyson Road Site allotments.

Jean Marion Haynes informed of a late transfer to Wellingborough High School, as result of A.S.E. 1945. Other transfers this year:- John Bradshaw, Malcolm Magee, Brian Warren, Brian Tew, John Clifton, Keith Bradshaw, Gordon Wiggins, Brian Rice to W’boro Grammar School. Maureen Ball, Jill Hefford, Margaret Baxter, Gillian Knighton, Sheila Barford, Mavis Barnes, Sheila Smart and June Evans, Shirley Palmer, qualified but had moved in the meantime to a remote Bedfordshire village.

Closed at 4pm for second fortnight of the Summer Holiday postponed to allow children to join in potato picking.

Mr. H. Hales absent with the chairman of manager’s permission to act as Juror at the County Assizes.

A certificate specially commended for Good Cultivation of the School Gardens in 1945 has been received. With the removal of the senior classes to the Intermediate School the school garden is now closed as such.

Miss Roberts with lorry and driver received on behalf of the L.C.C. and took away the following articles of L.C.C. furniture bought to Rushden during the evacuation period and used in several premises.

43 Dual tables, 81 chairs – 1 broken, I sewing machine. A cupboard and 4 chairs were fetched from the Infants’ Department.

During this week classes have visited the Boot and Shoe Exhibition in the neighbouring Ritz Cinema.

Sergeant Knight of Wellingborough Constabulary gave three helpful talks on “Safety First on the Road” covering all children present during the afternoon session.

Mr. Alan M.O. Bechervaise began duty as Temporary Supply Teacher, having recently demobilised from the R.A.F. where he held the rank of Squadron Leader. His category has yet to be determined.

Mr. Alan M.O. Bechervaise finished duty here at 4pm. He is proceeding to Corby Rowlett School tomorrow.

Mr. Bechervaise received permission to extend his service here by two days and is back again this morning. Each child received one pound of milk cocoa per W.V.S., the gift of Canadian children.

Letter on headed notepaper from Northamptonshire County council Education Offices.

Rushden Alfred Street C. Mixed School

Enclosed please find a copy of the latest report of H.M. Inspector upon the above school. The managers should direct that the report be entered in full in the School Log Book and the entry should be signed by the chairman. The committee will be glad to receive and consider any remarks which the Managers my desire to make upon the subject matter of the report.

It is evident from this report that the school is settling down satisfactorily after the disturbances caused by the recent war and that the Headmaster and his staff are all doing good work in their several spheres. Note should be taken of the various observations made by H.M. Inspector, especially as regards revision of schemes of work and the teaching of composition, expression and arithmetic particularly in the second stream. It is hoped that the good work which has been begun in the teaching of Art will be carried on when the new teacher is appointed. I am directed to advise all Bodies of Managers that H.M. Inspector’s reports should not be published unless the leave of the Education Committee has been obtained.

Yours faithfully

J.L. Holland

Chief Education Officer.

Local Education Northamptonshire

School: Rushden Alfred Street Council School

Inspected on 7^th and 8^th November 1946

Junior Mixed.

During the war years the school suffered disturbance and as a result of bomb damage, for a long time the lower classes were housed in three separate buildings rendering difficult the task of supervision and co-ordination of effort. Since the re-building of the school, the seniors have been transferred to the Rushden North End Secondary Modern School, thus making possible the arrangement of classes on a full two stream basis. The 320 children in attendance are divided into eight classes.

The head teacher closely supervises the work and takes a definite share of the teaching. Schemes of work are being revised and those which have reached completion are on sound lines but the need to differentiate between the different groups in the second stream, especially in the teaching of the basic subjects, should not be overlooked.  Each child possesses an examination book in which twice yearly tests in all subjects are entered; these are taken home for the parents’ signature and in this way a full record of a child’s progress is kept.

According to their several abilities the members of the staff work conscientiously for the well being of the children in their care.

The style of writing commenced in the two contributory Infant Schools has now been adopted throughout the School with beneficial results. Composition reaches a very good standard in the highest class but in several of the other classes there is evidence that the children have come to rely too much upon their teachers for material and greater use might be made of the children’s own interests and activities. In the second stream classes, difficulties are experienced with both oral and written but written tests done by the upper classes show that some of the difficulties are being mastered. A suitable scheme of speech training is followed but the degree of success varies from class to class: older scholars who had prepared test pieces for a local Eisteddfod recited with clarity and expression.

Satisfactory progress in Arithmetic is made by the “A” stream, that of the second stream is much slower and could no doubt be improved by the provision of the right kind of text book and by greater use of sectional working. The value of a practical approach when introducing new units of measurement should be borne in mind.

Emphasis is placed on biography and story in the History lessons of the lower classes but in the higher forms the idea of time sequence is introduced by use of individual and class time charts. A good selection of books is available and the dramatic presentation of scenes from History play their part in the teaching.

Until recently there has been some specialisation in Art, which showed signs of developing on good modern lines, but the teacher who was responsible for this has resigned on marriage and her successor has still to be appointed.

The teaching of physical training is handicapped because the Hall is also used as a classroom when the furniture has been removed to one side the floor space remaining is not sufficient to allow the freedom of movement necessary if a good lesson is to be given.

Upwards of 80 children attend daily, under the supervision of their teachers, at a Central Canteen for their mid-day meal.

Owing to the severity and long duration of the frost, the lavatories being in such an insanitary condition, after consultation with the sanitary inspector and the chairman of Managers the school was closed. During this closure Ellison Shelter Closets were supplied and the Sanitary Inspector undertook their changing and emptying. Defective and dangerous roof gutters were removed.

Closed all day in celebration of the wedding of H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten.

I regret to record the death on 12 April of Mr. W.W. Rial of Bridport, who for twenty five years was Headmaster of this school. Suitable reference was made at prayers, a commemoration prayer and hymn were used and the flag flown at half mast.

Today being the Silver Wedding day of their Majesties King George and Queen Elizabeth, appropriate reference was made at Assembly, the National Anthem sung and the flag hoisted. The afternoon was a half holiday.

The C.H.S. Cinema Van by the kindness of the Rev. MacPherson Heard, vicar of St. Peters at 9.15am gave a private showing of two films depicting life in India, to the children, who were taken for the purpose to the closed car park in Alfred Street, permission having been given by Mr. W. Hewitt, manager of the Ritz Cinema. The van was unable to come into the playground as the gates are too narrow. The film show, in which the children showed keen interest, finished at 9.45am

This afternoon a presentation was made to Mr. H.Hales on the occasion of his retirement. Before the whole school Mr. W.E. Capon presented Mr. Hales with a clock and fountain pen, subscribed by scholars and staff as a mark of their esteem and affection. Although the headmaster, Mr. S.A. Lawrence was hor- de- combat, he sent a letter which was read to the school by Mr. Capon. Tributes were made to Mr. Lawrence by Mr. Capon and Mr. Hales who echoed the general prayer for his speedy recovery.

The school re-opened at 9am this morning. As Mr. Lawrence is still gravely ill in Northampton General Hospital and the services of Mr. W. Pringle were required elsewhere, Miss C.H. Bennett was asked to take charge of the school. Miss Pashler, awaiting training, reported here for duty and Mr. Hughes, appointed in the stead of Mr. H. Hales, started his service this morning. Mr. A.W. Morris was absent due to personal illness.

Yesterday, after a long period of illness, Mr. S.A. Lawrence, for ten years headmaster of this school, died in Northampton General Hospital. His death brings great sorrow to staff and children alike, for he was greatly loved. We shall constantly miss his anxious care and wise guidance. His loss, too, will be deeply felt in many spheres of public service in the town and throughout the county for he was a good man and he did good things.

The children were told of Mr. Lawrence death by their own teachers, the flag was flown at half mast and as Mrs. Lawrence requested that no flowers should be sent, a collection for Dr. Barnardo’s Homes is being made, to be sent in his memory.

I began duty today as headmaster of this school, in succession to my brother the late Mr. S.A. Lawrence. My appointment dates from 1^st January 1949. signed R.R. Lawrence

Police Sgt. Dickens came to make arrangements for cycle inspection and prize award, but as there are less than ten children cycling to school it was decided not to inspect for competition purposes.

Mr. F. Wright , County Visual aids supervisor, came to discuss the possibility of a film strip projector.

Richard Green, a pupil of this school injured his thumb outside the Portland Road School Canteen at 1pm today. He was taken by Mrs. Levy to Dr. Forrester, who found it to be a simple dislocation and gave him the appropriate treatment.

Mr. Sharp, Assistant County Surveyor, came to discuss the possibilities for lockers for P.T. shoes, black-out for one of the windows of 4A room and hall furniture. The school nurse visited today for head inspection. Six classes were completed.

The photographer called this morning and all children have a photograph taken. The whole proceeding took less than an hour.

Examinations in Arithmetic, English and Compositions have been completed by all classes.

Mr. Heworth H.M.I. came at 9.30am and stayed until 3.30pm. He visited classes IB, IA and 3B and saw Mr. Cobley and Mrs. Levy for a brief period.

Eighteen children were today medically examiner by Dr. Birmingham.

The school broadcast service went very well this morning. The children are now beginning to understand its form and appreciate the dramatic readings. Mr. Wright, county Visual Aids Supervisor, gave a talk to the staff on the use of the Film Strip Projectors, with illustrations. The children were sent out to play and I supervised them. The talk lasted half an hour.

Annual Schools Examination from 9.5am to 12.20pm. there were 69 candidates at this school, arranged in three classrooms. Mr. W. Sherwood and two assistants from Newton road School acted as invigilators. Miss C. Bennett accompanied me to South End County School where we acted as invigilators.

Mr. Viccars, school attendance Officer called. Owing to much sickness the percentage attendance last week (89.1%) was the lowest for over twelve months.

I have today been informed that this school will be used for the County council elections on Thursday 7^th April 1949. In consequence, school will be closed on that day. As Miss Bennett will be absent from duty on a course at Hamerston from Monday 4^th until the end of term I have asked Mrs. Bennett to assist as supply teacher.

Mr. Cobley has taken class 4A to a local exhibition this morning (11am) at St. Peter’s Church Rooms. The exhibition has been carefully planned and should prove of great interest to the older boys and girls.

A very successful jumble sale was held here on Friday evening. Nearly five hundred people attended and the takings amounted to £49. the proceeds were to assist the Rushden and District Schools’ Athletics Association. Jumble has been collected in all the schools of the district, the response being particularly gratifying to the organisers. Many teachers, older scholars and friends turned up to assist with the pricing and selling.

A representative of the National Savings Movement gave two film shows this morning, each of half and hours duration – the first to 4A and 4B and the second to all other members of the School Savings Group.

Donald O’Connor of Class IVB sustained a slight accident during playtime this morning. Whilst playing with others he ran into the edge of one of the shelter walls causing a deep cut over the left eye. I gave him attention and later sent him to the doctor. One stitch was inserted and he will be at school later in the week. The accident was reported to the Local authority.

Nearly 200 pupils have now enrolled as members of the R.S.P.C.A. Animal Defencers Group, purchasing a badge (4d) and monthly paper “Animal Ways”.

The County Assistant Surveyor Mr. Trigg and his assistant called this afternoon to make further proposals concerning the hall floor and to examine the whole building prior to its re-decoration internally.

Derek Payne of Class 111A had a nasty fall in the playground this morning causing a bruise on the back of he head. Mr. Morris was present when it happened. Half an hour later he was very sick, probably due to shock. Mr. Viccars, who happened to be on the premises, took him home by car as I considered he would be better lying down.

Police Sgt. Dickens and a constable visited this morning to put questions to two boys, aged nine, concerning damage to the batteries and windscreen wipers of a car, caused during the weekend.

Miss Goulston, County P.T. Supervisor called to arrange for a Teachers’ P.T. Course of six weeks. This is to be held on Tuesday evenings, beginning on June 14^th.

At 4.45pm yesterday afternoon, David Bird 11, a pupil of this school damaged his wrist during Long Jump Practice, although the accident was entirely his own fault. Mr. Hughes was in charge of the practice and at my request took the boy to Dr. Pickard. I understand that he has gone to Northampton Hospital this morning for x-ray examination and treatment.

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