School opened after Christmas holidays.  No teacher having been appointed in Miss Simpson’s place I experienced great difficulty in arranging the classes satisfactorily.  Admitted several children.

The Rev’d F Hird accompanied by the Rev’d W Smith visited.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and examined St 4 in Old Testament.

The Rev’d F Hird taught his class as usual.  The attendance has been very bad, a great many children are suffering with severe colds.

Edith G Watson absent today ill.

Mr F Denton absent this morning ill.

Edith G Watson returned to school this afternoon.

The Rev’d F Hird visited and taught as usual.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and examined the children in Scripture.  At my request he is going to continue examining throughout the school until the Exam.

The attendance has been very bad this week.  Not only the children but the teachers have been absent.

I have scarcely been able to keep toschool myself having had a very bad cold.

Average attendance 275, 64.7 lower than last week.

Mr F Denton and F W Margetts away today.

The Rev’d F Hird visited and taught as usual.

The Rev’d W Smith did not attend this week being away from Rushden.  The attendance has been very bad all the week, two teachers have been absent.

Frank Margetts returned to school today.  Attendance a little better this morning.

Weather very bad and attendance accordingly much worse than yesterday.

The Rev’d F Hird gave his usual lesson to the 1^st class.

Mr F Denton returned to school and Miss Gardner absent ill.

The Rev’d F Hird did not attend today.  The attendance has been extremely bad, I have sent after all the absent ones and find that illness is the cause of non-attendance.

Attendance much better today.

The Rev’d F Hird and he Rev’d W Smith came as usual this week.

Attendance has improved this week, average being 324.  It is still very bad.

Scripture examination today, attendance fairly good considering the number away ill.  437 present.  The Rev’d F P Lawson and his assistant examined.

The Rev’d F Hird was present during a great part of the examination.

The usual holiday today after the examination.

Commenced examining St 2 to 7 in Grammar, Arithmetic and Writing

Examinations continued today.  This being the 1^st time this year I have given an examination in arithmetic, embracing all the rules, several standards have fallen below the results of the last examination.

Average 351

Admitted 4 children this morning.  Received the Scripture Report.

Summary The school has been very fully and efficiently taught throughout and results of the examination in every one of the first groups was very satisfactory.  Discipline and tone excellent.  School in regard to Religious Education as a whole – excellent.

                                                                                F P Lawson Dio Inspector

The results of this wk’s examination were better.  The attendance is still poor.

Examined the registers and found them correct

        Geo S Mason
Manager

The Rev’d and Mrs Hird visited this morning.  All the registers were checked and found correct.

The school is making satisfactory progress.  St 2 is most forward in their work.

Average attendance this week 345.

Admitted two children from Irchester.  Sent after all the absent children.  A great many are away suffering with colds and bad throats.

Examined St 1.  Found an improvement particularly in arithmetic.

St 4 passed a very good examination this week.  St 5 too has improved very much.  St 3 is evidently the weakest class, the children seem so careless, this is owing to the teacher’s want of firmness and good management.

Average attendance 346, still much lower than it ought to be.

Sent after all absentees and tried to persuade the parents to send their children regularly up to the Examination at least.

Examined St 2.  This standard should pass a good examination.

The attendance has been better this week, the average being 360, the highest since Oct 11^th.

This being the week before Easter I have commenced examining the whole school.

Although the attendance has been exceedingly bad all the year especially since October the results of the Upper Standards are better than they were this time last year, with a little more practice and care the children should do well in their standard work.  The Grammar of St 4 is not so good.  Twice lately I have discovered mistakes made by the teacher in passing.  With insufficient teachers the school is materially hindered.

The school was closed today until Monday week much against my will as I think the children ought to have been at school.

Average 358.

Attendance this morning not quite so good, sent after every one that was absent.  Attendance better this afternoon.

I have been round to every class giving lessons to the backward ones.  St 3 children are very dull.

Examined St 1 this afternoon.  Found they had gone back during the wk’s holiday.

Average 361.

Attendance a little better

Examined St 2 to 7 in their standard and class work on paper.

Have tried very much this year to get the children to use good expression when reciting their poetry.  Some can now say their pieces very nicely, have … them to a little action when speaking.

Average attendance this week 364.

The Rev’d F Hird visited this afternoon.  He heard Standard 4 say their poetry and was very pleased with the manner in which it was said.  He said he had not before heard children use such good expression.

The Rev’d W Smith visited in the morning and heard St 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 say their repetition.  In the afternoon he heard St 2 and 3 and questioned them on the meanings of the words and phrases.

The end of the school year today.

Mr Arthur Ward assistant master absent today, unwell.

Copy of Government Report

Mixed School This large school seems to be still growing in numbers and considering the amount of sickness during the year the children have passed a good examination in elementary subjects.  The difficulties of working the school are much increased by the large number of half time scholars, the standard for partial exemption being as low as the second.  Reading might be more fluent in the lower standards, it was good in the upper standards, and the recitation was well said.  In the third and fourth standards more problems in arithmetic should be worked correctly, and there was also a weakness in Grammar in these standards.  Geography was very fair on the whole, though in some classes the answering was not sufficiently general. I am pleased with the careful manner in which the songs of the first class had been prepared.  There is a disagreeable smell in the girls’ offices which should be properly drained.

Infants School No. 1  There has been much sickness during the year, for which the condition of the school must be in some measure responsible.  The rooms are damp and badly ventilated.

                (for remainder see page 436 (108))

Commencement of the school year.  New registers used.  A great many children away today owing to the Maypole Festival which is to be held tonight at the new Hall.  Most of the performers are children attending their schools.

Attendance very poor again today particularly in the upper classes.  The children and some of the teachers are very excited.

                              F Hird chairman 8/5/90                                 

                                                                May 12.90
                                                                A Cartwright

W Varnon Esq H M A I commenced the examination this morning at 10.10.  St 1 children were examined in their standard work and Stand 4, 5, 6 and 7 in their paperwork.  The Rev’d and Mrs F Hird visited

The examination was continued every day this week at 9am by W Varnon Esq.  The subjects were all taken except Geography.

A Cartwright Esq and --- Brown Esq came this morning at 9am.  The children were examined in Geography and Mental Arithmetic.

The 1^st class sang their songs and Mr Cartwright told the children “they sang very nicely and that it had been quite a treat to listen to them”

The work appeared to pass off satisfactorily.

The Rev’d F Hird visited.

The usual holiday after the examination today.

The infants from No. 1 school were received on Wednesday morning and during the day were examined in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.  Found some children counting their fingers during Arithmetic but in a very secret way.

Infants from No. 2 school received on Thursday 15^th.  Examined them.

Received the duplicate schedules

Percentage of whole sch 92

Mr Cartwright told me that another teacher was required for St 3.  He also said he thought Mr Ward was “a very intelligent teacher” and inquired where he had been a pupil teacher.

Find great difficulty in arranging the children – the Wing room, the large room and Standard 4 room are much too crowded.

The Rev’d F Hird visited this morning.

The Rev’d W Smith visited this afternoon.

School closed this afternoon for a wk’s holiday.  Attendance very poor.

The Rev’d W Smith and Messrs G S Mason and J Claridge visited this morning to obtain particulars relative to an application made by me at a manager’s meeting on Thursday may 21^st for additional room and staff (see 1^st entry on this page)(12 May)

The Rev’d F Hird visited and took the 1^st class in Scripture.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and gave and Old Testament lesson.

No help today with Scripture the Rev’d F Hird being away.

Several children have been admitted this week.

Have arranged all the classes this morning.  Find great difficulty in arranging the children so that they have sufficient room for their work.  It is thoroughly impossible that all should have proper accommodation in the existing rooms.  More staff too is undoubtedly required.

The Rev W Smith and friend visited this morning.

The Rev’d W Smith visited this morning.

The Rev’d F Hird visited this morning respecting the Choral Festival at Wellingborough this afternoon.  I was absent this afternoon from 3pm.

The Rev’d F Hird gave his usual lesson this morning.

Sent the following recommendations to the managers:-

Staff

(1)    The appointment of an additional assistant mistress – St 1 and St 4 are both inadequately staffed.

(2)    The appointment (1) of Mrs Vann as Sewing Mistress and (2) of an assistant mistress in place of Miss Knib at £40 per annum.

(3)    Either the formation of a preparatory class to Standard 1 or that the children unfit for St1 work should be returned to the Infants schools

Buildings and Accommodation

(1)    That the larger room be divided into three parts by means of two partitions each of which might be moveable if desired.

(2)    That two additional classrooms be built – This I consider absolutely necessary as the children in some classes are much too crowded for efficient teaching.
With the larger room as it is now it is thoroughly impossible to take advantage of the Freedom of Classification as offered by the new Code.

Instruction as per New Code

(1)    That the boys commence drawing at once (Apparatus will be required).

(2)    That the girls be taught Domestic Economy as a Specific.

(3)    That the boys take Algebra as a Specific.

(4)    That only the whole time scholars be admitted to classes Nos 2 and 3 and that an extra weekly fee be charged.

F Hird chairman 13/6/90

Visit Art21 W Varnon.

The Rev’d F Hird and the Rev’d W Smith visited and taught as usual this week.

Attendance has been better.  Average 424, but it ought to be considerably higher.

Caned Frank Darnell who ran home on Friday after he had been told to stay in by the Rev’d F Hird for bad behaviour during the Scripture lesson.  Kept him in too after school.

The usual assistance given this week by the Rev’d F Hird and the Rev’d W Smith, the former gentleman visited again in the afternoon and spoke to Miss Kaile who terminates her engagement here today. The Rev’d F Hird took prayers.

Miss Packwood commenced as Assistant on Monday.

Admitted two boys, one from Irthlingborough and the other from Banbury.

W Varnon Esq H M Inspector visited this afternoon, examined all the registers and summary and the working of the school.  Everything correct.

He complained very much respecting the overcrowded state of the schools and the impossibility of giving efficient teaching in the large room.  He asked whether the managers had decided to make any alterations.  He read the recommendations on pages 430-1 (106)

The classes have been re-organised this morning.  Miss Packwood has ST 1 boys and Miss Gardner the girls.

St 2  Miss Day the girls and Miss Watson the boys.

St 3  Miss West the boys in place of Miss Watson and Millie Fountain the girls in place of Miss Kaile.

St 4  Mr Ward.  This is far the worst standard in the school.  A new teacher, in place of Miss Kaile, is required for this standard.

St 5  Mr Denton.

St 6 and 7  Mr F Margetts

Heard that Miss Gardner has obtained an assistantship at St Peters Northampton where she was formerly PT.  She leaves at the end of July.

The Rev’d F Hird and the Rev’d W Smith gave their usual lessons during the week.

The attendance has been very poor this week owing chiefly to the weather being rather wet.

The attendance in Rushden is simply abominable.  The Board taking little or no notice of the bad attendance which is regularly reported.  Heard the other day that the members of the Board instead of supporting the dignity of their office vulgarly jest with parents who have neglected to send their children to school regularly.

From the calculations I have made upon the attendance of the scholars in standards in my school I find that reckoning on the whole of last year only 65 per cent of the children on the books were in average attendance.  35 children out of every hundred absent on the average every time the school is opened!  How can satisfactory results be obtained?

Holiday today – Band of Hope trip to the seaside.

The Rev’d F Hird visited this morning.  The Rev’d W Smith visited and took class 1 in Scripture.

Received the Government report on Saturday night.  Heard that it was received by the managers on Thursday morning.  For copy of report see page 424 (105).

Miss F A Simpson student in Whitelands Training College commenced this morning as temporary assistant in place of Miss Kaile.

Mr F J Denton absent, attending the scholarship examination.

--- Brocklehurst Esq visited this morning and took the Rev’d E Smith’s class in Scripture.

The Rev’d F Hird visited and taught as usual.  The attendance has been very bad this week owing to the numerous holidays in the neighbourhood.

(see page 424 (105) for commencement of Report)

One classroom which has the smell from a farm yard at one window and from the offices of a cottage at the other – the cottage obscuring much of the light;- ought I think to be abandoned.  There is a very unpleasant smell pervading the whole school.  As regards the attainments of the children, they are most creditable under the circumstances, but I hope the managers will seriously consider my suggestion for building a new Infant School altogether and allowing this building to be used as part of the Mixed School”.

Infant School No. 2  There has been much sickness during the year.  The first class read and write nicely but better methods in arithmetic are desirable.  Musical Drill was nicely done.  The school is very narrow and low and not well adapted for infants teaching.  The desks are too high.  Better ventilation is needed and the windows should be made to open at the top.  More Natural History cards are required.  I continue the merit mark of last year.

No particular attention of the managers is requested to H M Inspector’s report upon the accommodation of the Infants’ Schools.  My Lords will be glad to be informed what steps the managers propose to take in the matter.

Plans of any new buildings (or alterations) that may be proposed, drawn in accordance with the enclosed Rules, must be submitted to the Department for approval before the work is begun.

F W Margetts, E G Watson and E M Packwood have passed fairly but Margetts should attend to writing.  Watson (who should attend to Grammar, Geography and History) and Packwood (where Geography and knowledge of method need attention) should be informed that they are now qualified under Article 50, but not under Article 52.

A Ward is recognised under Article 50 and G E Wagstaffe is continued under Article 84.  Miss Kaile will receive her certificate in due course.

Geo S Mason
Correspondent

School closed this afternoon in consequence of the Baptist Sunday School Treat.

--- Brocklehurst Esq visited and took the 1^st class in Scripture.

The Rev’d F Hird did not attend as usual.  He has been extremely busy making arrangements for a Bazaar to be held on the 18^th and 19^th inst. in aid of these schools.

School closed today at 11.30 to allow the teachers to attend the Bazaar, their help being required.

Attendance a little better this week but still poor.  Average 399.

Miss Watson informed me that the school money was taken from the cupboard on Friday morning.

The Rev’d F Hird called this afternoon and informed me that he was leaving on Tuesday for his holidays.

The Revd W Smith visited this morning.  This afternoon I found out that George Dickens, a standard 5 boy, took Miss Watson’s money from her cupboard on Friday morning.  Miss Watson was only out of her room a few minutes and Dickens evidently watched her go out and then took the money.  Bertie Carter, also a standard 5 boy, had some of the money given to him by Dickens.  They had disposed of the whole of the money when found out.

Commenced the 2^nd quarter of the school year.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

The attendance has been very bad today.

School closed today – Bank Holiday.

The attendance during the whole of this week has been wretchedly poor, the average being only 294.

Informed by the managers that they are willing to divide the large room into three or four parts by means of partitions, the Rev’d W Smith being appointed to confer with me and Mr Sparrow, builder, as to the best system to be adopted.

The Annual School Treat was held this afternoon.  The weather was very fine and everything seemed to pass off satisfactorily.

The Rev’d W Smith and Mr Sparrow visited the school this morning to make arrangements for dividing the large room.  I was absent from school in the afternoon having gone to Northampton with the Rev’d W Smith to show him the system of partitions used in the Military and Kettering Road schools.

--- Brocklehurst Esq visited this morning and gave a Scripture lesson to the 1^st class.  He has done this several times during the last month supplying the place of the Rev’d F Hird who is away for his holidays.

The Rev’d W Smith and --- Brocklehurst Esq visited this morning.

School closed for the harvest holidays.  Miss F A Simpson resigned temporary duty.  She has had charge of Standards 6 and 7 and has been a great help.

School opened after 6 weeks holiday during which the walls have been coloured and painted and ventilation improved in the wing and three new classrooms.  No partitions have been put up in the large room.  This omission will be a very serious drawback to the efficient working of the school.  Liberty of Classification cannot be taken advantage of with the room as it is.  I have not yet heard the reasons why the room has not been divided as decided on Aug 7^th.

Several children applied for admission - refused to take children now attending the Board schools.

Miss Ada Simpson late assistant at St James Episcopal School Edinburgh commenced duty as assistant mistress.  I put her in charge of Standard 1 boys.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and taught.

The Rev’d F Hird visited and gave a Scripture lesson to the 1^st class. 

Miss E M West left today having obtained a situation in Sheffield that she might live with her sister whose husband has died.

The attendance has been fairly good this week.

No assistant having been appointed in the places of Miss Kaile and Miss West, I am two short and have great difficulty in arranging the classes.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and took the 1^st class in Scripture.

The Rev’d F Hird visited and taught as usual.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

The attendance officer called and I gave him a list of irregular children and told him what A Cartwright said about the duties of attendance officers and the irregularity of children in this district.

Mrs Vann has attended three times this week and taken the girls in Sewing.

Miss Simpson of Whitelands Training College visited.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and taught as usual.

I H E Vann took charge of this school during Mr Vann’s temporary absence.

Examined St 5 to 7 in Reading – found sufficient attention was not paid to the aspirates and endings of words, the delivery was also too fast.

Examined St 3 girls in Writing and Spelling, the latter was very poor, out of 11 words given from Dictation 1 had 1 mistake, 3 had 3, 5 had 5, and the rest had 7, 8, 9, and 10 mistakes; no one had all words correct.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and taught as usual.

Examined St 4 girls in Reading, 1^st div read fluently but too quickly, 2^nd requires great attention.

Examined St 2 boys in Arithmetic, 46 present; gave three sums, one subtraction and two multiplication, with the following results – 2 boys had 3 right, 7 had 2, 11 had 1 and 25 had none right, 1 copied.  The mistakes were mostly in numeration and tables; the method being right in many cases.

The Rev’d F Hird visited and took the 1^st class for Scripture.

Admitted Ernest Wm Tindall, 8 years of age; examined him and found him very ignorant, not knowing many letters nor figures; placed him in Stand 1 2^nd division.

Closed the school in the afternoon to enable the teachers to attend the funeral of our late respected Rector Canon barker who died on Thursday Oct 16^th 90.

Mr Vann present at school today so I did not attend.

Mr Vann conducted the school today.

I resumed the charge of the school today at noon.

The Rev’d W Smith gave his usual lesson.

Commenced the sewing for examination in the upper standards.  Mr Bayes, attendance officer, attended and enquired whether Fred and Walter Knight’s names were on our registers.  Found out that they were not, nor had been during the present school year; gave Mr Bayes a certificate to that effect.

The Rev’d W Smith took Scripture as usual.

Commenced fires this morning.  The classes are still very crowded owing to an inadequate number of teachers.

The Rev’d F Hird visited as usual.

Mr F J Denton absent today as he is attending a drawing examination at Peterborough.

The Rev’d F Hird gave his usual Scripture lesson.

Gave a Geography lesson to St 5 and 7.

Took the above Stds for History.

No school was held this afternoon as the procession from Higham Ferrers took place between 2 and 2.30pm.

The Rev’d F Hird took the upper standards for Scripture.

Miss N Howard late assistant mistress at St Edmund’s Northampton commenced duties this morning as assistant mistress at this school.

Returned to school today.

The Rev’d F Hird visited in the afternoon.

The Rev’d F Hird took the Scripture as usual.

The school is making satisfactory progress.  There is still one teacher short. 
St 4 needs additional help very badly.

Several children are not paying their school money as their parents are out on “strike” for higher wages.

Mrs Vann took the girls in Sewing.

The Rev’d F Hird taught the 1^st class as usual.

Mr Bayes, the attendance officer, called this morning.

During the week I have endeavoured to get the half timers to attend school full time as they are not at work, several of them have commenced to do so.

I H E Vann resumed the temporary charge of the school.  Mr F J Denton away through illness.

Mr A Ward left school at 3pm this afternoon in order to go to Wellingborough to have a tooth extracted.  I took charge of his class during his absence.

Mr F J Denton has been absent all the week.  I have helped with his class.

Examined the registers and found them correct.

                                                                Geo S Mason

The Rev’d W Smith and Mr G Mason visited this morning and went through the school.  Mr mason examined the registers.

Mr Bayes, the attendance officer, visited and went over the registers with me as the attendance is very irregular.  Decided to serve notices on several parents.

As no teacher has yet been appointed to help with Stand 4, I have taken the girls and Mr Ward the boys.

The attendance this morning is rather poor, owing to a heavy fall of snow.  Number present yesterday morning 364.  No. present today 268.

Weather still very bad, the snow being very deep and the roads very slippery.

Average for week = 325.6.  Last week 395.7.

Attendance still very thin owing to the inclement weather.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and took down the number of children on the registers.  Mentioned to him the difficulty of working St 4 properly without additional help.

Miss E Watson absent this afternoon through indisposition.  I took charge of St 2 boys during her absence.

Miss E Watson still absent.  The Rev’d F Hird visited during the afternoon and informed me that Miss Lucas was to be transferred from the Infants school to this department until Xmas next when it is hoped that another assistant may be obtained.  He also informed me of his inability to take his Scripture class during Advent.

Miss Lucas commenced duties in this department this morning – placed her in charge of St 4 girls.  Miss Watson also resumed her duties though she still appears to be very poorly.

Returned to school this morning, found the work going on satisfactorily.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

Miss Ada Simpson away ill today.  Miss Lucas took her class.

The attendance has improved a little this week, the weather being better. 

Average 377.3.

The weather is very cold and the attendance poor.  The attendance officer called this morning.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

Commenced examining the school.

The Rev’d W Smith and Mr J Lewis called about putting the gas in the new class rooms.

The attendance very poor owing to a heavy fall of snow.

School commenced after Xmas holidays.

Miss Wilson from Wolverton School began her duties as assistant mistress this afternoon.  Gave her Standard 4 girls.

The weather is still very cold and a great many children are away in consequence.  Miss Simpson resumed her work.

The Rev’d W Smith visited in the afternoon.

The attendance officer called.

Examined St 1.  Determined to put about 50 in St 2.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

Sent a long list of irregular children to the attendance officer.  Average attendance this week 355.

Sent after all absent children.

Attendance better today.

The Rev’d W Smith visited this afternoon.

The Rev’d F Hird visited and checked all the registers this afternoon.  The Rev’d gentleman also informed me that as he was leaving he had thought it better not to come again for Scripture.

Average attendance has been better this week, being 365.  The weather has been better.

G Mason Esq visited this morning and enquired about the staff.  He had received only one application to the advertisement for an assistant mistress.

Mr F J Denton terminated his engagement today as assistant master.  He commences tomorrow as a student in … Training College.  He was a pupil teacher in this department.

The Rev’d F Hird brought the notices of the Diocesan Examination which is fixed for Thursday Feb 12^th.

Read the notices of the exams as required and again impressed upon the children the necessity of attending regularly and punctually.

Average attendance 348.

Heard that I had been awarded “as first Langham Prize £4 in books”

“Given to teachers of Church Schools of highest merit in the county of Northampton in the report of the Diocesan Inspector”.

The Induction Service of the Rev’d C J Gordon MA to the Rectory of this Parish was conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon of Oakham today.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

Average attendance

Sent a list of irregular children to the attendance officer.

The 1^st class sang their songs at a Parish Meeting held in the new hall this morning.

G S Mason Esq visited this afternoon.

Diocesan Examination held today by the Rev’d Stukely.  470 children were present.

The Rev’d C J Gordon the Rev’d W Smith and G S Mason Esq visited the school.

The registers were not marked today.

The usual holiday was given.  In the afternoon the boys had a paper chase.  The weather was fine and the boys seemed to thoroughly enjoy their run.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited this morning and brought the Prize Scheme and P Teachers papers to be filled up.

The attendance has not been so good this week.  The attendance officer called and I gave him a list of the absentees.

The Rev’d W Smith visited this afternoon.

Received the Scripture Report.  The following is a copy

“The school has been excellently instructed during the past years in Scripture History; the repetition of Scripture and Collects was also very good.  The Catechism written out by Standard 4 was exceedingly well done as were also the Scripture extracts by the elder children.  The difficulties connected with half time children have been very much minimised by a carefully matured and regular system of instruction during the years before the half time age is reached.”

                                                J P Lawson

                                                                Dio Inspector

Miss E G Watson went home this afternoon to attend her mother who is ill.

Took Miss Watson’s class myself today.  Found it impossible to go on satisfactorily without additional help.

Mrs Vann came today and took Miss Watson’s class, Standard 2 boys.

Mrs Vann has at my request undertaken to help with St 2 until further help can be obtained.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited this afternoon and examined the registers and found them correct.

Miss F C M Burton ex Pupil Teacher from the Central Girls’ School Peterborough commenced duty this afternoon as assistant mistress.  Put her in charge of St 5 in the small classroom.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and took the 1^st class in Scripture.

The Rev’d W Smith visited this afternoon.

Mr Bayes, the attendance officer, called this afternoon and I called his attention to the irregularity of several children.

Miss A Simpson away today, unwell.  Once more there are two assistants away together.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and taught as usual.

Gave the Prize Scheme candidates their final instructions respecting the examination tomorrow.

The Rev’d C J Gordon superintended the exam of Prize Scheme and Pupil Teachers.

Examined Standard 3.  Found a very great improvement particularly in Arithmetic and the general style of their paperwork.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and taught the 1^st class.

Have been giving special attention to St 5.  These children seem very backward in Arithmetic.

The Rev’d C J Gordon took the 1^st class as usual.  Spoke to the Rev’d gentleman respecting the Easter holidays.

School closed today until after Easter Week.

School opened today.

Miss M M Lovick from St Barnabas School Peterborough commenced duty as assistant mistress in place of Miss Watson.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and taught as usual.

The children gave a concert in the public hall.  Everything passed off very successfully.

The concert is to be repeated on Saturday.

Mrs Vann who has been taking Miss Watson’s class since Feb 27^th continued this week at my request to instruct Miss Lovick respecting the working of the class.

Spoke to the teachers about the arrangements for the Government Examinations.  Informed them also that in case of my absence Miss Burton would take charge.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited this morning but did not take his class in Scripture as he had to go to Northampton.

Have given special attention to the Arithmetic of Standard 5.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and taught as usual.

Miss Howard away this afternoon, unwell.

The Rev’d W Smith took the 1^st class in Scripture this morning.

Miss Burton absent today, unwell.

The Rev’d C J Gordon and Mrs and Miss Gordon visited in the afternoon and looked at the Sewing.

Attendance better this week, average 377.

Sent after all absentees.

The Sewing was taken this morning instead of Thursday

The Rev’d C J Gordon and the Rev’d W Smith visited and taught as usual.

Miss Simpson absent this afternoon, unwell.

End of the school year.

Copy of Government Report

Mixed School The school appears to be well organised and discipline is good.  Considering the changes in the staff, and the number of half timers, the general efficiency is creditable, but efforts should be made to improve the quality of the work.  The elementary subjects as a rule are good but Spelling shows weakness in the 2^nd and 4^th standards, written Arithmetic requires care in the second, fourth and fifth standards, problems are attempted with poor success in the third standard, and mental Arithmetic needs attention throughout.  Recitation has been carefully prepared in all the classes.  The higher grant for Grammar and History is barely earned, and that for Geography is recommended with very great hesitation.  Considerable improvement will be looked for next year, especially among the girls if they attempt two class subjects in addition to Needlework.  Singing by note is good and Needlework satisfactory.”

M S Fountain has passed fairly but should attend to geography and History.

E M Packwood is recognised under Article 50.

C J Gordon
                    Correspondent & Manager

Commencement of school year.  Miss A Simpson completed her engagement a assistant mistress in the school.

Names marked this morning in the new registers.

Received notice that --- Mackenzie Esq and --- Brown Esq would inspect the school on Monday and Tuesday the 25^th and 26^th of May/91 at 10.30m and 9.15.

--- Mackenzie Esq would inspect No. 1 Infants on the 25^th at 10.30 and No. 2 at 2pm on the 25^th and Mixed school on 26^th 9.15

Mrs Vann took charge of St 1.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and taught as usual.

The Rev’d W Smith took the 1^st class in Scripture.

Left school this morning at 11.30.  Mrs Vann took charge.

Examined standards 2 to 7 in paperwork.  It has been very difficult to get the standards divided into groups equal in attainment.  The half timers being so unequal.  Many children too have been absent through illness.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and took the 1^st class in Scripture.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and taught as usual.

Left school today at 11.30, Mrs Vann taking charge.  School closed for a week’s holiday this afternoon.

--- Brown Esq commenced the examination this morning at 10.45am.  Standards 4 to 7 did their standard work.

St 1 was examined in the afternoon.

Examination continued by --- Brown Esq.

The Rev’d C J Gordon and the Rev’d W Smith visited during the examination.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and taught as usual.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and took the 1^st class in Scripture.

I H E Vann took charge of school today in absence of Mr Vann at Oxford.

Mr Varnon visited during the afternoon.

Mr Vann resumed duties this morning.

W Varnon Esq visited this morning.

--- Dibbin Esq and W Varnon Esq continued and completed the exam today.

Re-arranged the school and received Infants from Mrs Tyres.

I resumed the charge of the school this morning, Mr Vann absent at Oxford.

Admitted 115 children from Infants Schools.  Commenced the new work in all standards.  Owing to an insufficient staff I took charge of St 1 girls. St 1 (90 children on books) still being under the charge of one assistant.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and informed me of the appointment of Miss A L Verney to this department as assistant mistress.

The Rev’d C J Gordon too unwell to attend this morning for his usual Scripture lesson.

The Rev’d W Smith visited and took his usual Scripture class.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

Miss Alice Lilian Verney of Wolverton L & N W R British Girls School commenced duties as assistant mistress; placed in charge of St 1 girls.  Std 1 requires another teacher.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited.

Miss Lovick attended school as usual this morning but was too unwell to remain.  Sent her home and took St 2 children myself.

School closed today to enable teachers and children who had obtained Diocesan prizes to go to Northampton and receive them.

Mr Vann too charge of school today.

Mr Vann present today.

Mr Vann absent today, being again at Oxford.

The attendance has fallen considerably the last few weeks.

Attendances (average) for last 5 weeks

471.9 (May 29^th)

440.8 (June 5^th)

413.8 (June 12^th)

396.2 (June 19^th)

374.7 (June 26^th)

Mrs Gordon visited and examined last year’s Needlework.

The Rev’d W Smith visited.

Day’s holiday 06 Jul

Scholarship week, 5 assistants absent attending examination.

Returned to school this afternoon.

The teachers all present this morning.  No one has been appointed in Miss Day’s place.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited this morning.

The Rev’d C J Gordon did not give his usual Scripture lesson this morning.

School closed this afternoon – Baptist Treat.  Let the children out to play in the morning.  Emily Betts went home.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited, taught as usual.  M Fountain away on the 23^rd …

Examined St 3 to 7 in Writing, Composition and Arithmetic.

The results of the exam in Arithmetic were poor in all classes but particularly in the 3^rd and 4^th.  The upper standards did fairly well.

The writing was bad in the 3^rd boys, fair in the girls.  The 4^th boys were not so good as the girls.

The composition (story) of the 5^th was fairly good in some cases considering the short time the children have had for practice, generally it was fair.

The Reading was best in standard 5.  Some children in St 4 read nicely.  More expression should be cultivated among the girls.  St 3 girls read carelessly.  The general neatness of the work was good in the 3^rd girls, poor in the boys, fairly good in the 4^th Standard, Good in the 5^th and fairly good in the 6^th and 7^th. 

Two themes were given to St 6 and 7 (Newspapers and Pictures) as exercises in Composition.  The subject matter was poor in most cases, the writing very fair.

Miss Verney away this week, unwell.

The registers were marked in the column left for the Whitsuntide holidays.

The Rev’d C J Gordon did not give his usual lesson this morning owing to illness in his family.

The attendance is still very bad.

Sch closed today, Bank Holiday.

The attendance has been bad all this week.  Most of the factories are closed.

School attendance much better.

Took the children in a neighbouring field this afternoon to see off some of the races.

The Annual Treat this afternoon.  The weather was very fine and all seemed to pass off satisfactorily.  Nearly 1300 children were present.  School closed for six weeks.

School opened today after 6 weeks holiday.  Miss Anne Edith Dames from Wells Blue … School commenced as assistant mistress, put her in charge of part of Standard 3.

Miss Lloyd has been transferred to this department from the Infant School, gave her part of St 1.  Miss M E Packwood I have removed to part of Standard 4, and M Fountain to Standard 2 with Miss Lovick.  This is the first time since the examination that the full staff have been present.

Miss Wilson leaves at the end of the week.

Attendance poor this afternoon owing to a circus being at Hm Ferrers.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited this morning and spoke to the teachers respecting the establishment of a Savings Bank in connection with the scholars.  I had spoken to the children on Monday and deposits were taken.

I have divided St 1 into two divisions.  Miss Wilson leaves today having been appointed assistant mistress in the school where she was pupil teacher. 

Miss Florence Anne Simpson now a student in Whitelands Training College has been appointed assistant mistress in this department, her duties to commence after the Xmas vacation.

The school has made a start this morning with the teachers arranged so that no further alterations will be made until after the examination except the supplying of Messrs Ward and Margetts places after Xmas.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited this morning.

Re-arranged the classes – put standard 3 in the middle classroom, St 4 boys in the end large classroom, St 4 girls at the bottom end of big room, St 2 at the wing end.

Sent after absentees.  Mr Bayes, the attendance officer, called.  I drew his attention to the attendance of several children.

The school seemed to go on satisfactorily under new arrangement.

Spoke to the children about the Parent’s tea on Tuesday next.

Mr Bayes called today and took attendances of several of the worst children.  I sent him a long list on Friday.

Parents’ tea at the New Hall.  The Rev’d C J Gordon gave an address on “Free Education” and I explained the advantages of the New Code.

Very wet morning, attendance poor.

Mr Vann absent at Oxford.  I H E Vann took charge of school.

Examined Standards 5, 6 and 7 in Arithmetic and Composition.

Examined those children from above standards who were absent yesterday.

Miss Verney absent today with sore throat.  Miss Burton took charge of Standards 5, 6 and 7, Mr Margetts of Miss Verney’s class St 1 2^nd div.

Miss Verney still unwell and absent.  Sent Mr Bayes a list of absentees.

Miss Verney still away – her illness having developed into scarletina.  Elsie Childs (who lives in same house) also absent by Doctor’s orders.

Gave out the stamp forms in connection with the Savings Bank.

Mr C R Owen visited this morning and inspected the room lately occupied by Miss Verney, ordered it to be scrubbed and sprinkled with disinfectant.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited this morning.

Miss Lloyd absent today she having gone to Wellingborough to read and recite before Inspector.

School opened all day, there being no procession from Higham as has formerly been customary.

Sent to attendance officer list of George Smart’s attendances during quarter.

Mr Vann present this morning.

Miss M E Packwood absent with sore throat.

Mr Vann arranged for Mr Ward to take charge of St 4 girls with his own (St 4 boys) in large room.

Miss Burton and Mr Margetts resuming charge of their respective standards whilst Miss T Jones from Infant School No. 2 helped with St 1 in place of Miss Verney who is recovering.

Showed Miss Jones how to take a Reading lesson with St 1.

Showed Miss Jones how to take a Writing lesson and an Arithmetic lesson. 

Miss Packwood still absent.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and paid the teachers’ salaries.

Miss Lovick absent this afternoon with Neuralgia.

Mr J Claridge visited this morning accompanied by Mr Finnemore.  The latter gave a Temperance Lecture to all the children above St 2.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited during the lecture.  Informed him of Miss Lovick’s absence.

Miss Lovick returned today.  Children in St 5 and upwards writing out the substance of the Temperance Lecture to send to Mr Finnemore, he having promised certificates to those children producing the best accounts.

Miss Lloyd absent this morning through indisposition.  It is impossible for the school to make satisfactory progress with first one teacher and then another being absent.

Miss Packwood returned to school this morning; she does not appear to be thoroughly recovered.

Mr Ward took the two classes together for Scripture.

Placed Miss Howard with St 1 in place of Miss Lloyd, Miss Dames taking charge of all St 3 with help of monitress.

Miss Lloyd and Miss Verney still absent.  Sent Mr Bayes list of irregular children.

Gave Mr Margetts permission to leave school at 11.30 to catch the 12.10 train to Wellingborough in order to have a tooth extracted.  He arrived back at 2pm having walked from Wellingborough.

The Rev’d W H B Bunting visited during the morning and looked at the boys’ drawings.

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited and distributed some free tickets amongst the elder children for admission to University Extension Lecture on “Hygiene” in public hall Rushden this evening.

Miss Lloyd returned to school this morning after a fortnight’s absence. 

The Rev’d C J Gordon visited during the morning.

Miss Verney visited this afternoon and brought in her Bank accounts for her class, she having resigned her post as assistant (Ex PT) in consequence of her failure at last scholarship examination.

Several children in St 1 were too late to receive their marks – spoke to them about it.

Returned to school (Mr Vann).  Examined St 3 in Arithmetic and Writing.  Most of the children know the rules in Arithmetic but many are careless in working.  An improvement might be made in taking down the sums and the writing should be rounder.

Examined St 3 in Reading.  On the whole the reading was fairly good and is evidently improving.  The children should become good readers.

Examined St 2 in Writing and Arithmetic, there is a general weakness in this class.

Examined St 4 in Writing and Arithmetic.  In the afternoon I gave a drawing lesson to St 4 to 7 on the method of “sketching and lining in”

Inspected thhe exercise books of St 5.  Many of the children write exceedingly well and their books are patterns of neatness.  Great credit is due to the teacher for the improvement.  Evidently great pains have been taken by both teacher and children.

Exaamined St 2 Reading.

Examined St 6 and 7 in Composition and Arithmetic.

Gave drawing lesson to St 2, 4 and 5 to 7.

The attendance has been bad for several weeks.  There is much sickness among the children.  Whooping cough is very bad. 

Miss Ada Margaret Smith commenced duty on Monday 14^th as assistant mistress.  Gave her part of St 1.

Attendance very bad today.  The weather is extremely cold.

School closed today until Monday wk.  Miss Lloyd who was appointed temporary assistant until Xmas terminated her engagement today.