Prizegiving at Rushden Boot and Shoe School

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Rushden Boot and Shoe Students First Annual Social, 30 December 1928

A large company gathered at the first social held by the students of the Rushden Technical School held on Friday. The programme included a Whist Drive, for which Messrs E. Mobbs and R. Jacobs were MC's, the prizewinners being: Ladies, 1 Mrs B. Smith, 2 Miss F. Ainge, 3 Miss W. Whiting: gentlemen, 1 Mr H. Robinson, 2 Mr F. Lambert, 3 Mr F. Brown. During the evening prizes were distributed, the prize list being as follows:-

Honours Stage: W. Tyler, County Council prize for homework

Advanced Stage: J. Sharp, County Council prize for practical pattern cutting, Bernard Garley, bronze medal and £1 for County Council, third prizes first class certificate, and pass in practical pattern cutting, and County Council prize for homework, L. F. Knight, County Council prize for homework.

Intermediate Stage: M. F. Clark, County Council prize value £1, and pass in practical pattern cutting, with County Council prize for homework, A. J WIlsher County Council prize for practical bottom stock.

Elementary Stage: E. C. King, County Council second prize, A. A. Sears County Council prize for homework.

Applied Science: R. Barker and S. Clark, County Council equal first prize.

Many students scored first and second class certificates for both practical theoretical passes. Messrs E. Clark and B. Benford were MC's for the dance during the evening, and the Arioso Band provided the music. Games were arranged by Messrs G. L. Miller, A. Wright, E. Morgan, and refreshments were superintended by Mesdames W. Goode, A. Wright, W. H. Cox, B. Benford, E. Morgan, G. L. Miller, E. Mobbs, R. Miller and G. W. Miller.

Prizegiving, 8 November 1954

At the recent prizegiving at Rushden Boot and Shoe School Superintendent Mr E. Sears told the audience that employers were increasingly aware of the value of technically qualified staff.

He said the latest enrolment at Kettering and Rushden of 806 was the largest yet and Rushden’s contribution was 452. Students worked an average of 166 hours and the school’s facilities were used to a greater extent than ever before.

The Institute of Industrial Administration Foremanship and Supervision course was successfully completed by 6 out of 12 candidates and was a serious attempt to provide systematic training for executive level. They were the first in the area to get such a qualification. The new system of working to the City and Guilds of London syllabus and exams had begun. Science was compulsory and attendance at this class was accepted without objection. As expected during this year, the number of candidates taking this exam was low and totalled 15, 2 of whom took the final exams while rest took the intermediate stage. 9 candidates were successful and got certificates.

The number of candidates taking the Northamptonshire County Council exams showed an increase of 6% and the percentage of passes was 79%


Prizegiving 25 November 1957

At the Rushden Boot and Shoe School prizegiving the Superintendent talked about future training. A new development was the training of machinists using the Research Association scheme, and continued interest was shown by employers in part time day instruction. This year’s intake of boys would be the last for the secondary technical shoe school. It was now proposed to introduce a one year full time course for boys when they reached school leaving age at 15, giving them a grounding in the principles of manufacture. Later there would be a scheme of part time attendance for boys and girls in their last year at secondary modern schools.


Prizegiving 1 December 1958

Prizegiving for Rushden Boot and Shoe School took place at the Parsons Hall, Irthlingborough when the prizes were presented by Mr C. H. Edwards, secretary of the British Boot and Shoe Institute.

In his report Mr Sears, the superintendent, said the number of students was slightly reduced but more work had been done. Homework was of a good standard but the numbers of students submitting it were not so large. The field of work had been broadened and there were encouraging results.

Part time day classes were well supported but he felt more firms should use the scheme, known as RT3, to produce potential executives. The 3 current trainees showed continued progress.

Recruitment for a course for machinists, started at the request of the industry, had not been easy.


Prizegiving 11 January 1960

Continued expansion of the part time day work scheme at Kettering and Rushden Shoe Schools was noted by Mr E. S. Sears, Superintendent of the schools, in his report at the prizegiving. He urged students not to go over from day work to the piece rate method of payment – he agreed there was an immediate financial benefit but they were likely to find a greater long term benefit if the full course was completed.

Young operatives enrolling in the scheme increased from 156 to 193 at Kettering and from 144 to 175 at Rushden, and an increased number attended evening classes.

In the Kettering area 25 firms and in the Rushden area 36 firms released employees to attend.

Many foremen and supervisors gave trainees the opportunity to use some of the ability and knowledge they had acquired but this often led to a transfer from day work to piece work and the trainee began to think in terms of wage packet, rejecting things like continued attendance at training as likely to cause wage reduction. While 14 at Kettering and 12 at Rushden received certificates marking completion of the full 3 year course, others didn’t for this reason.

Initial interest in a course for training young labour in basic closing room operations which had set a standard for the country, was not maintained and it had to be dropped after only its 2nd year.

Total student numbers enrolled were 779 compared with 749 in previous year.

The event was held at the Parsons Hall, Irthlingborough and dancing followed.

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