School Logs

Medbourne Village School, 1872 - 1968

What follows are the "interesting bits" from the Medbourne Village School logs. There are no records remaining for the 1880's.

See also the Medbourne School History page.

1872

The incomplete condition of the school in regard to its apparatus and out-buildings prevented Mr. Harrison from obtaining his third class Teaching Certificate even though his requirements had met his Inspector’s standards in every way, e.g. desk accommodation is deficient both in kind and quality.
The Offices (lavatories) should be separated by a space sufficient to deaden the sound and adapted to a dry earth system.
A room should be added in which the younger children could be instructed suitably to their age. For lack of this the children in the village cannot be admitted under six years of age.
Likewise the Education Department would not recognise the school as efficient unless :-
1. Separate Offices with separate approaches for girls and boys were provided, and
2. Proper teaching in needlework required as part of the ordinary course of instruction.
There were not funds for the above. A meeting of parishioners asked that a sum of money could be obtained from the Local Government Board as they held £72 from the sale of certain parish buildings. Twenty villagers attended the meeting. Various objections from the Board!
The trustees of the school building and the Moyes Charity set up a rate of charges, e.g. children of large Farmers and Land Owners 9d. a week, children of Tradesmen 4d. a week, children of work people 1d. a week, children from other parishes 6d. a week. (240d = £1)

1873

An Inspector wrote that the Headmaster seemed to be carrying out his duties under great difficulties. Sewing was introduced and taught by the master’s wife and daughter.

1874

The improvements were carried out and Mr Harrison gained his certificate.

1875

Miss Harrison was appointed paid monitor. Several boys were given Labour Certificates when they left. The presence of so many agricultural children, who have scarcely any schooling at all, makes it very difficult to maintain good order.

1876

Several more Railway children admitted but their presence is not at all desirable for most of them appear to be under no sort of discipline and are very unruly. The constant changing of children, the irregular attendance and the disorderly conduct of the strange children is having a bad effect on the whole school.
Numbers on the books 97, present 48. The continual coming and going of strange children interferes seriously with the working of the school for none stay long enough either to do good for themselves or to be any credit to the school.
Special days holiday on July 18th for a special service in the Church for its opening of the new Chancel.

1877

These children admitted who had never been to any school before, their ages are ten to eleven and fourteen but they can scarcely read or write.

1879

School not re-opened after the summer holiday until October 6th due to the late harvest.

1890

Measles epidemic and school closed for a week.

1891

Drawing introduced for boys whilst girls have needlework.

1892

School was closed on 27th November 1891 in consequence of Scarlatina, re-opened 15th February 1892, by order of the Medical Officer of Health.
Cooking lectures after school.

1898

Mr Craddock when he took over found no exercise books or record books. Ordered new ones, new slates and infant stock.
School closed for 4 weeks by the Medical Officer for Health due to an outbreak of measles.

1899

Mr Craddock’s little girl is very ill with Intussusception.
Emma Rigby appointed probationary Monitor at a salary of two shillings a week.

1900

Children given a longer playtime on March 2nd. to commemorate the relief of Ladysmith.
School closed for afternoon on May 21st to celebrate the relief of Mafeking.

1901

Letter from Medical Officer of Health informing that no children to be admitted from homes affected by Whooping Cough.
Christmas concert held.

1902

Poor attendance due to Mumps and Ringworm.
Use of slates entirely abandoned in the Upper Division.

1903

A partition put up to separate the infants from the older scholars, this is a great improvement.

1904

School closed for three weeks due to Scarlet Fever, buildings to be fumigated and cleaned.
Children sang over the grave at Mr Harrison’s funeral.
Dumb Bells arrived.
No infant teacher.
The drains round the school being in such unsanitary condition it has been found necessary to re-lay the whole of them. The Managers decided immediately to close the school for the summer holidays until August 1st.

1905

Children are taking meals out to the fields especially in hay time and not getting back in time for afternoon school.
Library started, C.W.B. Fernie sent £1 to buy books.

1906

Lady Cunard has sent a sovereign toward acquisition of more books. Her Ladyship also lent books.
Clement Warner aged four years has died of Diptheria.

1908

Exercises with Indian Clubs and Dumb Bells and exercises without any tools.

1909

The standard of Needlework is very unsatisfactory and is very crude.
Athol Burrows aged six years died of Diphtheria.

1910

Nellie Horsley died of Diphtheria.

1911

School gardening started, found to improve the boys’ attendance.

1912

New infant's room finished and opened. Also a glazed partition in the main room.

1913

Rapid thawing of snow and ice on March 19th combined with heavy rain causing flooding. Children were taken home by Mr. T. Lygoe in his trap, five journeys being necessary but by 4 p.m. things were normal.

1914

A selection of vegetables grown, fruit trees planted. Also instruction in pruning given in the Head’s garden.

1915

Six weeks summer holidays because of shortage of labour. A great many children being required by farmers and others to assist in various kinds of work.

1916

Freda Palin died of Diphtheria.
Mr Hagger called up for Military Duties.

1917

School closed for three afternoons in October so that the teachers and children could go gathering blackberries to be made into jam for the Army and Navy.

1918

Six half day holidays in September and October to collect blackberries for jam for the Army and Navy.
Mr Hagger returned from Military Duties on November 15th and resumed as Headmaster.
School was closed between October 20th and December 6th due to the influenza epidemic. In Christmas holiday the school was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

1919

Three hundredweight of horse chestnuts sent to Market Harborough.
Bert Barlow first pupil to gain a scholarship to Market Harborough Grammar School.
Children joined in Peace Celebrations on 19th July following The Great War.

1922

Mr Hagger away suffering from rheumatism of the nerves.

1924

Leonard Vines died of Sleeping Sickness

1925

Four girls have commenced attending domestic science classes at the Langton Centre.

1926

Five pupils granted permission on November 11th to absent themselves from school for the purpose of assisting in the sale of Flanders Poppies.

1928

The Managers unanimously resolved “Feeling that our Caretaker has, for some time, been underpaid, we recommend her salary be increased to £52 per year, with an allowance for window cleaning”. The school laundry was no longer to be regarded as part of the Caretaker’s regular duties. Two shillings a week to be paid extra.

1929

Eleven senior pupils transferred to Church Langton. Medbourne School reconstituted for Juniors and Infants.

1937

Children given Horlicks Malted Milk.

1938

Bottled milk obtained from Mr Knight of Tetbury

1939

Lavatory pans fitted but no means of flushing supplied.
Beryl Orton died from Scarlet Fever, top class attended her funeral.
On September 2nd the Police Constable fitted all the children with gas masks.
Seventy Evacuees from London have been admitted to the school. An additional school room at the Nevill Arms (the Clubroom) has been taken to accommodate thirty five of these children. Six teachers and one Headmistress came with them.

1940

Only a few Evacuees are left and the children from the Nevill Arms Clubroom have been brought over to the school.

1941

The Wardens have visited the school and fitted the children with ear plugs.

1943

The Head Warden came and thoroughly overhauled the children’s gas masks.

1945

Dancing is being taken instead of Handiwork.
School closed for two days on May 8th and 9th for V.E. celebrations.

1951

Electric Boiler fitted for Caretaker’s use and water butt fitted outside.

1953

New clock with Arabic figures put in the west room.

1956

P.C. Robinson gave a talk on the care of cycles.
Flushing system installed in the lavatories.

1958

Two new stoves fitted.

1961

Wellingtonia tree in playground felled due to its dangerous condition.

1962

New oil heating system fitted in main room.

1964

Weekly period of swimming at Market Harborough baths started.

1968

Mr Hinch had to render assistance to tow the Dentist’s mobile surgery on and off the playground.
Sharon Bradley awarded the Gold Survival Swimming Award.

Acknowledgements

This page was researched and authored by Keith Sandars, February 2017.