Bevois Town School 1941–1947
The Bevois Town School log book 1941–1947 gives some fascinating glimpses of what life was like at the school and in the area during the war years and immediate post-war years.
The first entry explains why a new log book has had to be started:
January 6th, 1941. Bevois Town Infants School was re-opened this morning, for the first time since the school buildings were destroyed by fire bombs on the night of November 30th 1940.
The Boys and Girls Departments under Mr Long and Miss Terry are working at St Denys School. The Infants Dept. is using the hut in Earls Rd – formerly a classroom added to the Girls Department. Number present 18. The school is open for session each day 9.30–1pm.
The entry found in January 28th recurs frequently:
January 28th. Nurse visited the school this morning for a Cleansing Survey.
Air raids continued to be a fact of life and the school provided a shelter for the children.
February 14th. The lighting in the Shelter has still to depend on hurricane lamps and candles.
May 29th. Arrangements were made for A.R.P. Warden to visit the school this afternoon and examine all gas marks.
The numbers on roll were growing and the children were now being taught in two classes:
7th July. The examination in Religious Knowledge was held this morning, 52 children being present.
Staff were moved around frequently and it must have been very difficult to maintain consistency. There is a note of irritation in the headteacher’s entry for November 19th:
November 19th. This morning Miss Bratcher was sent to Netley Marsh School and Mrs Abbott was sent to this school in her place. This is the third teacher that the youngest class have had this term.
December 19th. School closed today for two weeks for the Xmas Holiday. 12 boxes of sweets have arrived from America to be given to the children.
In 1942 the number on roll continued to rise and accommodation continued to be a problem.
18th February. Mr Newman, H.M.I. visited the school today. He has suggested the possibility of using a room at Mt. Pleasant School, owing to the overcrowded rooms here, and written to Mr Freeman to that effect.
17th April. The attendance this morning was very low, 48 present out of 85 – due to 3 reasons: Chickenpox epidemic, exclusions by Nurse and air raid last night.
4th June. This morning vermin were discovered in one shelter. The youngest class have been sent home until further notice.
This entry shows that the distribution of free milk to the children was regarded as so important that it continued during the holidays.
30 July. School closed this afternoon at 3.45 for 4 weeks. Tomorrow milk will be served at 11 a.m., by the staff. During the four week holiday, the school will be opened each day after Bank Holiday from 10–12 and 2–4 for Activities and milk.
1st December. The time of the morning session has been changed from 9.15 to 9.30 during the two months ending 29 January, owing to difficulties of black out.
1943
12th January. Nurse visited this school for a Cleansing Survey. 85 children were present of whom only one will be excluded.
16th April. The attendance this week fell to 58% owing to an epidemic of measles.
24th May. The school closed today at 12.15, a half day having been granted to celebrate Empire Day and the Tunisian Victory.
28th May. This week, Savings have been taken each day, as it is Wings for Victory Week. The target was £100. The receipts amounted to £155 .18 .8 d.
Playground incidents and accidents were often recorded in some detail.
16th July. At playtime this afternoon, a boy, Ronald Haysom, in a spurt of temper and rough play, taking two boys and banged their heads together. The head of one boy struck the front teeth of the other, and caused them to be loosened. The parent of the injured boy (David Hingston) was not at home. He was kept here until 4pm and the Caretaker took him home. After waiting for some time she handed him over to the neighbour, Mr Wort.
27th September. The Dental Inspection was held this afternoon. 90 children were examined. 35 need treatment.
19th November. The attendance for this week has fallen to 53% owing chiefly to an epidemic of influenza.
1944
10th January. School reopened this morning. 6 children have been promoted to the upper depts. and 9 have been admitted.
Classes are now as follows: Class 1 – 34, class 2 – 32, class 3 – 36.
Staff absences were regularly recorded and reasons given ranged from “a chill” to Jury service. The reason given in this entry would be most unlikely to be tolerated today!
24th January. The Head Mistress has been absent for one week owing to the illness of her housekeeper.
26th June. The attendance fell to 33% this morning due to a night spent in air raid shelters. The attendances are cancelled.
14th November. Dr Slater began the Medical Inspection this morning.
1945
28th March. Mr Lawrie, from the Ministry of Supply, visited the school this afternoon, to address the children on the ‘Book Drive’.
8th May. The school was closed today, for the celebration of Victory in Europe.
9th May. Continuation of Victory holiday.
21st June. Dr Cargill visited the school today for the purpose of immunisation against diphtheria.
4th July. School will be closed tomorrow owing to the General Election.
12th July. Ian Collier fell in the playground and cut his chin. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and two stitches were found to be necessary. Mrs Silk was on playground duty.
27th July. School closed this afternoon for 6 weeks. It will not reopen until Sept. 11th as Sept. 10th is ordered to be kept as a National Holiday (VE two Day).
11 September. School re-opened this morning. 53 children have been transferred to St Denys Mixed (Junior), St Denys Infants, Central Junior Boys and Junior Girls Springhill. 41 children have been admitted.
30th October. School closed this afternoon for the Half Term Holiday. During the past two months two items of interest have occurred.
(1) The huts have been commenced. (2) The Savings Thanksgiving Week brought £123 – the target being £100.
7th December. The Headmistress and Miss Wheeler have been summoned to the Office for interview for the post at Bassett Green School this afternoon.
The Head Mistress, Miss Bridges, was clearly the successful candidate as on 18th January 1946, she announced:
1946
18th January. The Head Mistress is leaving Bevois Town School this afternoon and her place will be taken by Miss D. Kirwan.
21st January. I, D.C. Kirwan, commenced duties here today as Headmistress of Bevois Town Infant School.
22nd January. I went to Central School at 2 p.m. to interview the Headteacher with regard to the transfer of junior children.
4th February. The junior section of the school opened today. 92 children were admitted. Mr Daniells, Miss Robilliard and Miss Newman have been attached to the staff making five assistant teachers altogether.
8th February. Miss Alexander visited the school today and expressed her satisfaction at the quick functioning of the school. The number on roll at Bevois Town Infant and Junior School is 213.
11th February. The school dinner service was inaugurated today.
6th May. Owing to the reconstruction of the school premises, the staff room is not usable. The stock has been transferred to the cloakroom of Class 3 infant hut, and the Headmistress also has to use this room for clerical work. For the time being the children have to keep their outdoor clothes in the classroom.
There was already a kind of OFSTED in 1946 but at least schools weren’t graded.
14th May. Mr Newman H.M.I. visited the school and saw classes at work in both the junior and infant departments.
17th June. The school reopened today after the Whitsun Vacation. The sum of £15.3.9 was collected for the Southampton Hospital ‘Mile of Pennies Fund’.
17th July. On behalf of the R.S.P.C.A., Miss Raymond Hawkins gave the children a talk on the care of animals.
9th September. The school re-opened today after the Summer Vacation. Miss Wheeler has taken up her appointment as Headteacher of St. Mary’s I. & J. School. Mr Stamper has been appointed in her place. Mr Luke, a trainee from the forces is temporarily attached to the school.
27th September. 30 junior boys accompanied by two masters Mr D. Daniels and Mr J.C. Luke, went to the Common for football. They left at 3 p.m. and returned at 4 p.m. This will be a weekly occurrence if weather is fine.
2nd October. Miss M. Hunt, an uncertificated teacher is attached to the infants staff owing to size of classes.
20th December. The school closed today for the Christmas Vacation. 26 children living in Rockstone Lane and Bevois Valley have been transferred to Central and Mount Pleasant Schools owing to increasing numbers at Bevois Town.
1947
30th January. Owing to severe cold and thick snow the attendance fell to 93 children present.
14th February. The children of 10+ sat for the Preliminary Examination. Twenty were present. Few passed for the Final Examination.
3rd March. Two students from the Avenue Training College are attached to the school for three weeks practice.
21st March. Ten children sat for the Special Place Examination which was held at Central School.
25th April. This book has now been replaced by an official log book which will in future be used.
January 6th, 1941. Bevois Town Infants School was re-opened this morning, for the first time since the school buildings were destroyed by fire bombs on the night of November 30th 1940.
The Boys and Girls Departments under Mr Long and Miss Terry are working at St Denys School. The Infants Dept. is using the hut in Earls Rd – formerly a classroom added to the Girls Department. Number present 18. The school is open for session each day 9.30–1pm.
The entry found in January 28th recurs frequently:
January 28th. Nurse visited the school this morning for a Cleansing Survey.
Air raids continued to be a fact of life and the school provided a shelter for the children.
February 14th. The lighting in the Shelter has still to depend on hurricane lamps and candles.
May 29th. Arrangements were made for A.R.P. Warden to visit the school this afternoon and examine all gas marks.
The numbers on roll were growing and the children were now being taught in two classes:
7th July. The examination in Religious Knowledge was held this morning, 52 children being present.
Staff were moved around frequently and it must have been very difficult to maintain consistency. There is a note of irritation in the headteacher’s entry for November 19th:
November 19th. This morning Miss Bratcher was sent to Netley Marsh School and Mrs Abbott was sent to this school in her place. This is the third teacher that the youngest class have had this term.
December 19th. School closed today for two weeks for the Xmas Holiday. 12 boxes of sweets have arrived from America to be given to the children.
In 1942 the number on roll continued to rise and accommodation continued to be a problem.
18th February. Mr Newman, H.M.I. visited the school today. He has suggested the possibility of using a room at Mt. Pleasant School, owing to the overcrowded rooms here, and written to Mr Freeman to that effect.
17th April. The attendance this morning was very low, 48 present out of 85 – due to 3 reasons: Chickenpox epidemic, exclusions by Nurse and air raid last night.
4th June. This morning vermin were discovered in one shelter. The youngest class have been sent home until further notice.
This entry shows that the distribution of free milk to the children was regarded as so important that it continued during the holidays.
30 July. School closed this afternoon at 3.45 for 4 weeks. Tomorrow milk will be served at 11 a.m., by the staff. During the four week holiday, the school will be opened each day after Bank Holiday from 10–12 and 2–4 for Activities and milk.
1st December. The time of the morning session has been changed from 9.15 to 9.30 during the two months ending 29 January, owing to difficulties of black out.
1943
12th January. Nurse visited this school for a Cleansing Survey. 85 children were present of whom only one will be excluded.
16th April. The attendance this week fell to 58% owing to an epidemic of measles.
24th May. The school closed today at 12.15, a half day having been granted to celebrate Empire Day and the Tunisian Victory.
28th May. This week, Savings have been taken each day, as it is Wings for Victory Week. The target was £100. The receipts amounted to £155 .18 .8 d.
Playground incidents and accidents were often recorded in some detail.
16th July. At playtime this afternoon, a boy, Ronald Haysom, in a spurt of temper and rough play, taking two boys and banged their heads together. The head of one boy struck the front teeth of the other, and caused them to be loosened. The parent of the injured boy (David Hingston) was not at home. He was kept here until 4pm and the Caretaker took him home. After waiting for some time she handed him over to the neighbour, Mr Wort.
27th September. The Dental Inspection was held this afternoon. 90 children were examined. 35 need treatment.
19th November. The attendance for this week has fallen to 53% owing chiefly to an epidemic of influenza.
1944
10th January. School reopened this morning. 6 children have been promoted to the upper depts. and 9 have been admitted.
Classes are now as follows: Class 1 – 34, class 2 – 32, class 3 – 36.
Staff absences were regularly recorded and reasons given ranged from “a chill” to Jury service. The reason given in this entry would be most unlikely to be tolerated today!
24th January. The Head Mistress has been absent for one week owing to the illness of her housekeeper.
26th June. The attendance fell to 33% this morning due to a night spent in air raid shelters. The attendances are cancelled.
14th November. Dr Slater began the Medical Inspection this morning.
1945
28th March. Mr Lawrie, from the Ministry of Supply, visited the school this afternoon, to address the children on the ‘Book Drive’.
8th May. The school was closed today, for the celebration of Victory in Europe.
9th May. Continuation of Victory holiday.
21st June. Dr Cargill visited the school today for the purpose of immunisation against diphtheria.
4th July. School will be closed tomorrow owing to the General Election.
12th July. Ian Collier fell in the playground and cut his chin. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and two stitches were found to be necessary. Mrs Silk was on playground duty.
27th July. School closed this afternoon for 6 weeks. It will not reopen until Sept. 11th as Sept. 10th is ordered to be kept as a National Holiday (VE two Day).
11 September. School re-opened this morning. 53 children have been transferred to St Denys Mixed (Junior), St Denys Infants, Central Junior Boys and Junior Girls Springhill. 41 children have been admitted.
30th October. School closed this afternoon for the Half Term Holiday. During the past two months two items of interest have occurred.
(1) The huts have been commenced. (2) The Savings Thanksgiving Week brought £123 – the target being £100.
7th December. The Headmistress and Miss Wheeler have been summoned to the Office for interview for the post at Bassett Green School this afternoon.
The Head Mistress, Miss Bridges, was clearly the successful candidate as on 18th January 1946, she announced:
1946
18th January. The Head Mistress is leaving Bevois Town School this afternoon and her place will be taken by Miss D. Kirwan.
21st January. I, D.C. Kirwan, commenced duties here today as Headmistress of Bevois Town Infant School.
22nd January. I went to Central School at 2 p.m. to interview the Headteacher with regard to the transfer of junior children.
4th February. The junior section of the school opened today. 92 children were admitted. Mr Daniells, Miss Robilliard and Miss Newman have been attached to the staff making five assistant teachers altogether.
8th February. Miss Alexander visited the school today and expressed her satisfaction at the quick functioning of the school. The number on roll at Bevois Town Infant and Junior School is 213.
11th February. The school dinner service was inaugurated today.
6th May. Owing to the reconstruction of the school premises, the staff room is not usable. The stock has been transferred to the cloakroom of Class 3 infant hut, and the Headmistress also has to use this room for clerical work. For the time being the children have to keep their outdoor clothes in the classroom.
There was already a kind of OFSTED in 1946 but at least schools weren’t graded.
14th May. Mr Newman H.M.I. visited the school and saw classes at work in both the junior and infant departments.
17th June. The school reopened today after the Whitsun Vacation. The sum of £15.3.9 was collected for the Southampton Hospital ‘Mile of Pennies Fund’.
17th July. On behalf of the R.S.P.C.A., Miss Raymond Hawkins gave the children a talk on the care of animals.
9th September. The school re-opened today after the Summer Vacation. Miss Wheeler has taken up her appointment as Headteacher of St. Mary’s I. & J. School. Mr Stamper has been appointed in her place. Mr Luke, a trainee from the forces is temporarily attached to the school.
27th September. 30 junior boys accompanied by two masters Mr D. Daniels and Mr J.C. Luke, went to the Common for football. They left at 3 p.m. and returned at 4 p.m. This will be a weekly occurrence if weather is fine.
2nd October. Miss M. Hunt, an uncertificated teacher is attached to the infants staff owing to size of classes.
20th December. The school closed today for the Christmas Vacation. 26 children living in Rockstone Lane and Bevois Valley have been transferred to Central and Mount Pleasant Schools owing to increasing numbers at Bevois Town.
1947
30th January. Owing to severe cold and thick snow the attendance fell to 93 children present.
14th February. The children of 10+ sat for the Preliminary Examination. Twenty were present. Few passed for the Final Examination.
3rd March. Two students from the Avenue Training College are attached to the school for three weeks practice.
21st March. Ten children sat for the Special Place Examination which was held at Central School.
25th April. This book has now been replaced by an official log book which will in future be used.