School inspectors' report (1900)

Post date: Feb 16, 2012 4:14:59 PM

Extract from Parish magazine of July 1900

NATIONAL SCHOOLS.—At the Annual Meeting of the Voluntary Ratepayers, held at the Schools on June llth, the iollowing report of the Committee of Management was presented and approved :—

"The Committee have to congratulate the Voluntary Ratepayers upon the sustained efficiency of the Schools.

"The following is H. M. Inspector's report for the year ending Jan. 31st, 1900:

BOYS' SCHOOL -" There is a good steady tone in this school, which is conducted throughout with marked zeal, care, ability, and success. The school-room has greatly improved in appearance and equipment."

GIRLS' SCHOOL.—" This continues to be a good school. The children are well and carefully taught, with sensible method. The room is an inconvenient one, and neither the ventilation nor the lighting can be said to be satisfactory."

INFANTS' SCHOOL.—" The work of the infants' classes appears to be generally satisfactory."

" The Committee do not think that H. M. Inspector, in his remarks upon the Girls' School-room, intended to suggest any radical alteration of the building, such, indeed, would be difficult and costly to effect. If necessary, an additional sky-light could be put into the main roof. In regard to other matters, H. M. Inspector's report must appear to the ratepayers eminently satisfactory.

" The financial position of the school has been and will continue to be a matter of some anxiety to the Committee, owing entirely to the somewhat costly nature of the drainage works which it has been found necessary to execute. The total cost of the works (apart from interest on a loan from the bankers) has been £298 6s. To meet this a sum of £148 16s. 8d. has been found, leaving in round figures a sum of £150, plus interest, to be raised. It is unfortunate that this year's Government annual and fee grants are lower than last year's by £37. The amount of aid grant to be received this year is not yet known. Upon that item depends the amount from the voluntary rate (to be collected in the autumn) which will be devoted to paying off the drainage debt. The Committee hope to be able to pay at least £50 or £60. The proposed substitution of what is called the block system of payment of grant, in place of the system of payment by results, will affect the finances of the school very little; the grant in the boys' school will be slightly decreased, and that in the girls' and infants' departments slightly increased.

" The Committee regret to have to report an important change in the staff which is imminent. They refer to the resignation of Miss Field, who has been head-mistress of the girls' school for three years, and in that time has gained the regard of the managers, the love of the girls, and the good opinion of H. M. Inspector.

The discipline and tone of the school has very much improved, and the girls' department has, for the first time in its history, gained the Government grants for organization and efficiency on the highest scale. Miss Field is to be congratulated on her appointment to the position of head-mistress in St. James' National Schools, Gravesend. The Committee have asked Mrs. Longley, who now has charge of the infants' classes, to undertake the duties of head-mistress until the end of the school year (Jan. 31st, 1901): and have engaged Mrs. Anning, certificated mistress, who has successfully filled similar posts elsewhere to take Mrs. Longley's place during that period."

The following gentlemen form the Committee of Management for the current year (until June, 1901):-

Ex-officio chairman and correspondent, the Rev. G. M. Livett, Vicar.

Members selected by the Ratepayers: Messrs. Amos Baker, W. W. Blest, W. J. Dray, R. H. Fremlin, and A. Leney.

Members nominated by the Vicar: Messrs. P. H. Copley, Edward Goodwin, and Stephen Head.

The meeting having been closed, as gentlemen were leaving the school premises attention was drawn to the new school gardens, and to the great improvement effected by the removal of the hedge that used to shut out the view of the distant hills. The gardens have been formed in a short space of time, and it was unanimously felt that the report might have contained a reference to the energy of Mr. Smith and his boys, as well as to the kindness of Mr. A. Leney in letting the ground to the managers at a nominal rent.