r THE STORY OF THREE SCHOOLS

Education in Kirkheaton from 1600

I I

JOHN M. BROOKE • The Story of Three Schools

Education in Kirkheaton from 1600

JOHN M. BROOKE

Published by Kirkhe,lon School's Pilrent Teacher Associiltion Printed by 'IIest Riding D-..pllating Co .• n St. Ceorge's SqUilre, HuddersfoeLd. 1'11. CONTENTS FOREWORD

Foreword We are indebted to John Srooke for many things during his Preface headship of the school in our village. As he leaves, he has Introduction given us a delightful legacy, in the form of this booklet on the history of Kirkheaton Schools. 1. Kirkheaton Grammar Sc hool.

2. The National Sc hool. I am glad that the Parent Teacher Association has supported

3. The headships of Henry Whiteley and Harrop Mosley. the publication of this fascinating story of the school from its earliest beginnings. Many ex-pupils will read with great inter­ 4. The headship of James Whittell 19 14 ~ 1943. est the anecdotes and stories - many of which occurred within 5. 1947 - 1972. living memory. Others may read it from historical interest,

6. The Infants' School ~ Early Developments. the life of a village school in West Yorkshire over the last four hundred years. I hope above all that the parents of 7. The Infants' School at Fields Rise ~ 1883. present pupils will be able to give their own children a sense 8. Miss Hannah Castle, headteacher 1900 ~ 1935. of the heritage they enjoy. The school they now attend is one

9. The Infants' School ~ 1935 ~ 1972. in which they may have pride, as it is an institution whose direct roots go back to the end of the 16th centur y. 10. The New County School Opens.

11. One School for the Village. I am delighted to be able to write this foreword to the history

12. Appendices. of the Kirkheaton School, founded by one of my predecessors. We thank John Br ooke for r eminding us of the sense of history and continuity that belongs to "our school" up in the v illage.

The school emblem. dr.lwn by Miss Wendy Elli. In 1911, I. b.lsed on lhe fr.l9menU of .I n An910- Olnl.h cron rel.llned In Klrkhelton Church. Patrick B. Harris. Kirkheaton Rectory. 30th November 1983. INTRODUCTION

PREFACE Education in Kirkheaton has a long tradition, which began when , a grammar school was established around 1600. This was re­ The story of education in Kirkheaton is one of people working placed in 1845 when the National School was opened. This together with a common aim for almost 400 years. It is a building was extended in 1913 and became the C.E. Junior story I have enjoyed writing and researching and I hope that School in 1966. In 1883, the Infants' School building opened at some of this enjoyment is passed on to the reader. For me, Fields Rise, although the school was actually established in the though, it is also a story that I have been lucky enough to b National School building in 1872. part of since the opening of the new County School in 1972. The County Primary, later County First, school opened in 1972 In a book of this nature, it has obviously not been possible 10 to cater for the rapidly increasing population in the villa!e. mention every single event or person connected with the viii· However, by the beginning of the 1980's the birthrate began to age's schools. Nor is it possible, as readers will realise, to fall and the large housing developments had stopped. It was acknowledge individually the assistance given by a large decided, therefore, to close the two C.E. schools in July, 1982 number of people. Many have supplied reminiscences, photogr. whilst at the same time extend the County School by the aphs, documents etc. for which I have been grateful. I public- addition of two c lassrooms. Jy thank them all.

The Infants' School building remained open, as an annexe, until However, at the risk of contradiction, I mUSI thank Janice July 1983 when the extensions were completed and all the Mahoney, the school secretary, for deciphering my writing; children could be housed on one site. Terry McAlIister for the cover drawing; Christopher Wood, my former deputy, for the cover layout; lan Mackay, my present deputy, for his encouragement; the school's P.T.A. for then

support; the Rector, Bishop Pat Harris, for the loan of origin~IJ documents and Kirklees Education Authority.

J.M.B. November, 1983. THE STORY OF THREE SCHOOLS

KIRKHEATON FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The school, built on a site later used for Kirkheaton National , School, appears to have been erected between 1588 and 1619. The most popular date seems to be 1610 and this is the date given in a 191) brochure for a bazaar at the school. The original building, none of which now remains, was built chiefly from the money provided by the Reverend Alexander Stocke, then rector of Kirkheaton, and others to serve as a Free Grammar School for children of the parish. In his will dated 1619 Stocke also requested that monies from the rents received from "lands, closes and premisesll were to be used, "ror ever to and for the maintenance and repairance of one schoole house situate near the Church of Kirkheaton (lately builded there by me and others of the same pariSh) so longe as the sane schoole house shall continue and be used for a schoole house for instructing and bringing up of youth inhab­ • Heing within the Parish of Kirkheaton in good learning. " Stocke requested that if the school did not need any repairs for one or two years the trustees - one of whom was Sir Richard Beaumont - could "give and disperse" of the annual rent for the maintenance and education of "some one or more boy or boyes of the said parish in good learninge." Other early beneficiaries were William Lyley who gave yearly, in his will dated 1685, from rent charged on property in Kirk­ heaton "for ever unto y maister of the free school of Kirk­ heaton y sume of £5 for y teaching 10 poore scholars." In 1714 Miss Frances Beaumont in her will, bequeathed the sum of £ I 00 to be laid out in lands (at Osset) - the rents to be received by the schoolmaster. It is hard to imagine what this early school was like. It was­ n't a grammar school founded on the traditions of, say, Rugby (1567) which also began in Elizabeth I's reign along with anoth­ er 540. Yorkshire was one of ten counties that possessed such schools. These grammar schools, took boys between the ages of 6 and 8 and kept them until they entered Oxford or Camb resident. When the Rev. Sunderland resigned in 1815 there is, ridge at around 16. In 1671 there was a brave attempt by for five years, no record of the academy. However, in 1820 Christopher Wase to ascertain the state of these schools but the Rev. Harrison, who was domestic chaplain to Lord Grant­ after collecting informdlion on 704 he had to abandon his ley, was licensed to Kirkheaton and the boarding school was enquiry because of bishops who were "unwilling to disoblige continued by him until its closure in 1836. Gentlemen who had gott the lands given to these schooles into There were also in many areas Dame schools or Private Day their hands and possessions." schools, again not all of high repute, which charged fees. In Many of the smaller schools were sometimes run by head teach­ towns, charity schools were begun in 1698 by the Society for ers and others of ill repute - not all but some. In the late Promoting Christian Knowledge CS.P.C.K.). They were usually seventeenth century, one Thomas BJyeth was headmaster of the associated with parishes and the masters were to be of 'meek Kirkheaton Grammar School. When licensed by the Archbishop temperament, humble behaviour; to have a good government of of York he promised to Jive a "sober life, be dilligent in hiS themselves and to keep good order.1I By 1760 these schools profession, not addicted to excessive drinking nor a frequenter were educating some 30,000 children. of alehouses." Another contribution to the elementary education of the poor Unfortunately by 1695 Blyeth was an habitual drunkard. It was made by Sunday schools, a movement associated particul­ appears that he was not content with an evening's drink ing, arly with Robert Raikes, a Gloucester newspaper owner. They but continued to drink in several Kirkheaton alehouses for had rapid success and by 1787 were educating 250,000 people. 'several days and nights together'. On many occasions he had These schools were, in a sense, the beginning of popular educa­ been extremely aggressive and abusive and regularly remained tion. drinking untiJ Monday morning after attending Kirkheaton Church "to the shame of the Christian religion and an eVil example to others." The drinking led to absence from school. In May 1690 the school was closed for thirteen weeks. When the boys were 10 school they were "beaten unmercifully". Blyeth was, for exam­ ple, charged with striking Edward Bikliff's son so severely upon the head that it caused him to become deaf 'to this day'. Shortly afterwards Reuben Armitage received such a violent blow from the master that it knocked out a tooth and split his head. It appears also that money from Stocke's will had been going into Blyeth's pocket and the school governors had no option but to ask the Archbishop of York to withdraw his licence to teach which, following a hearing, he did. In addition to the Kirkheaton Grammar School there was also, it appears, a boarding school for boys in the viUage between 1776 and 1836. This was established by the Rev. John Sunder· land who was curate from 1775 until 1815. It was conducted first at Daw Knowle and afterwards removed to the rectory • KIRKHEATON CRAMMAR SCHOOL 1619 (old site near Kirk Stile Inn) on the death of the Rev. John From I sk.ICh by lhe R.... d. CN-Iuopher AlderllOn (1".) Burton in 1785 whose successor Rev. John Smithson was non-

2 3 Around the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, THE NATIONAL SCHOOL Or. Andrew Bell, an Anglican Chaplain in the Indian Army, and Joseph Lancaster, a Quaker, began jointly to utilise an idea 01 It was around this time that plans were being made for a new BeU's for cheap education known as a 'monitorial system 01 National School in Kirkheaton. There was, no doubt, a consid­ instruction' in a one room school at Borough Road, London. erable amount of correspondence between the Reverend Christ­ Pupils were taught by other pupils (monitors) who had received opher Alderson and the committee of Education in london. their instruction from the school's only master. In 1843, following a number of questions, the rector had to , When the two men split up later, Lancaster's schools flOUrished reply that no title to the site nor trust deed relating to the under the auspices 01 "The British and Foreign School Society" exsting school could be produced. The rector had, however, whilst SeU's efforts resulted in the formation in 1811 of the 'dilligently sought and I believe obtained all information that National Society for the Education of the poor in the principles can now be gathered on the subject.' of the established Church throughout England and Wales. However, the authorisation to go ahead with the new school The Society took over the char ity schools and by 1814 it had was granted and it appears that the school opened in 1845. 230 schools educating over 40,000 pupils. The religious rivalry The existing buildings which consisted of a low schooJroom that existed between the two societies led to many benefa capable of containing about 100 children with two small tors establishing "British" (The school at Emley fell into thl 'chambers' over it, formerly used as a master 's house, were category) and "National" schools. Many children were then demolished and the site cleared. These buildings were said to able to receive some form of education but for countles!i be "out of repair" and proving to be inconveniently small for more, however, their lot was still long hours in the mill" the greatly increased numbers "attending on the Sabbath day". factories and pits. The ground immediately adjoining the previous' building is said 1833 saw a new beginning in the education policy in England to have been "steep and rough, with the exception of a garden in front, cultivated by the master." and Wales with a national partnership between the state and voluntary bodies and by 1839 schools were subject to inspection. The new school was built on an extended site of some 1050 sq. Or. James Kay-ShUttleworth one of the most important figure'5 yards, as R.H. Beaumont of Whitley Hall gave a plot of land in English Educational history saw the inspectors as 'advisers as an addition to the playground. and friends'. A trust deed was drawn up and two former trustees Joseph Walker of lascelles Hall and John Beaumont of Bradley granted and conveyed unto the Rector of the parish of Kirkheaton and the vicar of the parish of Kirkburton and their successors. "All that piece of land situate at Kirkheaton aforesaid with the buildings erected thereon known by the nane of the Kirl<­ heaton school upon trust to permit the sa-ne to be appropriated and used as and for a sChool for the edJcation of children and arults or children only of the labouring, marufacturing or other poorer classes in the parish of Kirkheaton aforesaid and for the residence of the master of the said school; such school to be always concllcted upon the principles of the Inc­ orporated National Society for promoting the Ed.Jc:ation of the

5 poor in the principles of the Established Church under the well taught" and gave good lessons. The inspector, though, control and Management of the said Rector and Vicar and their was obviously concerned about the small amount of holiday the Successors, together with the Lord of the Manor, of Kirkhea­ school took as they concluded the report by stating that:- ton, for the time being and themselves, and Joseph Senior of Dalton Lodge, Gentleman, .John Beaunont of oalton, Gentleman "My Lords are of the opinion that in no school OUght there in and George Tolson of Mill Hill, Gentleman and to be open to jus tice t o the master and pupil teachers be less than four the Inspectors appointed. " weeks' vacation in the year." The total cost of the new boys and girls National Schools and Pupil teac hers, who learnt their 'trade' alongside the master, master's house was £1643.13s.7d. This included items such as had been in schools since 1846 when certain schools were sel­ £452 to the mason, John Brier, for the 'contract' and £52 for ected as training grounds for these apprentices. They were stone; £384 to the carpenter John Schofield; £25 to Heaps selected at 13 and received £10 + four increments of £2.105. (ironmongers); £ 14 to Rushforth &: Tetlow (painters); £56 to When the school was annually inspected so were the pupil James Blackburn for diversion of public road and £3 to a Mr. teachers and a grant received. The basis on which the grant Barker for lime and sand. The cost was offset chiefly by don­ was received changed radically in 1862 when the system of ations which amounted to £1137.IOs.Od. and grants of £175 payment by results was introduced by Robert Lowe - vice­ from the National Society and £337 from the committee of president of the committee of the privy council on education. council on education. The school received 6s.6d. for infants and 12s. for older child­ The master at the time of the opening of the National School ren for 'satisfactory performance' in an exam conducted by was George Sykes Dyson who had held office since 1819, when H.M.I. '5. There were penalties of 2s.8d. per child for unsatis­ it 'appears he paid £20 "for the good will" to the previous factory performances in reading, writing and arithmetic, and master, a Mr. h>ewhirst. He had been appointed by Sir John Lister Kaye, Mr. John Beaumont of Whitley Hal1 and the Rev. John Smithson. In 1847 there was discussion surrounding his position but it appears that though he was 'irregularly appoint­ ed', Mr. Dyson flad been acknowledged as master by 'number­ less' sets of trustees. Mr. Dyson died in 1856 and by now the teaching was mainly elementary although in a few cases latin I nspeclor's Reporl . was still taught. lI"d Dec. 18S8. By 1858 w.e. Heywood had been master for one year. The oldest inspector's report we have on the school was received in December of that year and Mr. Heywood must have been encouraged by it. The fuU report was summarised as follows:- "The school is in good order and (considering the circunstance under which Hr. Heywood took it and the time in which he has been in it) in a very creditable state of attairrnents. Many of the children come from a considerable distance owing to the popularity of the master and mistress. A /'le'tII' work roan has been added for the girls use last year." Twelve months later we learn that the children were intelh­ gent and well mannered. The pupil teachers were "generally

6 7 penalties of 45. for unsatisfactory attendance. The 'Revised Code' (payment by results) was not welcomed by those with enlightened minds. It meant an end to any attempt to teach outside the 3 R's which were taught in the least flexible manner. The subjects were taught in six 'standards' through which children were expected 10 advance by annual examination. Brighter children were often. held back and dull , ones coerced - often physically - to reach the required stand­ ard. Endless drilling was the order of the day. Matthew Arnold called it "a game of mechanical contrivance" in which children were "forcibly fed with semi-digested food". The system continued for 28 years yet it left its mark for much longer.

Many children in the village were still not attending school HI 1870 nor were half of those in the country as a whole, espec­ ially industrial areas. Many, of course, were working, many of I tender years. (It was not until as late as 1867 that the empl oyment of children under eight - ten by 1876 - was forbidden in factories). The 1870 Act remedied the problem of insufficient education although it still wasn't free, nor compulsory. The instigator 01 the act was W.E. Forster - a Bradford Quaker, radical and manufacturer and son-in-law of Thomas Arnold. The act stated that if the schools which functioned under the aegis of relig­

ious bodies could show that the education they were providing CloNt probl.... Jooo" It...... ~n was "sufficient, efficient and suitable" - or could make it so, A letter fr'VIII the education dept. In L.Dndor'I d.ted 30 Aug. lIN they could remain the sole providers. In areas where this was not the case school boards were set up and in all 2568 wen~ created in the year of the act. The church replied by increas­ ing its schools from 6,400 to 11,000! Locally, however, the increase was chiefly in board school places. In 1873 there was accommodation for 3,278 in board schools, by 1883 this had risen to 9,716 and ten years later to 11,642 when there were also 8,868 denomination places. Board schools which opened during this period included Almondbury In 1873, Berry Brow (l875), Deighton (1874), Moldgreen (1876), Mount Pleasant (1875), Stile Common (1873) and Outlallt' (J 887). The boards, though, set standards in building and staff ing and had an unfailing source of income denied to the chur ches - the local rates. Both types of schools received ... The N.tlon.1 School prior to 1911 extll!nsions government grant and pupils' fees. (Less than half the 28,300 teachers in grant-aid schools were certificated teachers and a 8 9 lar ge proportion of t hese wer e not college trained - they were THE HEADSHIPS OF HENRY WHITELEY Wakefield was not formed until 1888) following a VISit by the by pupil teachers. It appears that his assistants included hi s Diocesan Inspector. This stated that alt hough the religious daughter AJice whose engagement began in July, 1872. Ali cC' instruction in the boys' school was of a very 'intelligent and appears to have had some difficulty with her annual pupil superior' character, it was too advanced for the younger child­ teache r examination to, no doubt, the embarrassment of her ren. father! in 1896 the church publ ished its accounts in pr inted booklet Mr . Heywood also seems to have had problems with the toilets. form and the first copy is st ill in the possession of Mr. In 1869 the Inspector found the toilets 'completely out of Leonard Senior. It makes fascinat ing reading. In addition to repair'. These were then 'refitted' as all the woodwork was the general church account s there are Sunday School, Curate's ' tumbling down'. However, the managers appear to have dis­ stipend, Band of Hope, Gymnasium, Nab Hill Sunday School, agreed with the Inspector over other aspects. Mr. Heywood, Grange Moor Mission, Girls' Friendly Society, Waifs &: Strays we gather, had distinctly told the Inspector that the 'managers and Day School Accounts. The latter shows that payments of did no t consider urinals necessary' though he had told them £884 included £465.9s. ld. salar ies (the church still paid the that the Inspector had 'ordered them to be placed there for teachers), £36. 16s. 10d. fuel, light and cleaning. Receipts includ­ the boys.' ed a £274 grant from the Education department, £7. 1s.7d. pupils' fees, a fee grant o f £ 140.17s.6d. and the Beaumont trust - £ 16. The latter began originally following the death of Richard Beaumont in 170) when £40 was to be "paid and equally div­ ided and dist ributed to each township an equal share." (T he townships were Kirkheaton, Mi r field, South Crosland and Le p­ ton). The money was paid on St. Thomas's day for the appr­ enticeships of eight poor boys. 10 11 The scheme was, however, amended in 1882 following the Endowed Schools Act in 1869, and became known as the April 23rd This being the only school in the township, very nearly all Beaumont School Trust. The net income of the foundation - the children in it attend here so that all the clJll ones are here and now considerably increased, was to be used for "advancing the there are a good many who have had little or no bri~tness abo.Jt them j education of boys and girls educated at any of the public ele­ this may be partly accounted for by the fact that many children atterw:l mentary schools" in the above mentioned townships. Six areas from very poor hOmes and whose parents are themselves wholly untaught. were itemised and these included:- 1686 - F"eb. 19th Have expelled a boy in Staroard 4 this afternoon. He (a) Encouraging the study at such schools of subjects higher is the dread or the teacher and or little boys. Yesterday he was than elementary. mIKed up with some indecent writing. .l.I'le 22nd - There was holiday on weQlesday . the schoolroan being wanted in (b) Libraries - lending or reference. corYleCtion with the rf!-open1ng or the Ch.lrch. (c) Payment of fees _ provision of clothing and therefore prom­ .lJly 23rd School broke up today for a holiday of 3 weeks - An advertise­ oting regularity of attendance. ment for an Assistant at £65 in 'The Schoolmaster ' dId no t bring a (d) Provision of additional playground accommodation, gymnas­ single application. tic apparatus. 1893 - Jan. 20th The question of school fees has caused some trouble The scheme continues to this day, on a small er scale, and in lateriy. Some parents beIng of the opinion that it is quite a matter 1982 the trustees granted Kirkheaton school £10 {or the purch­ of choice whether they payor not, have sent their children withOut the ase of books. weekly fee or 2d. Below are some of the more interesting log book extracts from it seems likely that Mr. WhiteJey retired when he left in 1896 1879 until the end of Mr. Whiteley's period as head teacher. but we cannot be sure as the log book covering the period 189) until 1910 is missing, but more of that later. 1879 - July 14th - School staff:- Master Henry Whiteley - Certificated 1st class. It was during Mr. Whiteley's period as headteacher that the Assistant Mistress Florence Broadbent - Certificated 3re class. Infants' School at Fields Rise was opened. As we shall hear ~il Teachers Alfred Liversedge - 4th year later the 'school' had actually opened in the National school lee Wlls()"l - 3re year. building as a girls and infants' School in 1872 and became a Florence Stooks - 3rd year. purely infants' school within the building in 1875. When the Betty Cliffe - 3rd year . school opened at Fields Rise 'important alterations and impr­ WaIter W. North - Candidate ovements' were carried out in the National School. The large room previously used by the infants was made into a large Sept. 12th About one fourth of the children attend half-time: the major- classroom and cloakroom with lavatory. New windows were lty of them are mill hands. introduced to give more light and ventilation. These alter­ Nov. 18th Expelled a boy from the school for using bad language towards ations and improvements cost around £200. a teacher who had given him a task for neglect of Home lessons - He Henry Whiteley was succeeded in 1897 by Harrop Mosley. It said she was ' a d--- old b----. ' The same boy frequently plays truant, was during the period of Mr. Mosley's headship that the West is very irregular in his attendance and with his younger brothers is Riding County Council became the school's local education the cause of many children going astray - 1 consider it necessary to aut hority. It was during his term of office too that the grad­ protect the school from his bad example. ual improvement in the number of qualified staff continued, 1880 - Feb. 6th Game of whip-top become prevalent among the boys and coupled with the reduction in the number of hours available for trouble caused both in and out of school with the whips. pupil teachers. Payment by results had ended in 1890 but Mar 25th Refused to aeni t a child on Monday until school pence was brought, which was done next morning - the family is well ~loyed and their father could afford to pay the fee. 13 12 grants continued to be based on attendance and registers were strictly and meticulously kept. Mrs. Alice Berry (nee Walker) who still lives in Kirkheaton, has many memories of her time at school when Mr. Mosley A diocesan report of 1905 has been preserved and this praises was headteacher and later Mr. Lightowler. At that time, Mrs. Mr. Mosley for his efforts during 'the difficulties' arising from Berry lived on Workhouse L ane (now Moorside Road - the a "changing and for some time inadequate staff. The male workhouse closed in 1871) and as there were no school lunches, assistant left in July and a successor has not yet been eng­ went home for dinner. Those from further afield - say Houses , aged." Hill, brought sandwiches but if the weather was bad she also A Return and Claim form for the year ended September 30th, stayed and remembers her mother sending her off to school 1909 shows that there were 137 boys and 150 girls in the older with an egg which Mrs. Chambers who lived in a cottage at part of the school and 42 children in the infants' class. (81 the top of the hill at the back of school boiled for one penny. children were at the Infants' school). The form also shows Mrs. Berry attended the school after the infants school, from that Mr. MosJey was paid £ 190 salary and that he was assisted 1908 and left on the day she was 13 to work, as many did, at by two other certificated teachers, John Storey (£85) and Edith Broadhead &: Graves. She began as a winder and progressed Batley (£80) and Ethel Draper, Frederica Parkin, Annie Wood­ to weaving when she was 16. She started on the Wednesday head, Annie Best, Lily Newsome and, at times, Certrude and at the end of the week she was paid 2/6d and her mother Mosley, all of whom were uncertificated and received around sent her to Joseph Heys for a piece of crop meat. Her wage I £50 salary. Margaret Prescott, a qualified teacher, had left then was 5/- a week which she gave to her mother who in during the summer. Annie Woodhead taught the infants' class. return gave her a Id in the 1/- spending money. The head of the Infants' school, Hannah Castle, earned £85. In January, 1912 Mr. MosJey wrote to the managers to state that owing to ill health he would have to tender his reSignat­ ion. The managers agreed to let him go, under the circumst­ ances, at the earJiest possible date and on February 9th Mr. Mosley wrote in the log book as follows:- "I Harrop Mosley terminate my engagement as Headmaster of this school today after completing fifteen years' service and twenty seven years' service as a Certificated teacher." Mr. Mosley's name was perpetuated for many years with the "Mosley Prize". A sum of money was invested by his daugh­ ter, Gertrude, and part of the interest gained provided the prize. The other revenue was used for choirboys and given at Christmas. Originally bibles were presented to a boy and girl 'to be decided by the staff' on leaving the school. Later, however I the money was used to purchase books for the school library. Miss Mosley died in 1973 and the 'prize' ceased, but right up to her death there was r egular correspondence, still to hand, between herself and the headteacher in which she often referred to the happy memories she had of Kirkheaton.

I... with Mr . Mo. ley. 1901

14 1 ; it was dunng his short stay that work began on the ex tensions Her grandmother, Mrs. Sowerby, used to clean at the infants' to the school buildings - on April 7th, 1913, in fact. 'he new school and Mrs. Berry often, as a child, used to help her dust extension had been made necessary by new regulatIons reg­ and polish. In the chapel room next door, Hannah Castle, who arding floor space and accommodation for the children. The lived at 77 New Road, began her dancing class and Mrs. Berry space in classr ooms had been increased from 8 sq . ft. per was 'made to go' by her parents although she didn't like child to 10 sq. ft. per child. dancing! Mr. Lightowler records that "the control of the children in the The School is Extended playground now demands special care." A week later it was Mr. Mosley was succeeded almost immediately by Arnold O. necessary to transfer the infants' class to temporary premises Lightowler. Mr. Lightowler only remained at the school for in the parish room which was about 100 yards away. This, we two years for it was on March 20th, 19 14 that he left the are told, was the only room in the neighbourhood which was school. During the two years of his headship the school cont­ available though rather small. By May of 1913 it was necess­ inued to grow in size and there were, at the time, well over ary to transfer standards 3 and 4 to the Sunday school room 300 children on roll. at Fields Place and the infants' class was then brought back from the parish room. By the June of 1913 the scene was set Shortly after his arrival, Mr. Lightowler obviously wrote to Mr. for the laying of the corner stone of the new wing extension. Mosley re the missing log book. Mr. Mosley, who still resided In the village, replied on March 14th as follows:- On. Monday, I ~th June t.he residents of Huddersfield on opening their Huddersfield Examiner, read that "extensive additions are Dear Hr. Lightowler, being made to Kirkheaton school." The scheme we are told You have early hit on the great blot on my record keeping. was of interest to all residents of the dist:ict who wer~ Hrs Harrington (H. M I.) and Hr Firth H.H I. have both wanted concerned for the welfare of the children. The extensions that LOQ Book and I wanted 1 t for Form IX of course en the were also to meet the needs of portions of Lepton and Dalton. first occasion 1 was ill, not in school and Miss Batley I The cost was upwards of £2,000 and the new wing, which is think had a good lOOk for it but failed to find it Later we c learly visible from School Lane, consisted of four classrooms sought in all likely places with the same result and I did not on two levels, the basement which consisted of a parish room come across it In my final lOOk through the cupboards to this 21' x 27', improved cloak rooms and other 'necessary accomm­ year. odation', One of the rooms on the ground floor was to be used as an infants' classroom. The parish room was also to be Two or three years ago we burnt a quantity of very old regis­ made available, we are told, for cookery, laundry or woodwork ters, te~ books and others (not valuable records) but how it and this in fact was its general use until 1966 when the senior got amongst those if that was its fate 1 cannot tell for the children finally left the school. previous one is in the desk and all old suml8ries, amission registers are together with dally registers for ten or more There was obviously great interest in the scheme and this was years back are to be found either in the cupboard in the bOys' according to the Examiner, "made manifest" on the Saturda; cloakroom or on the top of the cupboard In the teachers' room. when a large gathering assembled to witness the laying of the I am not sure that I looked very particularly there but cannot foundation stone by Mr. John Arthur Brooke J.P. of Fenay see how it ever got there. Hall. The actual stone laying ceremony was preceded by a Yours very truly, service in Church which was conducted by the Rector, Rev. J. H. Mosley Wright Moore. The address at the ser vice was given by the Ve.nerable Archdeacon Donne. He spoke of the need for every child to be brought up in "righteousness and true holiness".

,6 , 7 Every child, he believed, also had the chance now of a good guest list returned to their homes happy in the knowledge that education. they had witnessed a piece of village history. After the ser vice there was a procession to school headed by Just before he left the school Mr. Lightow!er was assisted by the churchwardens W.T. Peacock and G. North which Included ftve certificated teachers (Harry E. Tay/or, James A. Schofield, clergy, managers, staff at both schools and the joint archi­ Edith Batley, Maude M. Mitchell and Fredrica Parkin along teCts, J. W. Cocking and Frank Abbey. with Ethel Draper and Annie Woodhead who were uncertifi­ cated). When the procession arrived at the school the founda tion stone was laid by Mr. Brooke with a silver trowel and Ivory mallet The progress on the building was not particularly Quick and presented to him on behalf of the architects and contractors. Mr. Lightowler recorded on January 5th that the conditions In a cavity behind the stone a selection of newspapers was under which the staff were working had not improved during placed. The Huddersfield Daily Chronicle records the fact but the holidays. School would, no doubt, be further disrupted by no mention is made of which papers, nor whether or not other preparations for 'Ye Old Yettan Bazaar'. Mr. Lightawler, items were also placed. incidentally, left one month after the bazaar! After the stone was laid the rector, Rev. Wright Moore, stated A number of readers may remember this bazaar which was that the school would shortly become one of the largest and held for three full days on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Febru­ best equipped in the County Council Area (the school was just ary 19th, 20th and 21 st in 1914 which was to raise the r emain­ in the West Riding County Council - the Borough Boundary der of the money needed (about £ 1,000) to complete the build­ almost passed through the school house). The new rooms ing scheme. The bazaar raised £700 - an extremely large sum would, he stated, each hold 50 chi ldren. Twenty years ago in those days. Many copies of the 'programme and Souvenir' slfnliar plans had been drawn and now they had been realised. issued at 6d for the bazaar are still in the possession of local Mr. A . Hlldson, the treasurer, then reported that £800 had al­ people. These provide a fascinating insight into the attract­ ready been given as promised, but more was needed to reach ions, stalls and village life seventy years ago. In addition to the £2,000 needed as the church's share. A sale of work had an article in the school in which the managers and school apparently raised £ I 10.12 s in 1912 and the rest was from don­ committee appealed 'in confidence to all who believe in the ations. The rest was, as some readers will know, to come importance of a sound religious education for the young', there chiefly from a giant bazaar held in 1914 about which we sha ll were train and tram times and advertisements of local trades­ hear la ter. people. Suitable trains left Huddersfield lor Kirkheaton at 2.26, 5.1 0, 6.10 and 7.00 p.m. Klrkheaton Station, on the Mr. Brooke (who had given £ 100) then spoke of the value of Kirkburton branch, opened in 1867 and closed to passengers in church schools. They were, he said, the best security that 193 I. Trams to Waterloo left Huddersfield at regular intervals could be had for the maintenance of religious education in the and on Saturday's ran every six minutes in both directions. future. However, he did strike an ecumenical note when he Advertisers included Joseph Hey, butcher, Ernest Harton, suggested that "every facility" should be given for those par­ English and foreign fruiter, Squire Pexton &: Son, Wheelwrights, ents who required religious education wi thout the "particular Shoeing &: General Smiths, John Kilner &: Son, Boot and Shoe denomination and instruction belonging to the Church of Engl­ Makers. and", as this was a "single school district". He hoped in fact that a non-conformist would join the staff. After the applause In the evening there were visits by concert parties. Admission that followed Mr. Brooke's speech there were, no doubt, a prices varied but a family season ticket could be had for 5/­ number of votes of thanks prior to the party repairing to the (a quarter, perhaps, of a man's weekly wage - about £20 by school where tea was partaken. Those not on the official today's standards) and 1/- a day - again relatively quite expen­ sive. People, we can imagine, saved up for the bazaar for many months beforehand. It was a special event and people would really want to be there. 18 19 THE HEADSHIP OF JAMES WHITTELL, 1914-1943

James Whittell commenced duty as head teacher of the school on 8th June, 1914 after a period of five year s as headteacher of Luddenden National School. Within just over a fortnight of his arrival the extensions were ready and on 17th June Mr. Whittell was happy to record that furniture, pictures e tc. were , being arranged in the different classrooms ready for the open­ ing day - 22nd June. Two weeks later, though, Mr. Whittell was unable to see much of the new rooms as he was confined to his room for a week as his son was suffering from measles! Mr. Whittell, however, was soon out and about again - arrang­ ing staff meetings and encouraging the children. As an inspec­ tor's report during his early years states he put "his whole heart into his school work and imbues his staff and scholars with his spirit of earnestness and industry". It was noted too , that the children "enjoy their lessons. It N • Mr. Whittell's period of headship at Kirkheaton began and ended during years of war and shortly after his arrival he lost his qualified male assistant Albert Schofield who was called to the colours in August 14th, 1914. ·• f • Sadly, Mr. Schofield did not return as Mr. WhittelJ received = notice in May, 1917 that Albert Schofield who was by then a • private had been killed in action in Flanders on 19th April. :• ;:; Many readers will have clear memories of their days at the school when Mr. Whittell was head. For many it was their only school, for a few it was the beginning of their education which was to be concluded - often if their parents could aff­ ord as well as they themselves having the ability - at Green­ head Girls' High School, or Almondbury Grammar School. To attend these schools the children had to pass the Borough Scholarship examination (many children continued to attend from across the borough boundary) or the County Minor. Those who remained at the school continued through to Stand­ ard VII when they left. They were provided with additional facilities as the basement was used as a cookery centre which Lepton children also attended. Craft for boys was also later taught in the same area and visiting teachers, who shared their time between a number of schools, taught the subjects.

20 21 On 23rd August, 1932 Mr. Whittell recorded that the ne~ly Miss Whittell, who lives with her brother Fred in the house appointed woodwork instructor, Mr. Pic~les. commenc~d duu~s Mr. Whit tell re tired to, still has vivid memories of the days that week. Miss Donald replaced MIss West as domestic she spent as a pupil and later as a teacher in the school. She course' instructor. remembers particularly the days spent in the school house as a child "It was a lovely house to be brought up in" - and the Readers will also recall the success of the school's football enjoyment other children obtained from visiting the house. She team during their schooldays in the 1920's and indeed later. It recalls the time when, as a very young child, she crawled , was during the period 1923-27 that they seemed to hav~ a through the inner attic wall which had flaked away in one sec­ remarkable run of success, and regular visits to Huddersf,leld tion after she had swung against it on the swing which was Town's ground. This run of success! inc.ident~lI.y~ coinc ided attached to the attic beam. The gap led her into the loft with Huddersfield Town's three successive ftrst diVIsion champ­ area over the classroom (later the hall) in which Miss Fredrica ionship trophies between 1924-26. In 1923 they were defe~ted Parkin taught. Through the ventilation grate she was able to by Stile Common Council School in the Crowther Cup Final. drop tiny pieces of plaster through into Miss Parki~'s roo~! They did, however, win the cup in 1926 when they beat ,?akes Many readers will, of course, have been taught by MISS Parkin 1-0 and again in 1927. Some of these finals were played Im"T}­ as she spent all her teaching career at the school from 1907 - ediately prior to the league game and Mr. WhltteU's daughter, 1947 - forty years of devotion to the school, during which time Mary recalls the difficulty she and her mother had when they • • h she must have taught approximately 1500 children! Miss tried to leave the ground after the schoolboys game as t e Mitchell, too, served the school for an equal length of time gates and turnstiles were locked! from 1911. In 1925, following their success in winning the Turner Cu~ ,as Miss Whittell recalls also the disadvantages of living in the champions of the Huddersfield association, the team was VLSIt­ house adjacent to school. The occasions when her father was ed at school by S. Wadsworth, Huddersfield Town's internation­ knocked up by the police when the boiler burst - the caretaker al full back who presented the team with silver medals. A Wilfred Hallas at the time, lived at Square Hill and also when concert follo'wed the presentation and a 'silver collection' was they were up in the night folJowing a landslide. This could taken for the school sports fund. well have been a minor Aberfan as tons of earth from the Presentations were also held in school on the occasion of the hillside above were deposited in the boys' yard - the girls and annual prize giving, which began before ,\1r. Whittell's period boys yards were separated at the time. as head and was held in December. A local person - say Dr. Being head of the school was only one of the ways, though, in Taylor or one connected to the school, was usually invited to which Mr. Whittell and his family were involved in village life. distribute the prizes - and the rector took the chair. Parents Mr. Whittell was, for a time, choirmaster, chairman of Kirk­ were invited to attend and prizes, 72 for example in 1921, heaton Urban Di strict Council and Secretary of two local were given by the rector, Mr. Whittell, Miss Ethel Draper - charities. Mrs. Whittell, who died in 1972, was secretary! who taught at the school from 1900-1920 and was sister of the treasurer of the local 'nurses' fund' which supported a local local funeral director whose name is still used by the village's nurse - Nurse Dransfield, and treasurer of the Kirkheaton present funeral director, Dennis Colcombe; and many oth~rs . branch of the R.N.L.I. On one occasion Mrs. Whittel! acted as There were prizes for subjects such as English, MathematiCs, 'dinner lady' as a 27 Ib turkey was used to feed children who drawing (given by the headteached ete. In each standard couldn't get home at lunch time owing to the bad weather! [here were two or three progress prizes and many prizes for good attendance. There were also, in 1914 and no doubt later, Church played an important part in the school's life and the prizes for the most popular boy and girl who were 'discovered rector J. Wright Moore was a good friend of the school. After by ballot.' his scripture class he was often seen showing the class a con-

22 23 Juring trick or two! A penny was seen to disappear and a 1938 child instructed to find it under a vase on the window silJ. On April 12th Headteacher leaves school after playtime this afternoon to one occasion, this particular trick didn't work as the caretaker attend funeral of J. Stancllffe J.P., late Chainnan of Kirk­ had dusted the night before and moved the cOIn! heaton U.O.C. and one or the school managers. Others, I know, will recall the sales of work and perhaps the 1940 oc:t. 1st Mr . ..)Jry has joined H.M . Forces and goes to Catterick C~, 'posh dance of the season', the choir dance which was held In Tt'orsday. (Nov. 12th 1945 - Mr . .lJry returned after War). school when locals galJivanted to the music of Arthur Lodge or , 1941 Ken Bygot. Dec 9th The rooms in the basement are being 'blacked out ' - the Mr. WhittelJ retired in April, 1943 but not before a large gath­ joiners will be here two days. ering of parents, scholars and friends had met to acknowledge Mr. Whittell was succeeded on 1st July, 1943 by William Eric the services of he and his wife during the previous 29 years. Riley who remained as head until December, 1946 when he left Mr. Whittell, who was presented with an ilJuminated address to take up an appointment with Surrey County Council. Inter­ and cheque by the rector, Dr. G.G. Dawson, retired to Birkby esting events during Mr. Riley's short headship were the intro­ Hall Road until his death in 1964 when he was 86. duction of a new dinner system - the dinners were cooked at Lepton; mention being made of a holiday in October similar to A few of Mr. Whittell's log book entries are as follows:- the present half-term, but Mr. Riley wrote that it was for potato picking - the first head to do so; the purchasing of a 1917 film projector in 1944; a visit to school by A. Powell a Leeds Feb . 3rd No on roll - 373. 'United and Welsh international footballer and the appointments Feb 7th The intense frost of the last few days has frozen the W.C. 's of Miss Kathleen Barnes in 1945 and Miss Bessie Wade in 1946 both boys and girls _ who were to give long and devoted service into the 1970's. 1923 Miss Barnes retired in 1973 and Miss Wade who became the .)a"I , 16th Borough attendance officer visited school this morning . school's first official deputy head in 1976. Jan. 17th W.R. atterdance officer visited school this morning sept. JOth H.M.!. Report - the key note of this school is reliability. In each class and especially in the upper classes the teachers secure the results they ail1 at The address of the children is courteous and are evidently on cordial terms with their teachers. 1932 Mar. 24th Miss Whitehead is in charge of the yards and dinner hour arr­ angements this week. The teachers take their turns weekly, beginning with teachers of the lowest class. 1934 .lJly 13th DJr cricket team (schOOl) won the t-\JdcIersfield 'Marshall ' Shield, Saturday last, beating Qakes C.E. School in the final. 1937 .lJly 15th The school dramatic society gives a pageant of Kirkheaton and its Church tonight at 7.30 p.m in the schoolroom. (This was arranged by Miss K.M. Whittell).

24 25 1947-1972 In those days the hall was divided for much of the time but Mrs. McDougall remembers that if a teacher was absent the These years will be remembered chiefly as the time when screens were pulled back to create classes of 90. Classes of Frank Easingwood and later John Wade were the school's head­ 50 pupils plus, she remembers, were not uncommon and when teachers. Mr. Easingwood, whose name was given to Easing­ she began to teach at the school she often had such numbers wood Drive, was head from 1947 until his death in 1965. Most for craft. of the present generation of Kirkheaton parents who attended Mr. Easingwood had a great love of animals - especially horses the village schools were guided through the mixed school by and Mi ss Bessie Wade has vivid memories of the two 'distress­ Mr. Easingwood and many will have vivid memories of those ed' donkeys which were adopted by school. They were kept days. They will recaiJ, perhaps, that Mr. Easingwood came down at the rectory - in the stables in the winter. One part­ from Normanton and quickly became involved in village life. icularly she remembers, called Pancho was adept at lifting the The removal van was hardly out of sight before he was choir­ latch on the gate into the rectory paddock and was found on master and organist at the church and the close connection one occasion in the village centre! 80th donkeys enjoyed with church was maintained through all the years of his head­ sweets and giving children rides. Happy days! ship. A diocesan inspector's report in 1952 supports this view. "I was also impressed" stated the visitor, "by the friendliness Sadly, Mr. Easingwood died in October, 1965. Tributes were of both staff and children and feel that a real attempt is being paid to his memory at the Managers Meeting in December made by all to learn and practise the Christian faith". In add­ when the Chairman {Rev. T. Anscombe} referred (0 the "great ition to his church activities, Mr. Easingwood was also a coun­ loss" to the school. Other managers present at that meeting cillor. who joined in the tributes were Dr. A. Ingram, F. Peace, L. Senior and W. Yul!. The other manager, T. Briggs, sent his As in the case of previous heads, Mr. Easingwood lived in the apologies. Until John Wade, Mr. Easingwood's successor, took school house with his family - wife lavinia (now Mrs. McDoug­ over in September 1966, the school was led by Miss Wade (no all) and sons John and James. This meant that he was close relation). to viltage life and also able easily to attend school functions whether or not they were organised by the school. Woodwork Mr. Wade who also lived in the village, but not in the school classes, for example, were enjoyed by Mr. Easingwood as 'a ' house, was also closely involved in village affairs, particularly pupil' during the evening. at the United Reformed Church which became the United Church of Kirkheaton in 1975 when Upper Heaton Chapel There was very much a family atmosphere in the school - to closed. children it was "their school". Their parents too would often be heard to say "Oh I can remember when I was in this class" When Mr. Wade arrived at the school there were 16& children - many had also been taught by the same teachers! on roll which rose to 199 during the next two years. In 1970 it was decided to move the infants class to the infants school This atmosphere extended out of school too and many of the and, therefore, a tradition which had remained for &7 years educational visits which Mr. Easingwood and his staff organised since the infants school was built, was ended. to places such as Ireland to see the Rev. R.J. Coates, a former rector, Belle Vue, Mackintosh's in Halifax and the Numbers were, of course, rising throughout the village as the Yorkshire Post at leeds. The latter were for the senior c hild­ housing development continued both at the southern end of the ren whom the school catered for until 1966. There was barely vilage and later at the top end of New Road. Plans were a . class of older children by then as some began to move to well in hand, therefore, for the building of a new school at Klfkburton and Mirfield secondary schools at eleven and others, the northern end of the village when Mr. W.H. Goddard, the of course, went to Mirfield Grammar School. The school was divisional education officer, addressed a meeting of 150 junior in fact, the last "Through School" in the West Riding Count; school parents on 14th June, 1971 to explain arrangements Council Area. regarding the new building, the introduction of a three tier 27 26 system of education for KJrkburton and Denby Dale in 1973 and local government re-organisation in 1974. Selection ended as planned in 1973 but the three tier system did not operate until 1974 and children in the 11-12 age group remained at their primary school for another year. Even then it was not truly three tier as children at the southern end of the viUage actually attended four schools - C.f. Infants, C.E. Junior, Lepton Middle and King lames' School. (The latter was used I for children from Kirkheaton, Lepton, Grange Moor and Flock­ ton instead of Shelley as originally planned owing to over­ crowding), There had, in fact, at one stage, been other ideas in the church schools governors' minds regarding their two schools. At a managers meeting in November, 1971 it was agreed that when the County School opened there would be one head­ teacher for the two schools and the 'present infants building to house the youngest children.' This minute was, however, rescinded in March, 1972. Hopes were, though, as we shall •" see, that a new school would be also built to replace the C .E. - schools at the southern end of the village. In 1972, 33 children left the school for Kirkburton secondary 1 school, Mirfield Grammar, Holme Valley (Honley) Grammar and £ • 63 to the new school. I w• ,• Numbers may have fluctuated during Mr. Wade's term of office •< but the school developed in many ways. The Educational visi ts :; continued to be an important part of school life (in 1973 • the children began an association with Ingleborough Hall Field •u Study Centre where they made a residential visit) and music tuition was extended with the introduction by Mr. Wade of visiting music teachers. The building was also extended, albeit slightlY, by the building of a small kitchen block in 1967. In September, 1972 the school entered, as did the infants school, its final decade - a decade that was to present new challenges and changes as we shall hear later. A few of the log book exhibits for this period are as follows:-

1948 Feb . 7th Mr. A. WtlitUngham of I;Jddersfield Town F.e. gave a talk and demonstration on football to Standards VI , VII & VI II during the afternoon.

29 28 .l..I"Ie 3rd Occasionai hOliday - Standard VII & VIII taken to llandudno and Standards I & 11 went to Roundhay Park by bus. 1950 Jan. 6th New water heater installed. 1953 Apr. 29th 284 Coronation beakers arrived at school. 1954 I Feb . 4th Standards VI , VII & VIII visited the Ritz Cinema in Hudders­ field ruring the afternoon session to see the film "The Conquest of Everest" . May 27th Ascension Day - schOol closed - service in church 9.00 a .m. t-tay 28th The parish hall wss inspected with a view to using it for dimers. 1957 Dec. 3rd The two back playgrounds re-surfaced with tarmacadam . 1961 .Il4lr . 11th Mrs . Easingwood took a group of children to France. sept . 3rd Fil m projector arrived during the holidays. 1963 Mar. 4th Indoor toilets completed. 1967 Feb. 9th Extensions started on school kitchen. (All school meals crockery transported to Kirkburton for washing up. This con­ tinued l.I'ltil 2nd May). Feb. 17th Mr . Oo~n . head of Mirfield Modern School, visited school to give decision on transfers, that children leaving the school and not being selected for Secondary E0Jc8tion should move to Kirkburton S.M. SchOol . sept. 8th Mr . Goddard - 0.£.0. and Miss Megson frc.wn COJnty - visited school to check on facilities required in view of additional house building In the area. o:t. 31st Mr. Goddard and two architects, along with Mr . Wade, visited a rlI..IItIe r of sites in the area with a view to finding one suitable for a new building. 1971 Feb. 2nd Because of large numbers due to be transferred from Infants in September (58). application has been made for the format­ ion of another cl ass. .lJne 14th Mr. Goddard spoke to a meeting of approximately 150 parents during the evening. His topics included the inopending changes in education in the area to be brought about by the building of a new J.M.I. in Kirkheaton to be opened in sept­ ember , 1972. re-organisation of education into a three tier system in 1973 and local government revision in 1974. 30 31 KIRKHEATON ST. JOHN'S INFANTS SCHOOL the argument over numbers, the managers were reminded yet again that the - Early Developments "infants require more systematic and careful instruction than The need for infants to be treated as a separate unit appears they are at present receiving is clear fran H.M. Inspector's to have been raised for the first time by one of Her Majesty's report upon their ignorance and the absence of proper cards Inspectors in a report dated 16th August, I &69. The report for their instruction." states that:- When the Reverend C. Alderson received the annual Inspector's I " ... the infants are in a very unsatisfactory state. They are report in August of 1870 he was reminded yet again that al­ crowded Into a small roan where it is impossible for them to I / though H.M.I. was pleased that "great pains" had been taken move from their seats to exercise. They know very little. with the instruction of the infants, he was sorry to find them I , There Is not even an alphabet card for them. There Is a very still confined to so small a room. fair room upstairs which would do for an infants' school with The managers were now obviously going to have to do some­ a little attention. They should be made a separate depart­ ment." thing! They were again threatened with an even greater red­ uction in the grant unless a better report was received regard­ The managers were, it appears, unhappy about the report and ing the infants and "inaccuracies" related to the returns regard particularly the loss of possible revenue from the grant "if arr­ -ing them were not corrected. angements for instruction remain unsatisfactory". They replied on 25th August and in October received a letter which indic­ Initially, the managers decided to create a separate infants' ated that - "My Lords are unable to recede from the decision and girls' school within the same building. The boys continued already communicated to you." to be taught by Mr. Heywood who was assisted by his wife. Miss E. Tetlow was appointed mistress of the "new" girls' and H.M.!. referred again in the second letter to the need for a infants' school. The school opened on Monday, 8th January, "good infants school under a trained teacher" as this would be 1872. The headteacher reported In the log book that the a "great boon for the parish". He obviously wasn't really Revd. &: Mrs. Alderson "came early and assisted in counting happy about his previous suggestion as he stated that over the new books. The numbers were satisfactory and the "The upstairs rCl(J'll is, of course, objectionable, IxJt is the children 'good'." only place without lxJilding or great alterations. As the A report from H.M.1. in September, 1872 must have been enc­ ground rises at the back an entrance might be made, I think, ouraging to the managers as they were informed that the so as to avoid the steep staircase, IxJt this is for the man­ ·1 rooms were "neat, tidy and well ventilated" and the children agers to consider" . were "neat, tidy and well behaved." The infants part was The managers were c learly intent on not being beaten as they "good". wrote again to the Education Department in London on 16th However, this joy was short lived. Twelve months later they October. They were obviously unhappy about the implication were informed that the infants examined knew very little. that the room the inspector saw was overc rowded. A letter More desks, blackboards and apparatus were required. The dis­ from the Education department dated 2nd December 1869 inf­ cipline was not at all satisfactory and this was partly attribut­ ormed the managers that the number of infants referred to in able to the shortage of desks. The mistress required a regular the report was the number "furnished to him by the master." monitor as the pupil teacher was principally with the infants. He was, however, "firmly of the opinion" that there were What a time the managers were having! They were again more in the room than the managers suggest. Irrespective of threatened with not only being refused a grant for the infants but for the whole of the girls and infants.

32 33 The managers obviously again had to do something quickly and lIug. 8th School closed for the midsLtMler holiday. they decided that it would be best if the mistress (Miss E. IIU!). 2~th School re-opened after midsummer vacation. Very wet morning, Tetlow) confined herself to the infants entirely _ in other consequently attendance not as high as usual. words an infants' school was created within the same building 18li1 and this appears to have happened during 1875. The inspect­ Ili.Jg. 17th School visited by Mrs. Alderson and several friends who heard or's report now indicated that the infants were "in good order the girls sing, after which a gentleman said a few words to and their attainments were fairly satisfactory." them on ' [)Jty of Parents' etc. New. 14th [)Jring the whole of the week allowed the girls to do needlework , The Rector and managers could still not relax, though, as the all the afternoon in order to oblige their parents. inspector's report suggested that _ 1871 "If the managers could see their way to building a good inf_ ~y }rd I cannot possibly maintain good order as school has been so ants' school in the village and give up the present poor crowded this week - over 130 children have been present (in one infants' room to the mixed school by way of a classroom, it room) . would be a great gain to the school in every respect." Oct . )lst On Tuesday afternoon R • .Jebson marked frarklin carter absent There were at this time 13 1 children in the mixed school and when present - had to make the correction. The weather has been very cold this week, consequently the warming apparatus 44 in the infants' department. (The infants' department only has had to be lit. catered for children up to the age of 6+ present day 'middle ' infants or 5-6 year olds. Standard one began with children in muo the 6-7 year old group). ~~II ( h 19th In order to cultivate the habit of cleanliness and tidiness all children who come with their boots and shoes clean in the morn­ Inspectors continued to praise much of the work of the school ing are allowed to go to the top of the class. but a report in August 1880 concluded with the now familiar tojlt . 17th The weather has been very wet this week _ attendance very thin statement that "it IS to be regretted that so deserving a all week. The school was closed on Wed1esday on account of the department should be so cramped as regards accommodation." funeral of our highly esteemed Rector, Rev. C. Alderson. The Those early years were difficult ones for the managers and for children assentlled at school at 11 a.m. and marched in order to the mistress who had to cope with the cramped conditions, the the Church; after the funeral Ceremony they were led past the children - many of whom had parents who were uneducated and vault into which each cast a bLnch of beautiful flowers. the irregular attendance of many of them. The school log 17th I took all the children for a lesson on a plum ~lng yester­ book gives us a clear idea of what life was like during those day afternoon - they were very tiresome knocking their feet on fi rst ten years. Interesting entries are as follows:- the gallery. IIU:l1 1812 MII~ 12th Many children have been kept at hane to assist in cleaning ~r. 8th Gave a gallery lesson on 'coal'. Children very attentive. down. Aug . 5th Took the children to Dalton Gardens. "1 6th The order has been very unsatisfactory owing to the children 1873 being so closely packed together. ()l account of the marriage .l.Jne 9th Order not so good as usual. Children very noisy in the of Miss 8eaumont of Whitley Hall and also the preparation of Infants' School. July 30th the school for the meeting after the Laying of the Corner Stone Average not so high as children all in the hQyfields and away o f the new Infants' SchOol, the children have holiday tomorrow from home. Aug. 5th All the children in connection with the Sunday and Day school had a treat because of the wedding of Miss Alderson (Rector's daughter). At 4.30 p.m. tea and buns provided for them after which they went into the fields to a/llJse themselves.

34 3S THE INFANTS' SCHOOL AT FIELDS RISE 10 have begun about twelve months later. A n inspector who The managers, we can assume, met regularly during 1880 and vl'l l ed the sc hool noted in a letter dated 22nd J~nua r y , 1882 the early part of 1881. On 2nd May, the Rector and Chair­ lhJt he hoped the "proposal of the manager s, sanc t ioned by My man of the Governors, Ralph Maddox, wrote the following Lords, be speedily car ried ou t." letter to the Sec retary, Education Department, London rhl' Inspector would, no doubt, be happy to hear that the foun­ "SIr, d.ltton stone was to be laid later In the year - on Saturday, 1 have the honour to forward you the particulars of the site 7th October in fact. upon which it Is the intention of the managers of the Kirk­ 1 h~ plot of ground on which the school was .built covered some heaton Parochial schools to erect a building in extension of 2.000 square yards in area and was the gtft of Mr. I,;efford their present schools \tnll'y who also "formed the streets abutting thereon. Th~ I have to beg that the usual consent of the EliJcation Depart­ budding to hold 200 children or 'more. for Sunday Sch?oi use · d b Mr T William Cock 109 of HuddersfIeld and ment will be given to the site selected before corrmencing the was deSlgne y . . erection or buildings upon it Klrkheaton on a plan of a 'T' shape. There was a large room (\(,' x 22 ') and twO sma ller classrooms (20' x 20') plus a lobby I have the honour to be Si r, IlId Ossett in "trust for the h 111(\ of the 6th West Yor ksh ire Rifle Volunteers, the proceSSiOn sc hools by the order of the Charity Commissioners" and partly ~"'l1t 10 the site of the new school wher e the Earl of Dart­ from voluntary subscr iptions. IIh1111h had already arrived, The Earl was ' supported' ~y Mr. 11.1. Beaumont of Whitley Beaumont, who was accompanied by The plans (which were not unfortunately preserved) were .h '. I\eaumont, their daughter s and Master Beau'llont. A large appr oved by 28th June, 188 1 and work on the building appears Iflllwr of clergy and 'gentlemen' were also present.

36 37 The ceremony opened with the singing of '0 God Our Help in be ~arned appeared to offer the parents a great incentive to Ages Past' followed by the reading of Psalm 127 and a prayer. put their children in work long before they had reached the Two girls from the Sunday school sewing c lass then presented (\{" c e ~sary age. The paper concluded that "the appositeness of the Earl of Dartmouth with a trowel and Mr. T.W. Cocking Mr. Brooke's appeal was made amply manifest" by remarks presented him with a mallet. Behind the stone, a bottle cont­ overheard as the gathering dispersed. One parent declared that aining copies of the Huddersfield Examiner and Chronicle, he would not send his children to school when they could be names of Church Wardens and Trustees, a sketch of the new "Jddllng brass" by wiring. shool and church, a plan of the new school, a list of tenders sen t in for its erection, the names of contractors, a prog­ Fo llowing the ceremony about 100 guests "partook of a very ramme of the day's proceedings and 3 new pennies, were ~ uperior cold collation" in the National School "which was placed in a cavity beneath the corner stone which was inscr­ provided by various parishioners." The Earl of Dartmouth ibed "This stone was laid by the Earl of Dartmouth, October presided but he and Mr. Seaumont had to leave "at the close 7th, 1882. T. William Cocking, Architect." o f the repast." After the stone was laid a number of speeches followed. The A her a number of toasts, the proceedings which were "excep­ Rev. R.H. Maddox was happy that the school was in a central lIonally well organised and carried out were drawn to a conclu- position in "consequence of Mr. Ainley's munificent gift of the ",on." site and land." The little infants, he said, would no longer have the "long and weary trudge they had through many a bleak winter." He hoped that the attendance would now BALANOE SHEET. improve. He hoped too that the schools the village had with accommodation for 595 would serve the requirements of the Oo.IalioPo ••. ... 10~s• 10• •11 Value of SIte 150••• 0 0 village for many years to come. (applause). lI..:tl_ as t 4 CoDtnK:ton >- OtlllU 330 0 0 Bell a ..II'a! '" So­ 1,0 U 0 The Earl of Dartmouth spoke of education. By education he Uowk IDter-at I III ~ S&mllelO&nDOrJ' 2!0 11 0 Good ..in .. Co. er 11 I meant "that it should be of that kind which should make the a.non" Co. Tt , 0 JolID Pl'MtoD 2~ 17 0 members of society useful in his or her own day or gener­ Cal..... t &I Co "18 0 ation." He wanted to ensure the children did not "live for A.n:b' '*t fll 0 0 Eo T. AnloId Cd.u.) 24 11 0 themselves alone." EI~ ODDDtCI.ed .ith StOG. Lt.,'''; " I • B. },I,lII_ (tnI ••I) .00 Mr. T. Srooke hoped that proper use would be made of the PrintlDJ. Ad~ _ ..• 11 1t I Sta~. l'oNc-. ob. ... • 0 • education provided. There were, he said, 459 children of school H ..ddendl.kl Cwpontioo. W.let o III 0 FA. Imp. (MW) ••• I • 0 age in the area according to school attendance officers and all CI.,...,I",. &0...... I 11 0 these children should be in school. He trusted that the school 1.. &I N. W. &11"'1 (curiagt) o 1. 2 :0...11 ct.ua-...... • • 0 would "confer a blessing on those who lived near it." (The PrilItlDI R..,ort &Dd Diltri\tQ.tinl ••. 1 IS 0 Balo.ll_r1'ied. to ..,oenJ SebooI 1891 census return shows 2,632 people living in the ancient o 11 0 township of Kirkheaton). .oaouDt .lU(i6 11 6 Mr. Srooke also raised the somewhat controversial issuing of mOll"" RUNGI'!. the 'peculiar industry of the place' - wiring. In the weaving T ...... " ... of goods with a pile, the loops, readers of the Examiner were infrmed, are formed over wires and the laying on of these In'antl School· 1111 wires 'such a simple matter' that children of seven or eight could do as quickly as was necessary. The wages which could

38 39 fhe> New lnfant School Opens 'gallery' lessons and regularly examined the children in reading, Writing and arithmetic. The children spent most of their days Although the foundation stone was nOl laid until October, the occupying their desks and listening to, for example, 'object' school was ready to admit children the following January. Je~~ons given by the mistress and the pupil teachers. A typical The headteacher, Mrs. Jenkinson, recorded in her log book that: Jog-book entry for July, 1983 indicates that on the Tuesday, lOSt. John's Infant School, Fields, Kirkheaton was opened on the I st class had object lessons on copper, by the mistress , the Monday 6th Jaruary 168'. There were present the Rector. Hrs 2nd and 3rd classes on the lion, by M.E. T yas. On Thursday, Maddox, Messrs. Ainley, Whlteley, Cocking - Architect - and a the 1st class heard about the camel and the 2nd and 3rd few parents and friends of the children. The scholars sang a c lasses, tea. hym and the Rector read a portion of scripture and offered up The numbers in the school fluctuated and children were admit­ prayers after which Mr. Ainley and Mr Whiteley addressed a ted at irregular intervals and left, often for the mixed school, few words to the children." o,It times which appear strange today. For example on 5th Although the school actually admitted children, work on certain De ember, 1884, 24 boys and 35 girls transferred on the Mon­ sections of the building continued after opening day. On 23rd day morning. These children were not, in general, seven years February 1883, the head teacher recorded that the painters and of age but were ready for "standard one" - the equivalent age joiners had been busy all day which "rather upset the order". of today'S "top infants". On 2nd March she wrote that the smell of paint was "almost Visitors came and went at frequent intervals and all were past bearing." recorded in the school log book. The Rector, Managers and The lavatories, too, didn't appear to be ready! On 19th Jan­ Inspe tors were very much people to be "reckoned with" - kindly uary, Mrs. Jenkinson made the following, somewhat strange, pc-op le as they may well have been. Prior to the children entry in the log book. mentioned above being transferred to the Mixed school they were actually examined by the Rector and Mr. Whiteley. The "In cons~e of the lavatories being unfinished we have not .. chool, then, was established - in the eyes of the trustees, man­ had needlework". ~lgcr5, parents and H.M.!. who wrote in December, I &&3 that 'I All was well, however, by 2nd February as needlework was tht: school "promises to be a very good one". taken for the first time although the boys "showed a great Mr::". Jenkinson continued as headmistress until 1900 when, dislike to it". '>udly, the head of the mixed school Mr. Mosley recorded the One boy actually appeared to dislike more than needlework f ollowing in the school log book. during those first weeks as the head teacher recorded that the "It is with the most profound regret that 1 have to note the school was "very much upset" by the bad behaviour of F _ L - on Thursday morning - "brought to school by his father death of Mrs. Jenkinson, the headmistress. The end came yest­ but could not make him stay." rOOy , the 8th inst. She had been mistress of this school for 25 years being appointed when she wa s 24 years of age. The new school building quickly became popular, though, amon­ Previous to entering Wtdtelands Training College she was a gst the villagers and the number on roll rose from an initial 70 P. T. here, and before returning to her old school she was to 140 by July, 1883. The attendance was, however, irregular headmistress at St. John's School , Huddersfield. She was held and a wet, stormy day for example r esulted in a very low turn in great respect and her death has cast QUite a gloan over out of children. Mrs. Jenkinson was assisted initially by two t.1le whOle village.;' H. MOsley. pupil teachers - Mary Elizabeth Tyas and Edith North. The 11 I) hard to imagine now what those early days were like ~ut mistress, of course, supervised their work, listened to their Iht' following 10& book extracts do h~lp uts to . build up a plC­ H.I t' of hfe in school under Mrs. Jenklnson s gUIdance.

40 41 168' Nov. 14th Brought up Mr. E. Drape: to measure for additional lights to (kt. 19th Many children absent in the morning - kept away to see the the closets as suggested by Mr. Taylor the Sub Inspector at Duke &: Duchess of Albany pass through the village. his last visit. (kt. 26th Hr. A. Beal.fllOl1t kindly sent the children medals In canem­ 1900 moration of the opening of Beaunont Park by the {)Jke &: .l.Jly led Visited the school this morn1ng and found the runber small Duchess of Albany. (44) the school hav1ng been open only one 'fIeek s1nce the 1884 closing on account of measles which closing was For six Nov. 23rd ThurSday afternoon school very III.JCh upset _ children had weeks, the numbers have not yet reached the full amount. It their photographs taken. Is also very unfortunate that Mrs. Jenklnson is absent on ftlv. 24th HaI'Yl8h Castle pranises to make a very energetic teacher. account of illness. 1688 .l.rIe 1st Arithmetic Is very faulty on slates without aids . .>Jne 22nd Gave a holiday on Wed"lesday to celebrate the re-opening of the Parish Church. 1893 ~r. 28th The Rector visited twice thIs week. This morning he promised a prize to the child in the 1st class who could write the best letter to him by next Wednesday. May 12th The Rector visited on Monday afternoon and gave Maria Berry and Harold Pexton a pretty little book each as rewards for their letters. '897

Sept. 24th Tuesday morning I the Rector accO'\l)anied by Mrs. lowe I his sister and Hr. lowe frem lCll'ldcrl, visited the school and heard the children sing and saw their physical exercise with which they were very /IIJCh pleased. In the afternoon the Infants were marched down to the Mixed school where they each received a bun from Mrs. lowe. O;:t . 22rd WOrkmen finished fixing the wash basins on TueSday afternoon. 1698 reb . 9th All in order except the ink, so thick had difficulty to make this entry. 5ept. 20th Closed the school tonight (Tuesday) in order that the child­ ren might manage to see Barrun &: Bailey's great show tcmor- ,OW. 1699 ..)an 9th Staff: A. Jenkinson 1st class certificate. Hannah Cas tle 4th year pupil teacher. r lora Greenwood 2nd year pupil teacher. Edith Draper 2nd year pupil teacher. The C"fanU Sc.hooC shortly before Us c.lMur" i" 1'382

42 43 HANNAH CASTLE - HEADTEACHER 1900- 1935 where wc read that "she promises t o make an energetiC tcach­ N." She was transfer red to the m ixed school in April, 1891 Many local people will have vivid memories of Hannah Castle •.md later in October left the school for, possibly, Deighton. as head teacher. Hers is a r emarkable story. Born in 1871 she Alter a period as "certificated assistant" at Deighton Board attended Kirkheaton National School (infants department) from School she returned to the infants school as head teacher on the age of five and was transferred t o the Mixed School - 15th October, 1900. On 16th Oct ober Hannah recorded the sad Standard I in August, 1878. What an auspicious day that has news that her mother had died. since turned out to be as old records show that on that very Th Ls then was the beginning of a period which was to las t for day two other people whose m.mes are associated with the thirty-five years, an amazingly long pNiod for someone t o be village were also admitted in to the Mixed Department. One hcad teacher of the same school or indeed to be head­ was the legendar y c ricketer George Her bert Hirst, the other Thomas W. Br oadbent who gave his name to the well known teacher. local electrical engineer ing company. During that period Hannah Castle was, inevitably, aSSisted by H1J.ny teachers although there were usua lly only three staff in George Hirst was born at the Brown Cow Inn on St. Mary's ,Ill. In 1913 for example, the staff was as follows:- Lane on September 7th 1871 when his parents James and Sarah kept the inn and farmed six acres. George's early days wer e Hannah Castle Certi ficated (95 005. salary spent in the village with his eight older brothers and sisters - Carrie Wood Uncerti ficated (57.lOs. salart Mary his eldest sister was 24 when he was born. Records show Eleanor Wr ight Uncertlf1cated (57 105 salary that George later moved to Fields Place and later left the '.I,my will also have memories of the second name on the lLst district. L.trrLC Wood . \-liss Wood, who was born on 6th June, 1889 at Another star cricketer Wilfred Rhodes was also born in the Ci,lrkley HilI attended the village schools until 13 when she area at Upper Heaton on October 29th, 1877, but we cannot k~lt for "full time employment" as the admission register p:.llS find any record of him attending K irkheaton school. Their 11. She died dur ing the wr iting of this book, on November 2nd feats are legendary but it is perhaps suffice to say here 1983 aged 94. Some ten year s ago she was ablc to recall that Rhodes played for England 58 times and Hirst 24. Both, .. ome of h=:r days in the school both as pupil and tCiJcher to of course, played for KirkheatoA and were members of Kirk­ (\Ir!'>. Joycc Earnshaw who was undertaking a study of the heaton's 1896 Championship side. '){'hool when on a course. Thomas W. Broadbent, the fLfth and YJungest son of Edward, a When 15, MISS Wood left her employment and became a proba­ 'fancy manufacturer' and Sarah, was born at Hillside in 1870. IIOnJry pupi I teacher on 7 rh November 1904. She r~turned to He founded his business in Victoria L ane, Hudder sfield in 189!. ..chaol as both Mr. Mosley a,d Miss Castle asked her If she His son, Maurice Broadbent, a well known local figure, is the would like to go to the infants school as a monitor. This present managing director. n,.... Jnt that she was solely responsible for a clas5 of chddren rulled the 'baby class'. "Some were only three" "he recalled Hannah obviously couldn't follow these two contempor aries in ''.Hld were not allowed to talk" . their chosen careers. She, however, had teaching on her mind \fll'r bemg a probationer or monitor she trained to become a for when most of her female c lassmates left at 13 f or the p' JpLl leacher. This meant she had to attend technLcal college local mill she resi sted her parents' wishes for her to follow suit and became accept ed as a pupil t eacher on probation in Jod school on alternate weeks. 1885. Perhaps she was influenced by her elder sister _ A nnie, "h'• .., Wood remembered that each of the c lassrooms cont,Jined who was also a pupil teacher! She began at the inf ants school galleries which went up two or three steps and how the c hild­ «(lbb lcr and his great grandfather the first manager of Field ren did their lessons on slates. Scripture lessons, particularly, I\'dd Co-op. had to be well taught. When scripture was in the timetable she had to be at school by 8 a.m. so that she could prepare I.og book entries, as wc have seen, provide a sp lendid insight her scripture lesson with the help of the head teacher . IOto rast school days. The following are some of the more IIHerestlOg ones from the period when Hannah Castle was head. Reading was not taught in the 'baby class'. Miss Wood, though, taught other subjects and was closely watched. She 1000 , remembers well the face of the headmistress looking through [~j(:. 14th en Monday a fternoon a piano arrived at the SChOOl, which con­ the glass panels in the doors which left from the big room! si derably brightens the work of the school . (The big room was later reduced when a sc reen to create a Ck:'t. 20th Copy of report - Infants Department. corridor was put in place). 'The school is brightly managed and the lessons are, on the whole , successfully varied. In many ways the instruction i s Miss Wood left the school in 1926 to take up a post at Hapton senS ibly devised, but some of the work of the younger child­ but returned in 1949 until her retirement in 1953. On her ret­ ren might be of 8 less formal character. ' urn she found the atmosphere in the school to be 'much freer'. 1910 Miss Castle retired on 30th September, 1935. At 3.30 p.m. on t\Jr. 18th We held a parents ' da ), yesterday afternoon from 3 to ':'.15 that day the rector, managers and a few friends arrived and o ' clock. Most of the mothers attended and seemed to enjoy presented Miss Castle with, as she noted in the log boOk, "a their visit. beautiful 'Monk's Bench'. We had our photographs taken and I'} 13 they overwhelmed me with good wishes. I am very grateful .JI1I:' 28 th The Medica! Officer of Heal ttl has again closed the schov. for it all. Goodbye Log." until after the Mid summer holidays , a period of 7 weeks. Scarlet Fever has broken out . Mr. Harry Walker, who has lived in the village all his life had I"-,q. 16th The school was re-opened on Monday morning after an absence I vivid memories of both Miss Castle and Mr. Mosley. Miss of nea rly 10 week s . There are quite a few cases of rinSw o~~. Castle was a lovely lady - very popular out of school! She OCl'ODER 1, 1935--' wasn't always popular in school with the naughty boys who were sent into the cellar for misbehaving! Mr. Walker moved to the National school and left on the day before (Friday) he was thirteen, to begin as an errand boy at Home &: Colonial grocers. Later he spent a number of years at Broadhead &: Graves. Mr. Leonard Senior was also at the infants school when Miss Castle was headmistress and he, too, remembers her as a 'good schoolmistress'. He also remembers the Saturday morning dan­ cing class she ran and he attended. Mr. Senior will be well known to many as he began a business in the village in 1923 which is now continued by his sons Miss CnUe ,s stood eenlre. T~ photograph al5(l Inelude~ Richard and David. He was also a member of Kirkburton 1.5. Whll\C!ll (fIr Iflfl) , Rev. C. Trem"yne and Dr. E. Tlylor C?uncil (Chairman in 1962-63) as was his father I A lfred, of ~Irkheat,?n ..U.D.C. and a member of the West Riding Educa­ tional DIvISion as Executive and local school governor. His father was, incidentally, a local grocer, his grandfather a local _b ,,7 1918 Hay 31st The King and Q,Jeen visited I-lIddersfield yesterday, so we 1935-1972 began the afternoon session at 1.15 and closed at 3 p.m. 1919 MISS Castle was succeeded by Miss Cossey who noted after l.Jly 16th The school is closing tcxfay (Wechesday) for the surmer hol1- live days that "my first week is over and has been thoroughly day - three .... eeks and two days. The extra two days is for enJoyable." Shortly after her arrival in October, 1937, Miss Peace celebrations . Tomorrow afternoon we shall have a cele­ Cossey was joined by Miss Sall y Swift who was to become bration in the cricket field, with tea, sports etc. head teacher of the school for many years. 1920 A year later Miss Cossey and her staff had to cope with the 5ept 3rd We close tooay at noon for a week's holiday - the Colne problems the threatened outbreak of war was likely to cause. Valley week. On September 30th she recorded that:- 1923 Apr 27th The school had a holiday yesterday (ThurSday) for the D.Jke of "This has been a IIIOI!IeOtous week . European war was dangerously York ' s wedding. near _ Air Raid precautions were speeded up and an aircraft 1932 g..n was placed about 50 yds fran the school - one of those to Mar. 11th This afternoon (Friday) H.R.H. The l)Jke or York paid a visit protect British Dyes. Trenches were dug in the recreation to the mill in the village. I marched the children to a field . The west Riding deCided to close all their schools in place on the route and we had a splendid view. H.R.H. raised the eyent of war until the arrangements could be made for the his hat to us and turned round to wave his hand through the safeguarding of the children. Fortunately the efforts of Mr. back window of the car. Q'laIrberlain were successful and peace was assured." Aug. 26th The Rector and Hr. Hitchen (Manager) paid a visit on Tuesday A year later, however, war was declared and Miss Cossey and afternoon to inspect offices which have been converted MISS Swift _ the school's only teachers for the 66 children, had dUring the holidays into w.e. 'so to make plans as it was likely that there would be a number Nov. 24th Our esteem Rector (Rev. wright Moore) died very suddenly last of evacuees coming t o the school. Gas mask drills and pract­ Monday the 20th - Angina Pectoria. The interment took place Ices at going in and out of the air raid trench .w~re h~I~. reg­ this morning In the cemetery. We shall miss his genial, ularly. There was some discussion with West. Rldmg Dlvlsl.onal kindly personality very much. Staff including the Di visional Educational Offlcc::r Mr. A. Blel~y 1934 llbout the possibility of using the school and adjacent cellars m May 11th The new Rector, the Rev. C. Tremayne came on Monday after­ the event of daylight raids. Eventually school cellars a n~ those noon for a few millJtes of Mr. Stringer in Shop Lane were to be used. Mr. St~lnger~s Nav 30th we were closed all day yesterday (Thursday) on the occasion could be reached in four minutes. Eventually an air raid of the D.Jke of Kent's wedding. shelter was erected near school. The first daylight alerts were 1935 heard on 10th January 1941 when Miss Cossey noted that the May 9th Today the children are haYing souvenirs of the King'S Silyer C'hildren were "very good, and quickly dressed for the s hi" e ter . .l..bilee fran 'Ill R.C. presented to them. At 3.30 the school rhe first four evacuees arrived at the school in March, 1941 will assentlle and Mr. Pexton and Hr. Greaves - Managers _ will present each child with a Jubilee pencil and a Jubilee .Ind came from Shoreham in Sussex. Bank Book with a deposit of 1/_. \llIdents from Avery Hill College, London were a lso moved May 10th We were clOSed Monday and Tuesday for the KIng'S Silyer l.Jb­ InlO the area and several spent time in the school and at the Bee celebrations. The children went round the yillage in Junior school. procession with ga11y decorated wagons and people in fancy dress. The village was beautifully decorated for the occas­ \)1'1 one occasion Miss Cossey notes that 15 students were to ion. They had tea in the schools, and sports afterwards. Everyone had a most enjoyable time. 48 49 again served for one year in the school hall when the building spend seven consecutive Tuesday mornings at the school. A was the County First School's annexe. large number for a small school but Miss Cossey noted that the children were "very good and responded to the students". Miss In 1947 after a short but happy stay, Mrs. FJesher said goodbye Cossey was granted another member of staff around this time to her staff, Mrs. Evans and Miss Swift as she had been app­ as numbers increased and in 1942 the staff was:- ointed head of Holy Trmity infants school, Ossett. She M. Cossey St. 1 and Class 1 32 was presented with a fire screen as a parting gift. Her succes­ S. Swift Class 1 and Class 2 36 sor was MISS Swift, who remained as head until 1969 when she M. Hirst Babies 27 retired early owmg to 111 health. A year later Miss Cossey was happy to note that for the first Shortly after taking over as headmistress Miss Swift's problems time since her arrival she was able to arrange the children in seemed to concern the outside toilets, mumps and tonsilitis. dasses comprising single age year groups. Mr. Senior was called in regularly to attend to the bursts, Mr. In 1943 school dinners began at the school. The dinners were Draper to repair the front gate and broken windows, Nurse "excellent" and thoroughly enjoyed by the 53 children who Hughes to check on hygiene and further cases of mumps. In stayed, staff and helpers. The dinners cost 5d. 1949 Miss Swift recorded that ten children were absent as they were all admitted to Huddersfield Infirmary for tonsilectomy Miss Cossey left the school on 29th March, 1945 although she operations. Miss Swift also had problems with the laundry was actually absent at the time with tonsilitis, to become head service owing to the irregular coll ection of 'cot sheets'. (The of Wincheap Infants School, Canterbur y. The presentation to younger children slept for a period each afternoon). her was postponed until Tuesday, 10th April. rhere was, also, during Miss Swift's early years as head, discu­ Miss Cossey later moved to EXeter where she became head of ssion about the use of the adjacent field, the chapel for din- Whipton Infant School. She is remembered as an excellent 109, the problems likely to be caused by the road by school headteacher of a large infant school of 16 classes, by Sheila being made into a through road to the new housing estate and Surman, a present Exeter First School head, who was on her electric lights. staff. Sadly, Miss Cossey had a stroke in 1954 and after retir­ ing earlier than necessary, died in 1955. On the 10th March the road problem was solved as the coke rormerly tipped in the cul-de-sac was to be tipped over a wall Miss Cossey was succeeded by Mrs. Edith Flesher, who is still which was lowered - into the area to the left of the entrance. living in Ossett, on 9th April, 1945. Within a few weeks Mrs. Flesher was happy to record that the war in Europe had ended flectric lights were suggested by the West Riding Inspector in on 8th May. 'VE' day two days holiday was granted, but att­ I? 51 but the church was not prepared to accede to the request endance on the school's re-opening was not very good, prob­ 11' they would be relinquishing the school when the 'building ably, thought Mrs. Flesher, "due to celebrations for victory". programme was put into operation'. The school, in fact, be­ On May 17th a Victory Party was held in school. (.une C.E. controlled - as did the Junior School - in 1954. It has already been noted that school dinners began in 1943 rh, .. meant that the church was no longer responsible for the and in May, 1947 school was visited by a West Riding County Ilpkf"cp of the premises and their representation on the govern­ Council architect regarding a building site for a proposed dining IIIK body reduced from two thirds to one third. We have no room. This never materialised as many readers will know and ".\ (lrd of when electricity was in stalled, however, as the log eventually on November 12th 1948 all dinners began to be 1... ,,1 from 1952 until , 1969 is missmg. served in the Fields Chapel schoolroom. .A practice which '\I"'lIfds the end of Miss SWift'S headship considerable improve­ continued until the school dosed in 1982. Dinners were then "If ,," were carried out in 1967 when a new indoor toilet and , I. 11." com block and corridor was installed. School was then • \Ill by Mrs. Elsie Oakes (nee Hanson) for a considerable length

50 51 first of two re-organIsations in the village within ten years of time prior to Miss Swift's retirement. It was during her was about to be put into effect. There would, shortly, be period as acting head that the numbers began to rise though three schools in the village. only slightly initially and in 1969 a mobile c lassroom was brought from Bingley. This classroom was still used - and is Log book extracts during this period included the following:- actually still in place - even when the new County School opened. 1938 fo6y 9th A boy got his head fast in the first lavatory door this after­ Acknowledgement of Miss Swift's services- to the school was noon. He evidently was trying to open the door the wrong way - , made in July, 1969 when gifts for her were on show. Sadly, outwards instead Of inwards. however, she was not well enough to attend a formal present­ M:ly 11th More trouble with lavatory doors today, outer door janmed by ation at school. Miss Swift died during the period this book first inner door. We had to put a child through the end window was being written. before they could be opened. In September, 1969 Miss Kathleen Str inger was appointed head­ 1939 teacher when her staff was Miss Raby, Mrs. Beaumont, Mrs. sept. 1st No school today owing to imminence of war. Olildren assembled Oakes and Mrs. Wilson (part-time). Within a few weeks par­ for milk and gas mask drill. ents had helped with a successful coffee evening which raised 1940 £29 for a typewriter. 1Iug. 30th Tuesday night and We&lesday night there were aid raid alanns and the children came in late each morning. Registers were not In the following Januar y, 1970, Miss Stringer and her staff closed until 10 a.m. Two bomtls were dropped during Wednesday wer delighted to return to school to find that workmen had night in .)Oss Lane but no <*nage was done. been busy converting the old cloakroom into a staffroom . By 1941 February this was in use although Miss Stringer noted that the Mar. 14th Today we had the first dayllg"lt alerts. The sirens were not sink unit had not yet arrived. "The quiet cornerll was, though, heard until the 'All-clear' at 9.30 a.m . but we went into the ll "much appreciated • shelters at 3.30 p.m. 'All-clear' went at 3.55 p.m. Things, in fact, were happening almost weekly during Miss Mar . 14th we expect evacuees from the south next Friday. Kirkheaton to Stringer's first year! In March a stock room was created out take about 30 . of a corner of the hall. In March a second temporary class­ !o\lr.28th I amitted 4 children frCJII ShOreham, west Sussex on Tuesday morning. Miss Knight, one of the teachers frCJII Klngston by room arrived for Mrs. Oakes's class. "There was great excite­ ment" records Miss Stringer. Later in the month the infant sea has assisted 1n the mornings . class was moved from the Junior School and there were then 1945 156 children on roll. l4\y 17th Today we had our 'Victory Party'. The parents kindly sent cakes and the staff provided sandwiches. The children wore Numbers on roll continued to grow so that by 1972 a class had paper hats painted by themselves in red, white and blue. to be housed in the chapel schoolroom across the road when 4'Ot . 7th O"l Tuesday afternoon Standard I went out for a nature r8llt>1e there were a maximum of 202 chiJdren on roll. and gathered blackberries. By now, of course, the new County Primary School was being 1',111(, "'1\1 , 29th Mrs. A. 8oothroyd resigned frO'fl her position as caretaker built and meetings had already been held in the village which ow1ng to ill health. Mrs. A. Stocks has been appointed as care­ were addressed by Mr. W.H. Goddard, the Divisional Education Officer. taker to take up her duties on 1st December, 1946. In October, 1971 all the admission r egisters were collected and H.M.I. ' s report (summary) zones drawn up for the future school's catchment areas. The This is clearly a good schOol. The staff are hard working, their standards are high and they care greatly for the quality of education their children receive. LOCi BID: MISSI"" 52 I" "t\ 53 KIRKHEATON COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL

The school, now the County First School for children aged 5-10, opened on September 4 rh 1972 wi rh 153 children on roll. 62 COUNTY COUNCIL had been transferred from the Junior school, 77 from the OF THE infants school. A fur ther 37 children were admitted during the school year. The following year 48 were _admitted and as no WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE children left the numbers rose to around 220 by Easter 1974. LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY I A small group of eleven year aIds remained at the school for the year 1973-74 as did a larger number at the C.E. Junior school owing to the fact that the re-organisation of schools in NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with the the Kirkburton - Oenby Dale Area into a 'three-tier' system provisions of Section 13 (3) of the Education Act. 1944. could not be put into effect until 1974. a~ amended by Section 1(1) of the Education Act. 1968. that the County Council of the West Riding of York­ In the summer of that year three age groups (9- 10, 10-11, shire. being the Local Education Authority, propose to 11 -12) Jeft the school (and the C.E. Junior school) for the new establish a new COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL forabout Shelley High School and Lepton Middle School (housed origina ll y 2..0 children mainly of the age of 5 to 11 years at in the former Kirkburton Secondary buildings). From then on KIRKHEATON In the Urban Parish of KIRKBURTON, children left the viJIage schools at ten for Lepton Middle in the Urban District of KIRK8URTON. School and from 1976 they then moved on to King James's School, AJmondbury. The latter was not originally in the plans The School will be available for the following but owing to over-crowding at SheJley the former grammar distrlct:- school became a 13-1 & comprehensive school. KIRKHEATON in the Urban District of KIRK­ Discussions had taken place as far back as 1952 with regard to BURTON. a new school in Kirkheaton. This followed the publication in 1952 of the West Riding County Council's 150 page 'Develop­ The Managers or Governors of any Voluntary School ment Plan' which proposed for the Mlrfleld area a new four .lIffected by the proposal. or ;'"y ten or more local govern­ class C.E. school for 7-11 year olds at Klrkheaton. The est­ ment electors (or the area or any Loul Education imated cost was then £24,000 with a further El ,200 for the Authority concerned. may submit objections to the site. A 40 place nursery unit was also proposed, a long with a proposal by at letter addressed to the Permanent UndeT modernisation plan at a cost of £ 17,974 for the Infants school. Secretary o( State for Education and Science, London. The site envisaged for the building comprised 2.75 acres of W . I. which should reach him within two months after land, part of which was to the south of the area eventually the date o( the first publication o( this notice. built on. It was said to be a "well elevated, sunny and healthy P. J. BUTCHER, site" and no workable seams of coal "were present thereunder". n .. ~ . ~ .... c .... ~ ., c...... However, on 27th November, 1952 the County Planning Officer Dated 11th October. 1969 wrote to the Chief Education Officer stating that there were "strong agricult ural objections" to the use of this land for edu­ cational purposes.

Correspondence continued for some time in the early 1950's Seclkln 11 NOlO r~rdlng I .... new Klrkhutorl School . regarding the best site - one preferably "adjoining existing

54 55 development" leaving room for public open space. It is inter­ the right of the cricket club drive and on Glebe land near the esting to note that in October 1953 the County Planning Off­ stream between the Beaumont Arms and Cemetary Road. The icer stated that the erection of dwelling houses in this locality former was considered to be the better site owing to the low was not anticipated "on a large scale"! level of the land in the southern plan. In 1954 correspondence re the school ceased and the matter The question of a possible Middle school for the village was does not appear to have been raised again until November also discussed but numbers, although expected t o reach year 1963! An application had been made regarding the erection of groups of 80, were never considered sufficient. There were, dwelling houses and questions were asked as to whether the IOcidentally, 261 children on roll in 7 year groups at the land was stijJ required for a school site. It was then agreed schools in 1968 _ almost proportionately the same as those that there was no "immediate urgency respecting the erection projected for the year 1986. of this school" but the education authority were not keen to The school appeared in the major building programme starts for part with the site. It was too far from the mixed and infants 1970-71 as tlKirkburton Kirkheaton (North) Primary School" to school for immediate use as a playing field but it could, it be built on a site 2.75 acres owned by the trustees of the was thought, be offered to Kirkburton Council as a recreation Whitley Beaumont estate and tenanted by Mr. W. Ellis of New ground until needed for a school. It was, however, decided in House Farm, Upper Heaton. The south west corner of the site 1964 that until the school found a place in a building prog­ was earmarked for a proposed youth centre which, of course, ramme the site would not be acquired. has never materialised. Towards the end of 1967 the position had, however, changed The purchase of the land was completed in March, 1971 and when it was realised that because of the extensive new housing the builders, Marshalls of Elland began work later in the year. planned the original proposals were insufficient in terms of places. It was then suggested by a senior officer at County 10hn M. Brooke, deputy head of EUand C.E. Primary School HaJI that two new primary schools would be needed - one for was appointed head in May, 1972. the north on the site agreed and one in the south to replace Other staff were appointed during the following months. Four the two C.E. Schools. These schools would eventually become members of the full-time teaching staff transferred from the 5-9 or 5-10 schools. Eventually the managers of the C.E . . C.E. Schools _ Mrs. W. Wild and Miss J. Cawsey from the schools agreed to the following proposals, which were accepted Junior School and Mrs. K. Forth and Mrs. A. Newsome from by the Divisional Executive. the Infants School. Mrs. E. Johnston, part-time teacher, also 1. The provision of a 6-class instalment of an ultimate 10 transferred from the Junior School. The deputy head, Miss Y. class 5-9 County School on the site 'I!t1ich is already allocated Verlander, was appointed in July and Mr. M. Thomas in Oc~­ ober. Both began in January, 1973 and until they came their in New Road. f I.) ~ses were taken by Miss L. Woodhead and Mrs. S. Vander 2. In due course, !!hen monies are available to allow replace­ I\yl. Mrs. Vander Byl actually continued at the .school as Mrs. ment building to take place, the provision of B simllar sized N('wsome left in February, 1973. Other appOintments made 5-9 voluntary controlled school on a site to be determined in dUring the summer months were Mrs. J. Mahoney, secretary; the southern half of the village. Mrc,. M. Maddlck, non-teaching assistant; Mrs. J. Unsworth, As we now know, of course, the second proposal to replace the I nok and Mr. F. Yorke, caretaker. two C.E. school buildings was never put into effect nor in fact ,,11111 lI y after the opening of the school the West Riding C.c. was there any need until the closure of the C.E. schools any hi Idcd to purchase an extra 0.6 acres of land at the rear of need to enlarge the County school. The sites proposed for the Ih' 'Ichool to create a games pitch. It was found, in fact, new C.E. 5-9 school were off Bank Field Lane in a field to 111.,1 the school had been built some sixty feet further back

56 57 from the road than originally planned in order to leave space 1973-74 SChool ' s first day as part of the new Metropolitan Dis­ f or future nursery units. This left the school with a large April 1st trict of Kirklees pleasant frontage but very little space to the rear. 1974-75 Oec""""r After the holidays we welcane Mr. C.J. WOOd from Mirfield Memories of days spent at the school by former pupils are wellhOuse School as Deputy Head, and Mrs. L.M. Conneely obviously clearer than for those who attended the Church from Moldgreen Infants School who will have special resp­ schools many years ago. There was the ineVitable delight and onsibility for the work at the yosger en:1 of the school. excitement during the early days of the school as there would .My Classes 6 and 5 ' s proclJction of the rrus1cal revue 'Joseph have been at the other schools when they opened. Children and the Amazing TeclY1icolOJr Dre8lTC08t' along with a who attended the school will have clear memOries of the fl.I'I'Iber of Instrunental items proved to be one of the most teachers who so enthusiastically joined in the spirit of a devel­ popular events of the year. Two evening performances oping school. They will have clear memories, too, of the many were given which were seen by about 400 people. educational day visits and those to Stainforth Youth Hostel and 1975-76 Newton House at Whitby which took them away from home for Oec"""", SChOol Lending Library - this is open on Tuesday and a f ew days; of the out-of-school activities, the football, round­ Thursday afternoons and is operated by groups of 1IUfIS. ers and netball teamsj the school animals, the Christmas con­ The Authority has provided us with 500 books and these certs and visits to Leeds Playhouse, the summer productions, have been suppleTteOted by £50 worth bought by the Psrent­ with Mr. Wood, the school's deputy head from 1975 until 19&1 , Teacher Association. Mr. Sharp, Miss Cawsey and Mrs. Etherington (nee Bedford) and >Jly ()"I the evenings of 22nd and 23rt1 June, classes 5 and 6 the school orchestra. Their parents too will r emember the presented 'CaptaIn NoSh and tiis floating Zoo' by Michael Disco Buffet Dances and other P.T.A. events. Perhaps most Flanders a...::l Joseph J1:)rowi tz, in mime and song to over of all though they wiJJ remember the school "growing up" and "400 people. developing with the ch ildren it was built to cater for in a rap­ Stainforth youth HOstel near settle is available for the idly expanding village in the early seventies. exclusive use of Bradford aM Kirklees schools wring the winter months and class 6, along with 7 menDers of Below are a few of the many events recorded 10 the school's staff and 2 husbaros, spent the weekend of March 26th- twice yearly newsletters. • 28th there. 1972-13 1976-77 Aug. 31st 1912 School open OJring the evening for parents and friendS to De<""'" r The School's Council 'C(JIITU1ication Skills 7-11' team look rOU"ld. based at Leeds l.hiversity, spent ~. 10th talking to and o:t 5th A meeting of parents was held, when it was agreed to form filming the children working In small grrups. a Parents' and Teachers' Association. Klrklees Jubilee Appeal Walk - thank you for supporting April 18th 1973 A party of 33 children in class 6 and 5 staff, bOarded Mrs . Etherington and Mr. wood in such a grand mamer the 8 . 10 train at Hirfield for Wak efield and London and They each walked the 20 miles and raised £178.05 of which spent a most interesting day in the capital . 20S Is for school funds . Ma y, 1973 A rurt>er of boys L.nder Mrs. Marsh's guidance have planted and maintained two beds of roses and shrubs at the front This term the P. T.A. have bouglt school an overhead proj­ of school. ector and screen and paid for the conc:reting and land­ 1973-74 scaping of a car track ~ich has tidied up the southern 0:1. 19th (}Jr second Parent-Teacher Disco Buffet Dance held - 190 entrance in a most interesting and useful way. A number attended. of dads have already been seen on it at weekends with Feb. 7th Class 6 spent the afternoon at Huddersfield Polytechnic their old Dinky toyS! Education Department Closed Circuit T. V. Studio helping to make a teaching film on the Vikings . 58 59 1978-79 July Our first ' Family Day ' at Stainforth. Two coaches with The church schools too continued to thrive even though many 120 parents, staff and children left school at 10 a.m. of the children had been transferred to the new school. Mem­ on Sunday , 24th June and returned at 6.30 p.m. ories will a lso be c lear for pupils attending those schools during I 1979-80 the period 1972-82. They, too, will remember the teac hers and July New ~s1c Room - during February it was decided to conv­ head teachers during those final ten years. There were, in ert the Shower room into a general purpose room for mus­ fact, a number o f c hanges of head teachers from 1972. In 1974 ical grOl.4lS, television, film strips, slide and tape Mr. Wade left the Junior School to become headteacher of recorder work, medical aod dental inspections, meetings Heckmondwike Junior School. He was replaced by Richard and similar activities. The work was carried out on a Bulloch who in turn left in the summer of 1976 to become 'self-help' basis by a team of parents led by Mr . WOod, head of a Rochdale school. Stuart Smith, who had previously with general financial support from parents. In all Just been deputy head teacher of Kirkhamgate Primary School, over £750 was raised with the bulk of that amount £620 Wakefield, was then appointed and he remained as head until I coming from the sponsored spell. the school closed in 1982. 1960-81 At the infants' School there were similar changes. In Decem­ Tree planting - On Oecentler 12th, approximately 50 heavy Oec"""'r ber, 1972 Mi ss Stringer left to become head of Honley C.E. standard , standard and smaller trees were planted (a few Infants' School and she was replaced as headteacher by Mrs. are to be planted at a later day) In the school grounds. Janice Hiles from Birdsedge school in April, 1973. In April, The t rees , wh ich include Silver Birch, Maple, Cherry , 1977 Mrs. Hiles left to become head of LindJey C. L Infants' \IItIitebeam, Mountain ASh, Sycamore and lime are planted Sch~ 1 and she was replaced by Mrs. Myra Humphries, who in in conjtn::tion with the Ccu1tryside Corrmlssion ' s scheme turn was succeeded by Mrs. Shirley Dyson in January, 1979. which has recently been extended to schOols in ' Urban Mrs. Oyson remained as headteacher until July 1981 when she Fringe ' areas. left to become head of Royds Infants' School, Heckmondwike. July A party of 35 children in Mr. WOOd's class visited Newton J.M. Brooke, head of the Count y First School, became acting House field Study Centre at little ~k near \IItIitby at headteacher until the school closed. the end of March . Events a t the two schools between 1972 and 1982 included the As last year, two buses tOOk a party of rruns and their following:- friends to London for the day in Noventler. Infants School At the begiming of the next term we shall be welcoming Mr. lan MBckay from ~rthong, Holmfirth J. & 1. School 5t.Pt . 5th, 1973 The staff is as rollows:- Mrs. Hiles, Mrs . Qakes , Hrs. as deputy head in place of Mr. Wood who left last term. Royal, Mr s . Taylor, Mrs . SOwerby (non-teaching assist­ July On 23rd March Rt . Rev. P. Harris, Rector , joined us for ant) and Mr s . A. Sloman (secretary). asseatlly and afterwards spoke to Hr. Madcay' s class about Jan. 8th, 1974 rour trees were planted in the grounds today, as part his life in Argentina where he was Bishop. of the 'Plant a Tree in ' 73 ' project. A meeting was heid for parents of children WhO will be MOy 10th, 1974 Jan Plenkowskl, illustrator, visited this afternoon and transferred fr(Jll the C.E. schools, on Ma y 18th. enthralled children and staff by drawing scenes from Another parents' meeting wa s held, this tirre for parents stories he told. of children already at this SChOol , on May 20th. ~)t. 16th, 1975 Mr. Hull , Kirklees architect, visited to discuss poss­ In .lJne Mrs. Marsh's class made what is now becOlning an ible alterations to building; we had hoped for a new annual visit to the Colne Valley Museum at Golcar where bulldlng In 1979 but the ecOf1(JTlic climate now rules they spent a day in the life of a Victorian child. this out .

At the end of term, our caretaker Mr . Yorke, retired after serving the school in a helpful and friendly manner since it opened in 1972. 61 60 ~eb. 2nd, 1976 We left school at 12.30 p.m. with 1~ children to re­ ONE SC HOOL FOR THE VILLAGE hearse in the Free Trade Mall for this evening's concert. Around 1980 it was becoming increasingly clear that the num­ Fell 13th, 1980 A parents' evening was held in scrool regarding the ber of children being admitted to the Village infant and first teaching of reading. schools was beginning to fall. The drop was slight to begin Mar. JOth , 1980 A special governors ' meeting wa s held at the .)Jnior with but projections showed that this would soon become a SChool to discuss the projected decline in r'lUfItlers at major problem. In 1978-79, for example, 72 children aged 4+ the school. were admitted to the vi llage schools, but by 1981-82 the num­ .>Jly 6th, 1981 A flEeting of parents was held in the evening re arran­ ber had dropped to 35. Numbers nationally were also falling genents for next year. and the effects of the reduced birthrate were actually seen in Kirkheaton later than in many other areas. Junior School Following meetings of the C.E. school governors and consult­ ApL 2rd, 1973 A party of 29 children and 6 aliJlts left for a 5 day ations with the three headteachers, the local authority decided visit to Ingleborough Hall. to recommend the closure of the two Church schools in 1982. May 6th, 1974 66 children left school for a 5 day visit to Staithes. The County First School was to be extended by the addition of Sept. lIth, 1974 School became a 7-10 junior school. two classrooms and until such time as they were ready, the Mar. 1976 A meeting was hel d in school to discuss the formation 22rd, Infants school building was to be used as an annexe. of a P.T.A. Dec. 9th, 1977 P.T .A. disco hel d in the evening. The, Secretary of State approved the proposals in April, 1982 .>Jly 1st, 1978 The gala day was enjoyable and prOfitable, farey dress, ilnd in September all the children attended the same school, scout band, stalls etc. but on two sites. During the holiday an extra mobile class­ Jan. 15th, 1979 A grOl.4l of 36 children, Mr. Smith, Mi ss Morgan, two room had been placed on the County School site and nine students from Bingley College and three parents, spent classes were housed there and three at the annexe. Staff 4 days at InglebOrough Hell. lran'Sferred from the C.E. Schools as follows:- Mrs. D. Lord, Jan. 9th, 1981 Reception held in the hall IiJring the evening to wel-. who was deputy head teacher and Mrs. C. Booth from the cane the new rector, Rt. Reverend Patrick Burnett Junior School; Mrs. R. Thorn, Miss J. Barraclough, Mrs. E. Harris - who takes over frorn Rev. T. Anscombe. Packwood, Mrs. J. GreenhaJgh and Mrs. C. Newlove from the Dec. 11th, 1981 The family disco was a great success. AIlT'()st 200 Infants' School. Mrs. Greenhalgh, the Infant School's deputy parents and children came. head, opted to become one of the school's part-time teache:s Jan. 25-29th 1982 9-10 year aIds spent 4 days at CIIffe House Field Study and Mrs. Newlove continued in a similar role. Mrs. D. Beattle Centre at Shepley. ;]nd Mrs. J. Thewli s, the school's non-teaching staff, also trans­ .).J"le 15-16th 1982 An exhibition 'Kirkheaton Past ar.j Present' was held in lerred, the latter for a short period, Mr. Smith, headteacher at school (rOll 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. on each day to mark the the Junior School became head of Hanging Heaton C.E. Prim­ closure of the C.E. Schools. tJry School. artwrights of Pudsey began work on the school extensions in March, 1983 and these were completed during the summer holidays. These included two classrooms, a shared area, toil­ l' lS, cloakroom and stOckroom. A secretary' s room was c reated Uul of the existing main stockroom and a teachers' changing r~)()m was a lso created out of another stock room area. In

62 63 addition to the extension provided by the local authority, the parents raised money and built a splendid group teaching room, in the courtyard recess, which is entered from the hall. During the building of the extensions, it was announced that J.M. Brooke was leaving at the end of the year to become head of Lightcliffe C.E. J. &: I. School, near Halifax. Later in the year Peter M. Alien, currently head of Linthwaite J. &: I. School, was appointed head teacher with effect from May, 1984. When the children returned from their summer holidays in 1983 the new rooms were completely furnished and ready for the sixty eight year olds who were to be taught by Miss Ellis and Mr. Walker. There were now 270 children in the school and aJl were together on one site. The story of Education in the village which began almost 400 years ago would continue as it began - in one school. Present day parents, children and teachers can look back with gratitude to the early benefactors and the Church who estab­ lished the schools, known affectionately as the 'big' and 'little' School Staff, 1951 schools in the village prior to the turn of the present century. G. Brlg9s, W. Ridin9, F. Easingwood, D. Senior, P. Shaw They can be grateful, too, for the provision provided by the E. HanlOll. B. Wade, Mllchell L. Easingwood, K. Barnn two local authorities - The West Riding County Council and, more recently, KirkIees Metropolitan Council. Buildings change but today, as yesterday, we educate c hildren in the hope, as Thomas Carlyle said over 100 years ago, "that each shall be­ come all that he or she was created capable 01 being".

Schr>ol Stiff, \98) ~ Row [L. to R.): R. Shiorp, J.C. Cretnhiolgh, P.V, Mar.h, M.R. Meddlck, H.S. Co,leU, C.J. Boolh, J.M. BarraclOl.tgh, R."'. Thorn, P.O. Walker . • 1 Row : J . S. Whitehead, D. Beattie, J.N. Mahoney, LW. Mlckay, J.M. Brook., W.E. EIII " - E.J. Packwood, L. Bell. 65 - APPENDIX 2

KIRKHEATON SC HOOL APPENDIX I Staff - September, 1983 KIRKHEATON C.L JUNIOR (FORMERLY NATIONAL) SCHOOL

Headteachers J.M. Brooke (head teacher) I I. W. Mackay (deputy head) _ Dewhirst ? 1819 Miss J.M. BarracJough George Sykes Dyson 181 9 1856 Mrs. L. Bell John Heywood 1857 1873 Mrs. C.]. Booth Henry WhiteJey 1873 1896 Miss H.S. Cosslett Harrop Mosley 1897 1912 Miss W.E. ElIis Arnold O. Lightowler 1912 1914 Mrs. J.C. Greenhalgh (part-time) James S. Whi ttell 19 14 1943 Mrs. P. V. Marsh William E. Riley 1943 1946 Mrs. C. NewJove (part-time) Frank Easingwood 1947 1966 Mrs. E.J. Packwood John B. Wade 1966 1974 Mrs. R.A. Thorn - Absent 1983-4 on a year's course Richard A. Bullock 1975 1976 P.D. Walker Stuart R. Smith 1977 1982 Miss J.S. Whitehead Visiting Staff KIRKHEATON ST. JOHN'S C.E. INFANTS' SCHOOL M. Ashworth (woodwind) Headteachers R. Sharp (music) T. Taylor (brass) Miss E. Tetlcw 1872 - 1875 Miss S. Wood (strings) Mrs. A. Jenkinson (nee Blutley) 1876 1900 Teachers' & Secretarial Assistants Hannah Castle 1900 - 1935 Miss Mrs. D. Beattie Miss M. Cossey 1935 - 1945 Mrs. J.M. Mahoney E. Flesher 1945 1947 Mrs. Mrs. M.R. Meddick Miss S. Swift 1948 - 1968 Miss K. Stringer 1969 1972 Caretaker 1973 - 1977 Mrs. J.M. Hiles A. Hawkes Mrs. M. Humphries 1977 1978 Mrs. S. Dyson 1979 - 1981 Assistant Cook-in-Charge Mrs. R. Huntington KIRKHEATON COUNTY FIRST SCHOOL Chairman of the School Governors Headteacher M. Waddington John M. Srooke 1972 - 1983

66 67 ..,. d .e .b . Residence Parents ' """ Name APPENDIX 3 31. Thornton Peace 12. 9.72. :hop Lane Edward Briggate Will1am Admission Registers 32. Siswick Arthur 21.11.72. 33. Sykes Oyson 17.10.72. Jagger Hill Henr, The oldest admission register we have to hand begins with 34. Swift Tom 7. 8 .72. Lascelles Hall T"" childr en admitted to school in 1879. ThE:' entries on the first 35. Stanclirfe Seth 10 . 2 .73 . Shop Lane Charles page are as foJlows:- 36 . Broadbent Herbert 7.72. Lane End Henr, 37. Wood .Joe Nettleton Ellen ..,. d.o.b . Residence Parents' " 38. Wood .John Nettieton Ellen ""'" 3 • . Haig, Mark 25. 9.69 .)JnCtion 1. Grange Elizabeth JO. 6 . 72. Shop Lane Mar, 40. Stead Clara 22 . 4 . 73. Lee Head Sarah 2. Hey Thomas (re-amitted) 12. 4 .65. ""'town Ephraim 3. \1111son Fred Xl . 5.72. Shaw Cross fergus 4 . Tyas WaIter 28 . 6 . 72. Moorside Israel 5. Crosland Joseph Arthur 31.12.72. Ca.ms Thonas 6. Wood .Joe 30. 10.72. Shop Lane Jonathan 7. Thornton Harry 5. 9.72. Beal.lllOl"lt Arms Richard 8. He, .John 16.10.72. Shop Lane Geerge •• Calvert Betty 14. 1.73. Nab Hill John 10. Schofleld Mary A. 7. 9.72. Houses Hill George Berry 5arah 25.12.72. I-kxIr Top Harmsn ".12. Taylor Amle 1. 8.72. Nettieton Thonas 13. senior carol1ne 26. 10.72. Briggate, Delton 'red 14. Jessop serah 11. 5.72. Square Hill Abrahcwn 15. HaIlas Elizabeth 2 . 9.72. I-kxIrside Josepl1 16 . Hill 5arah Am 3. 6.72. Shaw Cross Richard 17. Stead Edith 13 . 9.72. Longley told DBn 18 . Schofield Ellen 16.11.72. Shop Lane T""",,s Dawson Hamah 19. 9.72. Cowroyd, Del ton J

68 69 APPENDIX 4

Admission registers are still kept today and contain basicaJJy the same kind of information as in 1879. The admission regis­ ter for the period 1925 - 1951 kept initially by Hannah Castle contains in the final column where total attendances for the year used to be recorded, a record of father's occupation and, for a period, mothers. A selection from this period 1923-1927 is recorded below. Mother's 'occupations' for children admitted to school during 1929 and August 1930 are two weavers, one club keeper (Mrs. Jessop at the Conservative Club), one dec­ eased and forty-six 'domestic' presumably at home as house­ wives. Designer, chemical labourer, beamer, cloth presser, mill lab­ ourer, weaver, dyer's labourer, finisher, pattern weaver, lamp -lig,ter. ba~sman, joiner, marufacturer, motor man, feeder, engineering pattern maker, glazier, iron dresser, bricklayer, underground ropeman, miner, gardener, scourer , carrier, cobb­ ler, teamer, police constable, blacksmith, police sergeant , collier. works at gasworks, tuner, jantloiler, motor driver, cloth pattern cutter, packer, cabinet lI'I8ker, twister-in,

engine~, cooper. club steward, farmer t iron moulder, corn grinder, relayer (railway), hoosekeeper, coal dealer, firer, warder at asyll.m, colourman, bus service inspector, woollen merchant, shop assistant, window cleaner, carter, warehckJse­ man, timekeeper, publican, builder, electriCian, optician' S aSSistant, groundsman, warper, clerk, bOiler hOuse worker, coal tril!lller, telephone engineer, haulage contractor, porter, wool carbonizer, colliery manager, bus driver, chip shop keeper; painter and decorator, charge hand, wholesale sales­ man, tailor's cutter, chauffeur, plasterer's labourer, public­ an (Spangled &J11), c,.J8rry labourer, plush weaver, pit top worker, foreman, foundry worker, ~rry man, plasterer, cobbler, Able Seaman, percher, healder, farmer's bailiff, dyer's tipper, hoist attendant, coppersmith, greengrocer, taxi -proprietor, hairdresser.

70