Schooling in Box Alan Payne November 2023
Changes in provision of local education in Box since World War II has taken place within the context of national political, idealogical, and regional policies, sometimes conflicting, overlapping and constantly altering. But after the disruption of education during the war and immediate post-war era, the modern period brought substantial improvements to education of Box children. Of course, better trained teachers were the main instigator of better educated children but a new organisation made its entrance, the school’s Parent-Teacher Association. This article traces the effect changes on local educational provision, particluarly at the Box Schools.
Changes at Box School
In 1954 the responsibility for secondary education for boys and girls over the age of 11 was removed from Box School. Even before the Second World War, Box School was being encouraged to transfer these children to designated secondary schools.[1] The village immediately recognised the consequences and were fearful. The proposals are of such a drastic and far-reaching nature.[2] A new secondary school was proposed to be built at Corsham but not yet started. The debate centred on localism, the slackening of parental and home influence and the loss of the personal touch between the local teachers and the children.[3]
Box School was praised for its teaching in science (although no practical laboratories), practical gardening, cookery, needlework, hardly inspiring subjects for contemporary 14-year-olds.
Wartime travel restrictions meant that plans had to be delayed and also because of inadequate places locally. It took until after 1954 for places to be available at Chippenham (Grammar), Corsham (Secondary Modern (opened 1955) and the newly-created Shurnhold, Melksham (Secondary Modern, 1953). The decision on which school was to be decided by exams when the children reached year 6 (the 11+ exam) which also affected how and what pupils were taught. The intention was that the grammar schools would offer a restricted number of pupils an academic curriculum, whilst Secondary Modern schools concentrated on practical skills for the majority of pupils up to the age of 15 years.
An additional change came in 1954 when Box Church of England School submitted to control by the Local Education Authority in return for state funding of running costs. The arrangement retained local control over the admission of pupils but effectively brought to an end the old Charity School arrangements in the village. Its new status was known as a Voluntary Controlled School. The changes brought into effect new criteria into Box School as the emphasis of teaching altered. Headteacher, Henry Druett had emphasised nature study and sport and Arthur Adams relied on a strong discipline. Both had focussed on the Bible as a moral and educational text, which was now replaced by a more dedicated primary curriculum. For all the practical education of Bert Swan, it was the child’s mind that became the focus of education, rather than working skills. Matt Robson was appointed as headmaster in 1966, Russell Allbrook in the 1970s, Stella Paul to 1993, replaced by Ian Russell.
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
One of the most significant influences of the development of Box Primary Schools was its PTA. The idea of joint parent and teacher association was an innovation started in USA in the late 1800s. The idea of local charitable support was well-established in Box but the first reference to an organised PTA seems to be in 1955, with monthly meetings under honorary secretary Bert Swan.[4] The post-war history of the PTA has often been about the need to modernise a very, traditional Victorian building. The first major project was the creation of a swimming pool in the school gardens in 1968. In previous eras infants and juniors had been taught to swim in the By Brook and Box even had its own gala with the Box Swimming Club. In September 1968 the parish magazine spoke of Doctor Martin who in days gone by taught all boys and girls to swim - in the By Brook. Since our brook has become polluted, though not seriously, swimming there is a hazard to health.
A fundraising committee was set up in 1968 with proceeds from a carnival procession and the collection and sale of old newspapers. The Parent Teachers Association worked on other fundraising projects and the Trustees of the school matched funds £1 for £1.[5] The new pool was opened in July 1969 at the same time as the completion of the Selwyn Hall. A grand opening of both places took place and so many villagers wanted to see the new facilities that refreshments ran out.[6] When it was finished, the school pool was one of the few facilities in the area and continued to be well-used although constantly requiring fundraising efforts to support operational costs.[7] These costs and the creation of larger pools in nearby towns and cities led to its closure.
In 1954 the responsibility for secondary education for boys and girls over the age of 11 was removed from Box School. Even before the Second World War, Box School was being encouraged to transfer these children to designated secondary schools.[1] The village immediately recognised the consequences and were fearful. The proposals are of such a drastic and far-reaching nature.[2] A new secondary school was proposed to be built at Corsham but not yet started. The debate centred on localism, the slackening of parental and home influence and the loss of the personal touch between the local teachers and the children.[3]
Box School was praised for its teaching in science (although no practical laboratories), practical gardening, cookery, needlework, hardly inspiring subjects for contemporary 14-year-olds.
Wartime travel restrictions meant that plans had to be delayed and also because of inadequate places locally. It took until after 1954 for places to be available at Chippenham (Grammar), Corsham (Secondary Modern (opened 1955) and the newly-created Shurnhold, Melksham (Secondary Modern, 1953). The decision on which school was to be decided by exams when the children reached year 6 (the 11+ exam) which also affected how and what pupils were taught. The intention was that the grammar schools would offer a restricted number of pupils an academic curriculum, whilst Secondary Modern schools concentrated on practical skills for the majority of pupils up to the age of 15 years.
An additional change came in 1954 when Box Church of England School submitted to control by the Local Education Authority in return for state funding of running costs. The arrangement retained local control over the admission of pupils but effectively brought to an end the old Charity School arrangements in the village. Its new status was known as a Voluntary Controlled School. The changes brought into effect new criteria into Box School as the emphasis of teaching altered. Headteacher, Henry Druett had emphasised nature study and sport and Arthur Adams relied on a strong discipline. Both had focussed on the Bible as a moral and educational text, which was now replaced by a more dedicated primary curriculum. For all the practical education of Bert Swan, it was the child’s mind that became the focus of education, rather than working skills. Matt Robson was appointed as headmaster in 1966, Russell Allbrook in the 1970s, Stella Paul to 1993, replaced by Ian Russell.
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
One of the most significant influences of the development of Box Primary Schools was its PTA. The idea of joint parent and teacher association was an innovation started in USA in the late 1800s. The idea of local charitable support was well-established in Box but the first reference to an organised PTA seems to be in 1955, with monthly meetings under honorary secretary Bert Swan.[4] The post-war history of the PTA has often been about the need to modernise a very, traditional Victorian building. The first major project was the creation of a swimming pool in the school gardens in 1968. In previous eras infants and juniors had been taught to swim in the By Brook and Box even had its own gala with the Box Swimming Club. In September 1968 the parish magazine spoke of Doctor Martin who in days gone by taught all boys and girls to swim - in the By Brook. Since our brook has become polluted, though not seriously, swimming there is a hazard to health.
A fundraising committee was set up in 1968 with proceeds from a carnival procession and the collection and sale of old newspapers. The Parent Teachers Association worked on other fundraising projects and the Trustees of the school matched funds £1 for £1.[5] The new pool was opened in July 1969 at the same time as the completion of the Selwyn Hall. A grand opening of both places took place and so many villagers wanted to see the new facilities that refreshments ran out.[6] When it was finished, the school pool was one of the few facilities in the area and continued to be well-used although constantly requiring fundraising efforts to support operational costs.[7] These costs and the creation of larger pools in nearby towns and cities led to its closure.
The initiative in the PTA often came from parents of school children and, over the years, many local people have taken the lead.
One of the most notable of the 1970s initiatives was led by Margaret Woodland from Victory Cottage, Box Hill. A charming tribute was paid to her in the Parish Magazine of March 1978 for her work on recycling (before that word was even coined): Of the collection of waste paper, there is no end. After collecting it in her car, she sells it and raises about £40 a term to be put into the school funds. She stores some of it at the Methodist Hall, some at the school. Many months ago, I saw her struggling across the playground behind a mountain of cardboard boxes and newspapers, but this goes on every week of every month of every year. Margaret Woodland in 1984 Revels (courtesy Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News) |
Margaret was involved in very many of the activities in the village, always doing something to help. She was brought up at Steam Mill Cottages after her parents moved to the village in the 1950s, where her family ran a cycle repair shop in The Market Place.[8] Margaret married Bill Woodland and their children went to Box School. Bill and Margaret later moved to Victory Cottage, Box Hill but Margaret kept her connection with the school as dinner lady, relief lollypop traffic controller and then working on the school PTA. This work was just part of her community activities in Box: lay preacher in the Methodist movement, fundraiser, singing in the Silver Ring Choir and animal lover extraordinaire.
Improvements in 1983
Numbers at the school were in decline by the early 1980s and there was talk that the future of the village school was under threat. Some of the issues were the age and appearance of the building which was seen as old fashioned and uninviting. The external lavatories were still in use (which sometimes encouraged children's misbehaviour) and the entrances through two small doors necessitated the children queuing up before going into the school. Mobile classrooms had been installed in the playground, although falling numbers meant that Wiltshire County Council wanted to remove them for use elsewhere.[9]
In June 1983 an initiative was launched to raise £13,000 (today equivalent to £50,000) in the biggest self-help scheme ever undertaken in the village.[10] The work was enormous: a safe drive-in, a new entrance way, and the creation of internal corridors to avoid children having to move through other classes or going outside. The timing of the project couldn’t have been worse with Britain at the start of a recession seeking to bring down inflation from a high of over 20% with higher interest rates, higher taxation and government spending cuts. Nonetheless, the PTA launched the project by starting a buy-a-brick scheme for sponsorship. Village residents, charities and businesses responded by raising the substantial sum of £6,000 but not enough to make the project viable. On the urging of vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith, the Church of England Diocese offered an interest-free loan of £8,000. The Diocesan Director of Education hoped the church would become more involved with local people for the benefit of children’s education. The County Council agreed to allow the works to be managed by the village, acting as clerk of works, and to allow volunteers to complete minor demolition and restoration work, subject to a no cost to the County clause.[11]
To plug the funding gap, Barbara Drury (PTA chair), Charles Thompson (chair of governors), Gill and Patrick Riley (architects) and Andrew Jackson and Alan Payne (parents) undertook to organise a series of one-off events including a medieval banquet (raising £800), sponsored marathon run (£180) and a musical evening with Box Singers run by Hilary Bryant (£100). The big event of the May Holiday weekend in 1984 was planned as a medieval fair to be held under the old name Box Revels. It was hoped to use The Rec but the disruption to the grass surface was deemed excessive; then a requested closure of the Market Place was rejected by the authorities. Nonetheless, it did go ahead and village organisations were asked to help, being offered a quantity of programmes at a discounted rate which they could sell to their members at full price, raising some funds for their own needs.
The press release highlighted the banning of the historic Revels by Act of Parliament because of excessive feasting and merrymaking and its restoration by Lady Godiva, and the organiser reported that she was tickled pink on being asked to participate. Local businesses were requested to help sponsor Lady Godiva with money to help her cover her modesty. The weekend raised over £4,000, putting a dent in the outstanding loan but not paying it off fully. For that, another massive village effort was needed in 1985 with a Victorian theme to celebrate 150 years since the passing of an Act of Parliament signalling the start of the Great Western Railway. The village managed to pay off the balance of the debt and the Box Revels has been a regular event ever since.[12]
Numbers at the school were in decline by the early 1980s and there was talk that the future of the village school was under threat. Some of the issues were the age and appearance of the building which was seen as old fashioned and uninviting. The external lavatories were still in use (which sometimes encouraged children's misbehaviour) and the entrances through two small doors necessitated the children queuing up before going into the school. Mobile classrooms had been installed in the playground, although falling numbers meant that Wiltshire County Council wanted to remove them for use elsewhere.[9]
In June 1983 an initiative was launched to raise £13,000 (today equivalent to £50,000) in the biggest self-help scheme ever undertaken in the village.[10] The work was enormous: a safe drive-in, a new entrance way, and the creation of internal corridors to avoid children having to move through other classes or going outside. The timing of the project couldn’t have been worse with Britain at the start of a recession seeking to bring down inflation from a high of over 20% with higher interest rates, higher taxation and government spending cuts. Nonetheless, the PTA launched the project by starting a buy-a-brick scheme for sponsorship. Village residents, charities and businesses responded by raising the substantial sum of £6,000 but not enough to make the project viable. On the urging of vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith, the Church of England Diocese offered an interest-free loan of £8,000. The Diocesan Director of Education hoped the church would become more involved with local people for the benefit of children’s education. The County Council agreed to allow the works to be managed by the village, acting as clerk of works, and to allow volunteers to complete minor demolition and restoration work, subject to a no cost to the County clause.[11]
To plug the funding gap, Barbara Drury (PTA chair), Charles Thompson (chair of governors), Gill and Patrick Riley (architects) and Andrew Jackson and Alan Payne (parents) undertook to organise a series of one-off events including a medieval banquet (raising £800), sponsored marathon run (£180) and a musical evening with Box Singers run by Hilary Bryant (£100). The big event of the May Holiday weekend in 1984 was planned as a medieval fair to be held under the old name Box Revels. It was hoped to use The Rec but the disruption to the grass surface was deemed excessive; then a requested closure of the Market Place was rejected by the authorities. Nonetheless, it did go ahead and village organisations were asked to help, being offered a quantity of programmes at a discounted rate which they could sell to their members at full price, raising some funds for their own needs.
The press release highlighted the banning of the historic Revels by Act of Parliament because of excessive feasting and merrymaking and its restoration by Lady Godiva, and the organiser reported that she was tickled pink on being asked to participate. Local businesses were requested to help sponsor Lady Godiva with money to help her cover her modesty. The weekend raised over £4,000, putting a dent in the outstanding loan but not paying it off fully. For that, another massive village effort was needed in 1985 with a Victorian theme to celebrate 150 years since the passing of an Act of Parliament signalling the start of the Great Western Railway. The village managed to pay off the balance of the debt and the Box Revels has been a regular event ever since.[12]
Bert Swan, 1908 - 1998
Bert Eric Swan was one of the most popular of all Box teachers who taught there for more than 30 years. He was born in Castle Combe on 28 October 1908, the seventh child of Joseph and Hannah Swan, tenant dairy farmers. He attended Chippenham Grammar School before taking teacher training at Winchester. He came to Box shortly after in February 1931, where he remained for the rest of his working life. For many years, he and his wife Ellen Preedy lived at Sunny Cot, The Ley, next to Westdene.
He served in numerous roles at Box School, including acting headmaster during the Second World War and was instrumental in starting the Box Parent-Teacher Association, where he was the secretary for several years. As well these roles, Bert was well-known for his community work. He started the first youth club in the village, served as a sidesman at Box Church and acted as secretary of the Parochial Church Council for several years. It was probably his work in helping to re-start Box Rovers Football Club which was an enduring pleasure to him. He became the club’s first chairman and guided it through some of its most successful years.
Vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith summed up the man in his obituary: Bert was a very dear man and was particularly patient and kind with less academic children. He donated the Bert Swan Cup to the school, awarded to the pupil who showed exceptional kindness, consideration for others and good behaviour. Bert Swan was an exceptional man and teacher.
Bert Eric Swan was one of the most popular of all Box teachers who taught there for more than 30 years. He was born in Castle Combe on 28 October 1908, the seventh child of Joseph and Hannah Swan, tenant dairy farmers. He attended Chippenham Grammar School before taking teacher training at Winchester. He came to Box shortly after in February 1931, where he remained for the rest of his working life. For many years, he and his wife Ellen Preedy lived at Sunny Cot, The Ley, next to Westdene.
He served in numerous roles at Box School, including acting headmaster during the Second World War and was instrumental in starting the Box Parent-Teacher Association, where he was the secretary for several years. As well these roles, Bert was well-known for his community work. He started the first youth club in the village, served as a sidesman at Box Church and acted as secretary of the Parochial Church Council for several years. It was probably his work in helping to re-start Box Rovers Football Club which was an enduring pleasure to him. He became the club’s first chairman and guided it through some of its most successful years.
Vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith summed up the man in his obituary: Bert was a very dear man and was particularly patient and kind with less academic children. He donated the Bert Swan Cup to the school, awarded to the pupil who showed exceptional kindness, consideration for others and good behaviour. Bert Swan was an exceptional man and teacher.
Box School Reunion
In 2005 Bob Hancock arranged a reunion of people who had attended the school before 1960. He contacted as many ex-pupils as he could find and sent out notices of the event. The response was overwhelming from students from all over Britain and abroad. Well-known because of his work as Box village groundsman, Bob surprised many when he greeted them at the Selwyn Hall dressed up as a headmaster with the warning that Anyone using the following phrases will be handed a hefty fine of
10 shillings payable to the Groundsman’s Benevolent Fund:
In 2005 Bob Hancock arranged a reunion of people who had attended the school before 1960. He contacted as many ex-pupils as he could find and sent out notices of the event. The response was overwhelming from students from all over Britain and abroad. Well-known because of his work as Box village groundsman, Bob surprised many when he greeted them at the Selwyn Hall dressed up as a headmaster with the warning that Anyone using the following phrases will be handed a hefty fine of
10 shillings payable to the Groundsman’s Benevolent Fund:
- Haven’t seen you for a long time
- Fancy seeing you again
- It’s so lovely to see you
Box Highlands School
Box Church of England School wasn’t the only school in the area. Box Highlands started at White Ennox Lane, Boxfields with
70 children during the Second World War and expanded with an additional site at Westwells bringing attendance up to 160 in 1943.[13] The sites amalgamated when the schools moved out of the old prefabricated buildings at Boxfields in April 1984 into the new, modern buildings at Rudloe under the name Box Highlands County Primary School and a pupil roll of about 170 children, often catering for service personnel and MoD families. One notable day was in 1944 when the famous children’s author Dick King-Smith spent a whole day with the children.[14] In 2007 the school acquired a new name and management structure being called Corsham Primary School.
Box Church of England School wasn’t the only school in the area. Box Highlands started at White Ennox Lane, Boxfields with
70 children during the Second World War and expanded with an additional site at Westwells bringing attendance up to 160 in 1943.[13] The sites amalgamated when the schools moved out of the old prefabricated buildings at Boxfields in April 1984 into the new, modern buildings at Rudloe under the name Box Highlands County Primary School and a pupil roll of about 170 children, often catering for service personnel and MoD families. One notable day was in 1944 when the famous children’s author Dick King-Smith spent a whole day with the children.[14] In 2007 the school acquired a new name and management structure being called Corsham Primary School.
Hazelbury Manor School
There was a third school in Box after the Second World War when a girls’ private boarding school existed at Hazelbury Manor from 1943 until 1972. George Jardine and his wife Lilian Frances had lived there in 1939 with their family and 19 servants, including two footmen, cook, children’s nurse and a multitude of housemaids. In their mid-sixties, George and Lilian left Hazelbury in 1943 and their daughter Janet Lascelles gave up her role teaching the infants at Box School in the spring of 1945.[15] Lilian Kidston (nee Bonham) died in May 1953 and George Jardine on 26 December 1954. His funeral at St Thomas à Becket was attended by the children John, Janet and Cecily. John Bonham and his wife the Hon Patricia Anne (nee Manners), of the family of Lord Manners of Avon Tyrell, Hampshire. John and Patricia left Box in April 1956. Ian Pollard came to Hazelbury Manor in 1972. |
Hazelbury Manor School was run by two ladies, Miss Parker and Mrs Fryer, and their staff between 1943 and 1972. They took pupils from all over the world, South America, USA, Spain, Scandinavia and from Britain.[16] It was a similar story to that of Stonar School which had moved from Sandwich to Atworth a few years earlier in 1939.
The schools are some of the stalwarts of community life in the village nurturing childrens’ strengths and providing them with the skills and knowledge to develop into full grown individuals. Obviously, children leave and move on and so do teachers.
Box has been fortunate in having headteachers stay a long time but they too move on or retire. The buildings have also changed dramatically since they were first built to try to keep up with changes in education. Whether you have children at the school or not, the residents of the village rely on the schools to give a future direction, a way of thinking about the world from the viewpoint of our village and a foundation rooted in kindness and friendship. Thank you to the Box schools, the teachers and all associated with them.[17]
Box has been fortunate in having headteachers stay a long time but they too move on or retire. The buildings have also changed dramatically since they were first built to try to keep up with changes in education. Whether you have children at the school or not, the residents of the village rely on the schools to give a future direction, a way of thinking about the world from the viewpoint of our village and a foundation rooted in kindness and friendship. Thank you to the Box schools, the teachers and all associated with them.[17]
References
[1] Correspondence from Wilts County Council to CW Oatley, 22 June 1938
[2] Parish Magazine, June 1938
[3] Parish Magazine, July 1938
[4] Parish Magazine, August 1955
[5] Parish Magazine, July 1969
[6] Parish Magazine, July 1969
[7] Parish Magazine, July 1973
[8] Parish Magazine, February 1997
[9] Wiltshire Times and News, 7 March 1980
[10] Barbara Drury, Chair of Box PTA, Annual Report 31 May 1984
[11] The buildings have continued to be improved and expanded. In February 2006 Canon John Ayres opened a new, permanent extension with lighted lanterns, fireworks and a confetti canon.
[12] Alan Payne & Andy Jackson, Box Revels, published in 1993
[13] Parish Magazine, February 1994 and November 1998
[14] Parish Magazine, April 1994
[15] Parish Magazine, May 1945
[16] Parish Magazine, July 1973
[17] I am grateful to Dr Philip Rayner for his help with the education input in this article.
[1] Correspondence from Wilts County Council to CW Oatley, 22 June 1938
[2] Parish Magazine, June 1938
[3] Parish Magazine, July 1938
[4] Parish Magazine, August 1955
[5] Parish Magazine, July 1969
[6] Parish Magazine, July 1969
[7] Parish Magazine, July 1973
[8] Parish Magazine, February 1997
[9] Wiltshire Times and News, 7 March 1980
[10] Barbara Drury, Chair of Box PTA, Annual Report 31 May 1984
[11] The buildings have continued to be improved and expanded. In February 2006 Canon John Ayres opened a new, permanent extension with lighted lanterns, fireworks and a confetti canon.
[12] Alan Payne & Andy Jackson, Box Revels, published in 1993
[13] Parish Magazine, February 1994 and November 1998
[14] Parish Magazine, April 1994
[15] Parish Magazine, May 1945
[16] Parish Magazine, July 1973
[17] I am grateful to Dr Philip Rayner for his help with the education input in this article.