Chapter Eight

Oldswinford C. E. Junior School [1966 – 1977]

The Oldswinford C. E. [Controlled] Junior School began its life in Field Lane in a brand new purpose built building with extensive grounds. The Staff and children moved in in 1966 but the Official Opening did not take place until June 1967.

The new buildings, built by A. H. Guest Ltd, Stourbridge, at a cost of £70,729 16s 2d by Worcestershire Education Authority was the first in the County to be built using a pre-fabricated system.

The Rev. H.L. Davies, MA, Rector of Old Swinford and Chairman of Managers, introduced the official opening on Thursday 29th June 1967 at 10:30am. The Worshipful The Mayor of Stourbridge, Alderman C. J. Aston, JP, unveiled the plaque and The Lord Bishop of Worcester, Rt. Rev. L. M. Charles-Edwards, DD, gave the Service of Dedication.

Designed for 320 children, the new school had eight classrooms, a hall fitted for physical education, a suite of staff rooms, Kitchen and the usual ancillary accommodation. In addition there were two small changing rooms with foot showers, a practical teaching space and a small library. Outside there were two macadamised playgrounds, a store and bicycle shelter plus a Caretaker’s house and workshops and a car park. In addition there was an extensive playing field laid out with playing pitches along with mature and newly planted trees. The school was only the second to be built in Oldswinford Parish during the 20^th century [the first was The Grange School built in 1939]

September 1^st 1966 the new Oldswinford C.E. {Controlled} [7-11] Junior School had six classes and a roll of 160. The Staff consisted of Mr. Griffin [Head], Mrs. P. Heeley [Deputy Head], Mr. Raggett, Mrs. Ainscough, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Millward.

Events at the school at this time appeared to be settled as there are few entries in the Log Book but by September 1967 the roll had risen to 270 and there had been a complete change of Staff apart from the Head Mr. Griffin. The new Deputy Head was Mrs. Oldfield with Miss Williams, Miss Tromans {probationer}, Mr. Titford {probationer}, Mr. Heathcock {probationer}, Mrs. Lyles and Mrs. Brown {temporary}.

Monday 4^th December 1967 the school was closed ‘for occasional holiday for Christmas Shopping’. 14^th December reference is made of a School Play presented to the parents entitled ‘The Midnight Thief’.

During July 1968 the Staff withdrew from compulsory dinnertime supervision duties. This event caused some concern in the supervision of the children at midday and new times for breaks were introduced to alleviate the situation. Mr. Griffin mentions that during the following year he had to assist himself during midday supervision.

Although still a relatively new building the Staff were becoming aware of the lack of storage space. 26^th September 1968 an entry in the Log reads: ‘Requested a wooden hut for storage – this is a big problem at this school’. On the 6^th November 1968 references to the need to find storage space again appears – ‘more shelves in existing cupboards – extra car parking space at the side of the Boys playground. Also an extra bay of the cycle shed could be bricked in and shelved’. [The cycle bays were indeed bricked in but not until the early 1980’s – one for the use of the local Scout Troupe and the second for PTA storage. These sheds were finally demolished, along with the PE shed, in 1999 during building works for the New Infant Building.]

School Plays were becoming more frequent during this period. ‘The Snow Queen’ 1966, ‘Midnight Thief’ 1967 and May 1969 the Lower School’s play ‘Bed knobs and Broomsticks’ and the Upper School play ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.

In May 1969 the Staff met to discuss the implications of the school becoming a 7-12 Middle School. This proposal, however, did not materialise. Unlike other areas of Dudley, Stourbridge stayed with the Infant [5-7] and Junior School [7-11] system.

By 14^th September 1969 the roll had increased to 347 and although the school had been promised two mobile classrooms their erection had been delayed. This ‘caused great inconvenience’. Two classes had to be taught in the Hall. The mobiles were not ready until 12^th January 1970 when the Year 3 [current day Year 5] began to move into them.

Mrs. J. Williams was appointed School Secretary in 1969, a post she was to hold for 23 years until her retirement in 1992.

Staff September 1969 – Mr. Griffin [Head], Mrs. Oldfield [Deputy Head], Miss Dimmock, Miss Hill, Mrs. Lyles, Mr. Beddard, Mrs. Gould, Miss Tromans, Mrs. Martin, Miss Nangle and Mr. Woodruff. [Miss Nangle continued to be a member of the Staff for the next 27 years – retiring in 1996]

During 1970 all Year 4 [current day Year 6] worked on a new Reading Comprehension test [National Foundation For Educational Research / NFER]. These tests became an annual assessment and were still in use in 2005 for all Junior children.

The national Strike of Electricians during December 1970 meant there was no light or heat from 8:45am to 10:20am on 9^th December. The kitchen supplied every child with a cup of hot chocolate. Temperatures in some classrooms were below 40 degrees. The following day, 10^th December, the Christmas Service in St. Mary’s Church was packed. The retiring collection raised 15 guineas for the NSPCC.

At the end of the Spring Term 1971 the Headmaster, Mr. Griffin, had resigned after eleven years as Head.

April 20^th 1971 Mr. R. W. Vale commenced his duties as the Head Master of Oldswinford C.E. Junior School. The roll on September 1971 was 278.

It was during 1971 that Mr. Whittle made his first of many visits to the school. He brought along, on 5^th November, a Numskull Frog, Barn Owl, an alligator and a Slow Lauris for the children to see. The School PTA began to flourish and on the 17th June 1972 its Summer Fair boasted a Free Fall Parachute Display Team. £332 was raised from the event.

September 1972 the roll was 270 and the Staff consisted of – Mr. Vale [Head], Mrs. Oldfield [Deputy], Mrs. Gregory [temporary], Mrs. Kitching, Mrs. Hubbard [nee Tromans], Mrs. Bayley, Mrs. Ryan, Miss Nangle and Mr. Bourne. It was during September 1972 the Reverend P. J. Martin [Curate of St. Mary’s] was invited to take Lower School Assembly once a week followed by a lesson to one of the second year groups. [Rev. Martin continued his visits to the school for many years to follow and became a good friend of the school and of the children.]

During June 1973 carpenters, who re-sited a number of coat pegs that were formally in the main corridor, visited the school. The area was made into the Library and Resource Area. [This area is now a part of the School’s ICT Suite following building works in 1999].

In July 1973 Mrs. Oldfield [Deputy Head] left. Mrs. P. D. Ralph was appointed her successor and she took up her duties in September 1973. The roll at this time was 253 and the Staff consisted of – Mr. Vale [Head], Miss Ralph [Deputy], Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Hough, Mrs. Bayley, Miss Nangle, Mr. Griffiths, Mrs. Smith {probationer} and Mr. Woodruff.

During December 1973 Mr Vale comments on the attendance figures, normally 96/98% dropping to 91.8%. He was to be further concerned when on 7^th December the attendance had declined to 76.8%. A third of the School was absent and the Carol Service on the 12^th December had to be cancelled. An illness had swept through the school.

The roll September 1974 was 274. During September Mr. Connor, Head of Peripatetic Music Teaching Staff, Dudley visited to discuss Authority provision of instrumental tuition to children who showed the necessary auditory discrimination. Mr. Vale, Head Master, writes in the Log: ‘the school must make every effort to exploit this talent’. Mr. Vale went on to introduce instrumental tuition. [This initiative has been fostered and encouraged by successive Heads]. A school band was formed. From this beginning the school continued its musical tradition and over the years has produced many fine bands, orchestras, choirs, string orchestras, brass bands and recorder groups that have successfully participated in numerous Festivals and Competitions as well as at local events and Summer fairs. The ultimate accolade was when the School’s 50 strong string orchestra was invited to play at the Albert Hall in London in the 1990’s.

During 1974 and 1975, like the Infants School, there were a number of bomb scares when the school had to be evacuated.

A significant event in 1975 occurred on 8^th May when a meeting was held in the School Hall. The Deputy Director of Education, Mr. C. G. Powis [DMBC] outlined reorganisation of proposals for Stourbridge Schools. These included the end of the Grammar School for Boys and the Girls High School and the Opening of Red Hill Secondary School and the 6^th Form College.

During the summer of 1975 the PTA Summer Fair hosted a hot air balloon and the newly formed School Band. The event raised £400.

On the 8^th July 1975 the school dinner system was altered to a ‘cafeteria’ system giving a choice of meals – Mr. Vale, the Head, writes ‘the new arrangements worked smoothly and it is hoped it will result in less wastage of food – of the 270 children only 30 or so go home for lunch’. Only two schools in the Borough had this system at this time. A parent was soon to make further changes when she requested that vegetarian meals be provided as a part of the midday meals. The Authority later agreed to her request.

In the Spring Term of 1976 Mrs. E. Tolley joined the Staff. Mrs. Tolley had been a pupil herself during the Second World War and had lived in the School House next to the Craufurd Street School Buildings. Mrs Tolley remained on the Staff for twenty-one years retiring in 1996.

April 1976 Mr. J. M. Tromans joined the Staff. He was to leave in 1980 and return as Deputy Head in 1987. Mr. Tromans was to follow an unusual trend – Mrs. Kitching, a member of the Staff in the early 1970’s, returned in the early 1980’s and Mrs. Gibson, Deputy from 1977 to 1980, returned as Head in 1983 {retiring in 1989}.

In May 1976 the School advertised for a Musician and following 200 applicants for the post Mr. P. Hemmings was appointed. This was indeed a large number of applicants and it shows the number of teachers looking for posts at this time [twenty five years later the situation was to dramatically change]

September 1976 the School roll was 275 and the Staff consisted of – Mr. Vale [Head], Miss Ralph [Deputy], Mrs. Tolley, Mr. Hemmings, Mr. Tromans, Mr. Chambers, Mrs. Ryan, Miss Nangle and Mrs. Smith.

On the 21^st January 1977 the School had a visit from Assistant Director of Education, Mr. R. K. Westerby to discuss plans for the closure of the Oldswinford Infants School in Craufurd Street and the enlargement of Oldswinford C.E. Junior School from September 1977. Mr Vale was to take responsibility of the Infant School from April.

The Staff at this time were discussing plans to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee to be held in June.

March 30^th 1977 Miss P. D. Ralph [Deputy] died suddenly in the early hours at her home. After a secret Staff ballot, instigated by the Head, Mrs. D. Ryan was appointed Acting Deputy for the Summer Term.

On the 1^st June 1977 the Junior and Infant children were assembled on the field and each presented with a Commemorative Silver Jubilee Mug donated by the PTA. The Log Book reads ‘On the 2^nd June the Junior and Infants Schools celebrated the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. 1,300 Children, Staff, Parents and Friends were provided with tea and enjoyed a programme of music and dancing’. The celebrations were from 2:30pm to 7:30pm. A Time Capsule ‘containing many items of interest was buried on the school site and remained so until the year 2002’ [June 2002 the 1977 Time Capsule was unearthed {its contents in perfect order} witnessed by 63 ex pupils and Staff of 1977 during the School’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations. It was re-buried July 2002 alongside a new Time Capsule of 2002 - to be unearthed in 2027].

The School was closed on June 3^rd for a one day holiday commemorating the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and The Chairman of Governors, Cannon H. L. Davies MA, was awarded one of the Queen’s Jubilee medals for his services as Chaplain.

The last day of the summer term 1977 saw the end of Oldswinford C.E. Junior School’s brief history that began 1^st September 1966. From April 1977 Mr. Vale had been responsible for Oldswinford Infants School as well as Oldswinford C.E. Junior School. It was a busy time when the schools were preparing to merge and Mr. Vale spent many mornings at the Infant School with Mrs. O’Hanlon who had been left in charge of the Infants.

During the summer holidays of 1977 mobile classrooms were moved onto the Field Lane site and when September arrived Oldswinford C.E. [Controlled] Primary School continued the saga of Oldswinford Schools that had been instigated by the Reverend Craufurd in 1857. The Infants had finally freed themselves from a drab and unsuitable environment, or so they thought, despite the promise from the Dudley Education Authority that the mobile classrooms would be removed within five years as the population was to decline, it would be another twenty-three years of being housed in similar drab and unsuitable conditions before a new purpose built brick building was to be provided for them in the year 2000.

The Infant ‘mobile’ classrooms consisted of 5 classrooms, two cloak areas [one of which was used for the Infant Library area] and a separate toilet for Girls, Boys and Staff forming a ‘U’ shape facing Field Lane. Initially there was no covered link to the Junior Building and the Staff and children encountered all weather conditions when going to and from the Hall to Assembly and PE. The internal corridor of the mobiles was very long and narrow which must have been daunting for the younger children. The Reception children had no toilets of their own and had to walk half the length of the corridor to use the only toilets available. [The Infant children finally moved into

their new purpose built brick building in January 2000, sited on the lower playground, at a cost of £700,000. The mobile buildings were literally ‘chewed’ away by crunching digger apparatus during the months of January and February 2000 {scenes of this welcomed destruction can be found in the School’s Video Archives}]

September 1977 Mrs. P. D. Gibson joined the Staff as Deputy Head and during the Autumn Term the newly combined Staff performed a Pantomime for the children ‘Snow White’.