The Mobile Classrooms    Hit Counter

HOME PAGE      Oldswinford C. E. Primary School

The Infant Mobile Classrooms [1977 - 2000]

In August 1977 'mobile' classrooms were transported to the Field Lane site. The mobile units consisted of 5 classrooms, two cloak areas [one of which was used for the Infant Library area] and separate toilets for Girls, Boys and Staff forming a 'U' shape facing Field Lane. 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 for Assembly and PE. In 1983 the 'U' shape entrance to the Infant mobiles was covered in [but not enclosed] and a covered way was installed between the mobiles and the main building. Both were of steel structure, clad with plastic sheeting of 'corrugated style'. The 'covered walkway' had three open accesses, one located at the lower end of the concrete steps opening on to the lower playground and two opposite each other at the head of the concrete steps.  In 1994 doors were fitted to these openings which made the 'covered way' more convivial but not airtight. At the time the 'covered way' was installed a further half mobile unit was attached. This new addition was intended to be an additional entrance but was soon used as an overflow for the Reception Classes and Infant television area. [The covered way was not taken to the original entrance to the mobiles as it would have obstructed light entering a classroom]. A further addition to the mobiles was added in 1986 Its purpose was to be an overflow for the two Year 2 classrooms but this was soon to be utilised as another classroom [even though it was only half the size of the other classrooms]
In 1988 Stourbridge Art College students were invited to work with the children and they created a floor to ceiling mural that was placed inside the upper end of the 'walkway' in an effort to brighten it up.
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 travel half the length of the corridor to use the only toilets available.
The HMI Inspection Report of 1986 made comment on the dire state of the mobile buildings but also praised the Staff in their efforts to brighten up this environment. The Ofsted Inspection report of 1996 also made reference to the dire state of the Infant mobiles and recommended that re-housing was required. The Infant children finally moved into their new purpose brick building in January 2000, sited on the lower playground, at a cost of some £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 schools video archives]. The site of the old mobiles became an extension to the new lower playground being paved.

HOME PAGE