School Report 1952             

The following is an extract from the school log book dated 5th February 1952 :- 

Report by HM Inspectors   -   Inspected 5.2.52

This is a County Primary School of 47 children who range in age from 4 to 14 year.  Pupils are transferred to Wymondham Secondary Modern School at the age of 14.

The premises, which are in good condition and are well-kept, consist of three classrooms, adequate sanitary facilities and a small kitchen.  The playground is paved and level and a playing field adjoining the school comes into use this year after its initial preparation.  There are two separate areas of school garden with a tool shed.  The gardening tools were seen to be in exemplary condition; the whole school impresses by its neatness and good order.  An excellent mid-day meal is served from the kitchen and is taken by the majority of the children.  The weekly supply of vegetables is at present kept in boxes in a cloakroom; a store shelf or container is necessary.

The school is arranged in three classes.  The infants are taught by a Supplementary teacher who came to the school in 1951.  The children in this class are receiving a sound initial training in the basic skills, and are forming good habits of work from the beginning.  Adequate opportunities are given for movement and activity and appropriate broadcast lessons are being well used.  The children are growing in confidence.

The mistress in charge of the junior class is qualified by a length of service.  Her interest in music, dancing and nature study is making a valuable contribution to the life of the school.  The junior class is grouped according to widely varying abilities; the work in general is not of a high standard.  Good progress is being made in reading but the written work tends to be formal and lacking in finish.  Schemes and records of work need to be revised and enlarged.

The older boys and girls are taught by the Head Mistress who was appointed in 1942.  The work in this class is well planned and graded and allows full scope for individual development.  There are at the same time valuable class activities, including the detailed study of a local farm.  This study is giving rise to exercises in local geography and also to practical everyday arithmetic. 

The children are given suitable responsibilities for various aspects of school life and they show a very commendable response to the demands of them.  Their application to work is outstanding.  The school is not able to send their older boys and girls to centers for Handicraft and Housecraft, but the Head Mistress has successfully provided comparative activities for the boys.  These include light woodwork, gardening and cane-work.  The possibility of enlarging the range of crafts and allied activities for the girls was fully discussed with the Head Mistress.  The work in the basic subjects is for the most part realistic and reaches a satisfactory standard.