A look at the history of our school

The School Log Books are an amazing source, not just of the school history, but also of local social history. A frequent type of entry refers to large numbers of children being absent due to epidemics of whooping cough, measles, mumps or fever.

In 1885 Backwell children were away from school for nearly 3 months due to 'fever' in the village.

1908 August 24th: Dr. Fuller came in and ordered  6 children to be sent home until further notice, the three girls were suffering from diphtheria.

In 1909 there was a sad entry on September 14th: Edith Villis died yesterday from diphtheria.

In 1910 discipline was very different too - Cane. H. Clark. 2 cuts with cane for being rude and insolent to Miss Butcher

 A 1917  entry says "several children stayed away on Monday as their fathers and brothers had leave from the 'front'". 

On August 30th 1927  Electric light  was installed.

Second World War  -  27th September 1940: Heavy gunfire and planes in large numbers over on Wednesday. Nearly 5 hours in shelter this week. One window cracked with vibration.

To see some typical entries through the school's history scroll down through the entries below or select a monarch.

1872
27th September

Several children away with bad colds. First class boys still absent gathering potatoes and apples.

1879
5th November

Received 9/- from Mrs Mordaunt as the quarters school money for John, Louise and Lucy Jones.

13th November
Used new blackboard and easel, reading books and ball frame for the first time.

1880
31st May

Punished a child by making her sit by herself all the week for taking some sweets from the jacket pocket of another child and telling a lie about it.

1881
1st February

All the first class boys away, as belonging to the choir they were wanted to sing at the opening of the Parish Church.

1884
30th January

Children gone to see Prince of Wales at Tyntesfield.

1885
5th January
Backwell children away because of fever in Backwell Village.

2nd February
Received 3 dozen new slates and bottle of ink.

9th March
Backwell children not yet returned.

23rd March
Backwell children returned and readmitted.

1889
4th March
School closed owing to the snow

8th March
No school today. The children were unable to come owing to the floods.

1894
2nd April

'Considering the crowded state of the room and the want of proper accommodation for the infants, the children behave well, but a classroom is very much needed and should be provided with as little delay as possible' Rev. W. Woodward.

1895
3rd May
Very full school - 70 children present.

8th November
The premises have been enlarged and improved at very considerable cost.

1896
21st September
Backwell Fair - several children away in consequence.

28th September
11 sent home with whooping cough.

1897
18th June
School closed for one week on honour of the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign.

1899
15th May
Holiday today as Queen is visiting Bristol.

1900
1st March
Half-holiday in honour of Relief of Ladysmith.

29th June
Several boys have been absent haymaking.

6th July
The attendance of the older boys has been very poor this week owing to haymaking.

7th December
The attendance of the boys has been very poor, several of them having been kept home to help with the rabbit shooting.

1901
12th April
There are still several children too unwell to attend school (measles epidemic - school had been closed from February 26th to March 11th).

1902 
17th January
The elder children are preparing part of the schoolyard for gardens.

5th March
Holiday given today in honour of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Bristol.

2nd June
Declaration of Peace (Boer War). Half-holiday given.

11th June
The attendance has been poor again. 10 children away through illness and some of the older boys are absent due to haymaking.

28th November
Today it is raining heavily and only a few children attend.

1903
6th February
So many children are away today, it was thought better not to mark the registers. Edgar Valentine, Philip Rideout, Frank and May Tucker have whooping cough.

20th February
15 children away all week.

February 25th
So many children being absent with whooping cough, it was thought better to close the school until March 9th
 
1908
9th July
Holiday given today in honour of the King and Queen's visit to Bristol.

August 24th

Dr. Fuller came in and ordered the 6 Atherton children to be sent home until further notice, the three girls were suffering from diphtheria.

1909
13th July
Condition of the building - There is a very dangerous hole in the floor of the main room. One desk in the same room is useless. The lavatory is out of repair. There is a village water supply but it has not yet been extended to the school.

September 14th
Edith Villis died yesterday from diphtheria.

September 16th
Measles being very prevalent in Backwell. The 4 Backwell children were sent home.

1910
26th April
Leslie Williams has scarlet fever so his brother is unable to attend school.

30th May
Richard Butler absent through chicken pox.

15th November

Cane. H. Clark. 2 cuts with cane for being rude and insolent to Miss Butcher.

1916
6th March
Temperature 48° F in main room (very cold). Infant room full of smoke today.

21st December
24 present out of 44 owing to heavy fall of snow. The head teacher thought it better to break up on Thursday as there is not a bit of coal left.

1917
18th May
Several children stayed away on Monday as their fathers and brothers had leave from the 'front'.

October
Children collected 300 lbs of conkers for the government.

1918
5th September
The children went out blackberrying in the afternoon.

1927
30th August
Electric light installed.

22nd December
Five children have made a perfect attendance - they received medals.

1935
6th May
Telegram sent from school to Their Majesties and school closed for Jubilee Celebrations.

1936
28th January
School closed. Funeral of His Late Majesty, King George V.

1939
1st September
School closed in order to prepare for reception of evacuated children.

18th September
School reopened with 38 extra children.

1940
1st July
Due to air raids during the night 4 children absent.

4th July
Air raid warning 8.30 am. All clear 10.am.

2nd August
Windows and glass doors have been cellophaned.

16th September
Cloakroom fitted as air raid shelter, windows wired and sand bagged. Blast wall erected.

27th September
Heavy gunfire and planes in large numbers over on Wednesday. Nearly 5 hours in shelter this week. One window cracked with vibration.

1942
12th June

10 cases of mumps reported - mostly from Bourton Grange. (Hostel for Difficult Children).

1945
VE Day
School closed for three days.

12th December
School dinners started. (The cloakroom was fitted out as a kitchen).

1947
29th January
Heavy fall of snow - school as usual only 11 present.

30th January
Weather worse - only 6 children arrived. Tap frozen.

24th July
The school ceases to be an all age school and will reopen as a village infant school.

20th November
A day's holiday for Royal Wedding.

1949
6th January
Temporary barricade placed across entrance to playground, in the interests of child safety.

1953
22nd May
3 days extra holiday. Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
 
1957
7th January
School closed for one week's extra holiday owing to petrol rationing.

20th May
Epidemic measles in school. Half school ill. All lessons have been taken outside to give children as much fresh air as possible.

1958
23rd January
Water system frozen up. Melted snow used for washing up.

1959
19th June
Centenary celebrations. School 100 years old. School was built at cost of £341 by local residents in 1859.

1961
22nd September
The school would be kept open but would become a junior and infant school.

1962
9th May
Accident outside school involving car with 4 children in it and a cattle truck. Children only minor injuries fortunately.

13th July
School visit to Slimbridge. On return - stopped to see construction of Severn Bridge.

25th July
Children visited Barrow Gurney School to watch puppet plays.

1963
17th January
Delayed opening because of weather conditions and freezing of school water system.

21st January

School opened mornings only.

22nd January
School opened mornings only.

23rd January
One toilet in use and one tap. Temperature 37°F.

28th October
A new ceiling was put in to reduce size of room to be heated in winter.

1964
13th January
Electric heaters put in.

1973
29th March
Accident on A370. Lorry crashed into school wall narrowly missing waiting mothers.

1st May
New classroom complete (on the field). Class 1 moved in.