The First Hundred Years
The History of Tiptree C.E. Primary School
by Maldwyn Lewis
This
text was written by Maldwyn Lewis, then Head of St Luke's Church
School, Tiptree, in 1964. I became aware of its existence, shortly
after carrying out a teaching practice at St Luke's, on noticing it
listed in the Anglia
Polytechnic University library catalogue. I have transcribed
it
in full, correcting only the most obvious typographical errors and
attempting to reproduce all other aspects faithfully.
The original text was not illustrated, and the illustrations published here (along with their accompanying captions) are, of course, modern. I have listed each of my pages (ten in all) in the table below, with references to the pages in the original book, and my own summary of the material covered. I think that you will agree that the text provides a fascinating insight into the development of a Victorian rural school, and also to the perspective of the 1960s.
Click here to start reading, or follow the links in my table for specific pages.
Simon Daw
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Web page number and link |
Summary |
Page reference in original text |
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< 1872. The school's historical context – development and education in Tiptree; the stimulus for the establishment of a CoE school, fund raising and the first phases of building; patrons and details of the Trust Deed. |
Chapter 1 To page 4 |
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1872 – 1874. The early curriculum, class organisation and resources; involvement of the Rector; inspection by H.M.I.; the effects of the Education Act, 1870; holidays. |
Page 4 to page 8 |
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1877- 1886. Curricula – poetry, singing, object lessons; absenteeism; the East Anglian earthquake; enforced expansion leads to a new classroom. |
Page 8 to page 13 |
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1886 - 1893. Teacher training, pupil teachers; attendance/absenteeism and the requirements of the 1870 Act – the “Dunces Certificate”, poverty, agricultural pressures; rapid changes in staffing. |
Page 13 to page 17 |
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1894 - 1898. The intransigence of the Attendance Committees; curricula; staffing problems; the gallery is replaced by desks; lack of clean water supply; further expansion; withdrawal of children from religious instruction. |
Page 17 to page 21 |
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1898 - 1906. A new master introduces enlightened teaching methods; a smallpox outbreak; staffing problems leave the Master teaching all 180 children; religious divisions become evident as state education matures; overcrowding again becomes a problem as Tiptree grows. |
Page 21 to page 25 |
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1906-1964. Overcrowding leads to the school's blacklisting by the LEA; child health services are developed; WWI brings instruction in gardening and shooting; teaching becomes more modern - broadcasts are received in school and day trips are held; electric lighting, tapped water and flush toilets are installed; WWII sees air raid shelters and evacuees; Post-war changes include children leaving for secondary school at eleven years and a lessening of the Church's control. |
Page 25 to page 30 |
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The underlying factors that have influenced the school's development – the growth of the village, legislation, changing attitudes. |
Chapter 2 Page 30 to page 36 |
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Changes in education during the period 1864-1964 – curriculum, teaching methods and theory. |
Page 36 to page 40 |
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The author's views on the contribution of the Church of England to the development of compulsory elementary education. |
Chapter 3 Page 41 to page 43 |
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Links: St Luke's Church School, Tiptree
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 Custom Search
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