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In 1907 the first steps were taken to form a civil parish of Tiptree, but this was not achieved until 1934. The village Postmaster had applied for the name “Tiptree Heath” to be changed to “Tiptree” in 1904 as the shorter name was coming into more common use.

In 1910 the Church school was still falling short of the Board of Education's standards. There were 171 children in the mixed school and 103 infants; the school was put on the Board's Black List of unsatisfactory schools. This list comprised those schools which were below standard as far as premises were concerned. The reports state “substantial improvements to the buildings would be necessary for continued recognition. Overcrowding, offices, cloakrooms, lavatories, heating, ventilation, all needed attention.”

The opening of the new “Council School” in January 1910, helped to relieve the pressure a little, thirty-nine children were transferred immediately, thus reducing the numbers to 117 in the mixed department. By April, 1910, the numbers in that department had risen to 149 and very soon one teacher was responsible 59 children in one classroom with a consequent criticism in the H.M.I.'s report about overcrowding. The faults reported by the Board's surveyors were slowly corrected and many structural alterations carried out, so that by 1912 the school was recognised by the Board of Education as fit to accommodate 221 children; 131 mixed department, 90 infants' department. Extensions were also made to the new Council school in 1913, which helped to reduce the numbers in the church school's mixed department to 123.

During these years there were changes in the staff of the Infant department, the Headmistress, Mrs Coates, died, her place being taken by Miss Doris Rogers who had been a pupil-teacher at the school. In order to keep the numbers down to manageable limits no child under five was admitted. The entries in the infant log book are extremely dull, being a record of correspondence sent to the County Education office at Maldon, attendance records and lists of goods received from suppliers. Among these is recorded the receipt of “six bags of shore sand.” This is remarkable in an area which is now so well served with sand pits.

Although the problem of public health had perplexed Parliament since the early part of the 19th century, it was not until the passing of the Public Health Act, 1875 that the environmental health services were put on a firm footing. The formation of County Councils in 1888 and the Parish Councils in 1894 helped to bring some control over the various local boards who were operating independently such services as water supply. The provision of school health services could now follow the lead given by pioneers like Dr Kerr of Bradford, who had opened the first clinic and was carrying out medical inspection of school children; and the work of Dr Harris of St Helens, who had opened the first infant milk depot. State action followed the Report of the Inter-departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration, 1904, which called for the provision of school meals for necessitous children and the medical inspection of all children at school. These recommendations were put into effect in the Education Act (Meals) 1906, and the Education Act (Administrative Provisions), 1907, under which medical inspection of school children became the duty of newly formed Local Education Authorities.

Essex County Council on its formation in 1888 was able to appoint a Medical Officer of Health, who was concerned with such matters as water supply and infectious diseases. Thus the school log of the period 1892 onward makes note of the visits of the Medical Officer and the work did regarding the problem of water supply and advice regarding those children suffering with infectious diseases. But the first record of medical inspection of children on the premises appears in January 1909, when notice of an impending inspection is given. The actual visit by the doctor for this purpose takes place on March 11th. The Headteacher apologizes in her log “We were unable to keep strictly to the time table today, as the babies were working with the upper class – classroom being used for medical inspection.” Children who were found to be in need of greater care of the person were sent home with “yellow slips of paper” offering advice to the parents concerned.

Miss L.M. Uff became the Mistress of the Infant school when Miss Rogers left, but she did not remain long. She was replaced by Miss Servio, BA. who remained in the post until 1918.

In the mixed department the work of Mr Paine still received favourable mention from H.M.I.s. Additions to the syllabus included Observation Lessons, Hand and Eye Training and Citizenship, while in 1915 comes the first mention of Gardening as a school subject.

The commencement of the 1914-1918 War aroused no special comment in the school log, but the school was used for a short while as an over-night billet for troops passing through the village.

Mr Paine resigned his post as Headmaster in 1916 after 18 years service at the school. He was replaced by Mr H. Rowland, Certificated Master. The number on roll was now 132 (57 boys and 75 girls) in the mixed department. His staff comprised one certificated and two uncertificated mistresses.

Almost from the foundation of the school, children who lived far from the centre of the village had brought their midday meal with them and had eaten it at dinner time on the premises; but it was not until 1916 that there was a directive from the Local Education Authority insisting that a responsible teacher be on duty each dinner time to take charge of these dinner children.

The new Headmaster introduced the boys to rifle shooting, taking advantage of the shooting range built on the Rector's field by the soldiers staying in the village.

In July 1920, Mr Rowlands left, his place being taken by Mr Sidney Woolf, who was to remain Headmaster until his retirement in 1942. The school now enjoyed a long period of stability, largely because of the splendid work of Mr Woolf. H.M.I. reports were full of praise for his efforts, his energy and strength of purpose. Unfortunately there are no records of his schemes of work for this period, but many new ideas, such as organised games, the “House” system, a greater opportunity for the children to take part in the organisation of the school, were introduced, bringing a new sense of purpose to the work with a strong spirit of endeavour, which was was to carry on throughout the succeeding years.

When Miss Servio resigned as Mistress of the Infant school her place was taken by Mrs Rowlands, the wife of the Headmaster who took over from Mr Paine. Mrs Rowlands remained in charge until July 1922, when she resigned. Mr Woolf now combined the two departments under his charge, all entries relating to the school being recorded in the Headmaster's Log Book from this time.

An entry in the log book for 3 August, 1920 records the appointment of Winnifred Mary Clements (3rd January, 1901) as an assistant teacher at a salary of £70 per annum. This young lady was destined to continue working as a Mistress at the school for forty years, becoming a well loved and respected person long before she retired in July 1961.

The number of children attending the school was now around 185 boys and girls from the age of five to fourteen years. There were six teachers and the Headmaster on the staff. The log discloses the little changes taking place in the school's activities. For example visits were made to other schools in the neighbourhood to play football and net ball; short hand was being taught as part of the English course to the older children; a pen-friend letter scheme, whereby the children corresponded with children in America and Japan. There were many more opportunities for visiting speakers to come to the school to talk to the children, show lantern slides and introduce them to the world outside of school. Whistdrives were held to raise money which the Headteacher was able to use for the direct benefit of the children – buying sports equipment and paying for school outings. For example, visits were made to Dovercourt and Walton, the school being closed for the purpose. Empire Day was celebrated by the hoisting of the Union Jack, the singing of the National Anthem and talks on the subject by visiting speakers.

Pupil teachers were apprenticed to the schoolmaster. These were usually children in Standard exVII who took and passed an entrance examination held at the Technical School, Colchester. They then served at the school for four years before going on to Training College. If for some reason they did not go to Training College, they could be employed as uncertificated teachers at the school.

Attendance was still affected seriously by the weather, but the general attitude of parents to attendance was greatly improved in comparison with that prevailing in the period ending 1900.

Domestic Science was introduced as a subject for girls in 1924, they travelled to the Centre at Inworth School for this training. Later the boys were to be given an opportunity to learn something of carpentry and metal work at the Manual Training centre to which they travelled once a week. This centre was at Tollesbury School.

In 1927 there is recorded the first wireless broadcast lesson received at the school. An assistant master was keenly interested in radio and had a small receiving set of his own. The gift of an “Amplion loudspeaker” from Mr Butler, of the Grove, enabled this set to be used for receiving broadcasts.

In 1930 Great Braxted school closed, 15 of the children being transferred to the Church school, travelling daily by school omnibus. By 1935, school conveyance had also been arranged for the children of Tolleshunt Knights, thus providing some answer to the problem of attendance. Public transport serving the village was also increasingly playing a part in this respect.

Milk for the children attending school was available at one half penny a day, but the date of this service starting is not recorded. About this time the Headmaster arranged for cocoa to be made and supplied to those children staying at school during their dinnertime at a cost of 1½d per week. There can be no doubt this generous gesture was much appreciated during the cold winter months.

During the period 1930 to 1939 many improvements were made to the premises, including the installation of electric light to replace the oil lamps, water flushed toilets for children, tapped water for the wash-basins, the re-surfacing of the front playground and the allocation of a portion of the Rector's field for use as a small playing field.

The threat of war is indicated in 1938 by the record of precautions in case of air-raids; plans for trench digging and air-raid shelters were also discussed. Windows were fitted with blackout screens, shelters built and appropriate drill practised so that even in war school-life could proceed as smoothly as possible. The village became a reception area for evacuees, the school being closed and used as a clearing station for a short time. The log book during these years records the frequency of the air raids and the need to make use of the shelters dotted around the playgrounds. The walls of these shelters, which are still standing and now used as fuel stores, etc., bear mute witness of the elementary number work done during these raids by the light of hurricane lamps. As the war progressed electric light was installed in these shelters, making them a little more acceptable.

In 1942, Mr L.P. Coates became Headmaster, replacing Mr Woolf who retired. A Kitchen and dining room was built in the playground for the supply of school meals to the children. This served several small schools in the area in addition to the Church School. It was opened in 1945.

The work of educational reconstruction after the war is reflected in the school log through entries regarding the candidates for training at the newly formed Emergency Training Colleges, who were spending short periods at eh school to gain experience likely to be useful to them in Training College.

The number of children attending the school was still high, 235 mixed and infants, and the classrooms were very crowded. The school was not re-organised as suggested in the Hadow Report; boys and girls remained at the school until they were fourteen. The passing of the 1944 Education Act, brought about many changes including the raising of the school leaving age to fifteen in 1947. Arrangements were made to transfer these older children (fourteen plus) either to the Council school at Tiptree Heath or to a secondary modern school at Colchester; parents were given the choice.

In 1954 the Church authorities applied to the Ministry of Education for the status of the school to be changed from Voluntary Aided to Voluntary Controlled as the financial burden of maintaining the school at an acceptable standard was proving too great. This application was approved and the Local Education Authority became responsible for the school from that time. Considerable material changes were made at once to the premises, a new roof, new floors, hot water toilet facilities and increased lavatory accommodation were provided. The teacher's dwelling was converted into a staff-room, headteacher's room and store room, while adequate toilet facilities for the teaching staff were installed. The Headmaster, Mr Coates, who was due to retire shortly had already vacated the dwelling.

In September, 1955, the children aged twelve to fourteen were transferred to the Tiptree Heath Council School, thus converting the Church School into a Primary School with numbers reduced to about 180 infants and juniors.

In 1957 Mr Coates retired and the present writer was appointed Headmaster.

The problems of the school were still pressing and much more reconstruction work was carried out by the L.E.A. The playgrounds were tar-paved 1959, thus adding greatly to the appearance of the school and reducing considerably the problem of keeping the premises clean. The dining room was brought into use as a full time class room in order to reduce the over-crowding experienced in the classrooms, which by today's standards are too narrow. Even with the number of children restricted to forty in the largest of these, there is no free space for display or activity.

In September 1957, a new Secondary Modern School was opened in Tiptree, thus allowing the Council school at Tiptree Heath to be re-organised as a Primary School; the children of both primary schools are now able to attend the secondary school in the village or travel daily to the selective secondary schools in Colchester or Maldon after the age of eleven.

The foregoing is a straight-forward account of the history of the school as seen mainly from the entries recorded in the school log books. In the next Chapter it is proposed to set out a summary of the main changes to be seen in this record.