Burton Bradstock School |
Visit Burton Bradstock School as it is today |
Historical documents from the school can provide enlightening glimpses of the history of the area, as well as specific family history.
Claire Proctor's Retirement - Much respected teacher with over three decades of service to the children of Burthon Bradstock School - July 2022
David Powell's Blog - School Head 1990-2002
Old school photos - You may know someoneA Day in the Life of Burton Bradstock School 1991 - video
Brief notes on the school history writen by Mr Len Starkey - Head 1950s 60s- can be found here.
The following pages are copied from old registers and school log book which was effectively a diary kept by the headteacher.
The next two pages are from from the register and show pupils entering and leaving the school in the mid 1840's. It can be seen that a great deal of movement of families into and out of the village went on at this time. Some children previously attended schools in villages relatively nearby, others come from Wales, Gloucester and Sussex. The destinations of children leaving also demonstrate a deal of migration as workers changed employment and had to move.
John Morris was Welsh speaking and could not read or write English.
The following extract from the School Log Book records the Heads concern about lateness and poor attendance in bad weather. Punishment seems to have brought about some improvements.
Then, as now the 'National Curriculum' was taught.
School Inspections are not new, as this extract shows..
'Scarlet fever' and other illnesses are recorded, sometimes children died of these diseases.
Poor weather could cause the school to close as this extract covering the bad winter of 1947 shows.
The range of parents jobs, nearly always fathers, includes flax dresser, carter, coast guard, fisherman, sailor, mechanic, washer-woman, innkeeper.
DJP