22nd December 1944

School closes this morning for the Christmas holidays of 2 weeks. During the holidays the children are to be entertained at parties by the British Legion and the USA troops. Lists have been made and tickets issued in school this week. The USA Red Cross is also giving presents to all children of 6 years and over who were all at school on the last day of the term.

5th December 1940

Siren 2.10 - 2.40pm. There was fighting overhead as children ran home - a plane from which black smoke poured was brought down in the district. 2 more warnings immediately after school.

23rd November 1938

A very wild day. Several slates and tiles were blown from the roof.

18th November 1940

30 children were absent this morning and 23 this afternoon after an air raid warning which lasted all night - 11 hours. Bombs were dropped on the town - a Prep School, Forres, being struck, and several houses.

18th September 1939

War against Germany having been declared on Sep 3rd, school remained closed until shelter trenches had been provided for the children.

School re-opened today. Local children will now attend for one session daily:- 9 to 12.30, while children evacuated from London (Vauxhall and Lambeth chiefly - from Vauxhall St School) under the LCC scheme will occupy the school with their own teachers for the afternoon session 1 to 4.30pm.

Stocks will be shared for the time until LCC supplies arrive. (LCC Head Mistress of Vauxhall St Infant School - Miss Band)

All children bring gas masks to school - and a second exit has been arranged in the playground. Children will have gas mask drill - and also practice in evacuating the school and occupying the trenches which are in a field on the opposite side of the road [where Queen's Mead is now]

20 children were admitted this morning - 4 local and 16 from 'danger areas' but not registered under an official evacuation scheme. Number on books 119.

15th November 1940

The Town Council's appeal to the County Committee for school shelters has been rejected.

12th November 1940

Bombs were dropped on the town from an enemy plane at 11.30am - there were military casualties.

14th October 1940

Just after the children had gone home from school, bombs were dropped on the pier. 14 shops had the windows broken - there were a few casualties. The Town Council has now taken up the question of air raid shelters for the schools.

[The County Council in Dorchester had refused the school's request for proper air raid shelters at a meeting on October 9th 1940]

11th October 1940

Siren 11.30 - 12.40. Masses overhead. Children sheltered under tables. The trenches are impossible after several days' rain.

6th October 1938

Arrangements are now complete for trenches to hold all school children (and extra refugees) should occasion arise.

1st October 1940

Siren sounded at 10.45. A mass of 150 enemy planes was already overhead - children sheltered under tables, except the 28 who have been told to run home to their parents. The latter course was very unwise as fighting was already taking place and a very noisy raid, accompanied by falling planes, followed.

30th September 1938

Owing to the danger of the European situation, instruction with regard to air raid precations have been received from the County Education Committee.

Speedy evacuation of the school premises has been practised this week, the last attempt resulting in a complete clearance in 42 seconds.

first aid equipments have been fitted up for each class.

27th September 1940

Trenches were occupied from 9.30 till 9.45 and from 11.20 till 12.30 when there was again much overhead fighting and 2 planes were brought down, 1 in flames. The parents of 27 children now demand that the children shall run home when the siren goes as they consider the trenches unsafe - from the point of view of gunfire as well as damp.

25th September 1940

Siren 11.30 - 12.30. Trenches were occupied. Masses of enemy planes were overhead - fighting took place and a plane was brought down by Studland hill.

13th September 1940

A very wet morning. There were 45 children present and several requests made that children should not be taken to trenches if warning came. A letter dealing with shelter in wet or cold weather has already been sent to Dorchester - as the ground was wet and muddy on Tuesday and children had to sit on it.

30th August 1940

Attendance has been poor especially in the mornings - air raid warning lasting 6 & 7 hours at night cause broken rest & children are very tired.

28th August 1940

Alane was heard overhead in the afternoon and machine gun firing started suddenly. \children went under their tables. Silence followed so work was resumed.

11th July 1940

The air raid siren sounded a few minutes after 12 o'clock - the children had just been dismissed. Those near the school ran back and were taken with the 'dinner' children to the trenches. The others obeyed instructions already given and took shelter in the nearest house, wherever they happened to be. Fighting took place in the air & the all-clear was not sounded until 1.15, when children were collected from the trenches and surrounding houses and sent home.

9th July 1940

Yellow air raid warning was given twice this morning. The children stayed in school. A bomb exploded in the neighbourhood about 11.45am. Planes were heard overhead - the siren was not sounded. Children continued to work and were dismissed as usual at 12 noon.

4th July 1940

The 'yellow' air raid warning was given at 8am. All clear was sounded at 11.15. Children were not taken to trenches. Warning was again given at 2.45 and all clear sent at 3.15.

3 families have been removed from school this week as parents think that open trenches are dangerous - 2 of these families have returned to London. As much dissatisfaction is being expressed, the matter is being referred to Dorchester.

27th June 1940

School will be closed tomorrow, when 200 evacuees are to be received from Southampton. The Babies' Room will accommodate some of the Infants in future, as the evacuees will be absorbed into the local schools instead of working as separate units.

21st June 1940

From today until next term at least, the nursery class will cease to exist, the County Education Committee having decided that the presence in school of tiny children of 3 & 4 gives rise to too much anxiety for Teachers and might cause serious complications in an emergency.
...
254 panes of glass have been strapped with brown paper (by the staff) - the remaining 180 cannot be reached. All pictures have been removed from the walls to prevent damage from flying glass splinters.

20th June 1940

Attendance dropped this morning, the children having spent a disturbed night. The first air raid in this district took place - the siren sounding just after midnight. The all-clear signal went at 3.15am - there were no casualties locally.

16th June 1943

Siren 11.25 - 11.35am. A new child - Jacqueline A. - screamed - to the great suprise of the other children.

9th June 1943

A low flying plane passed over the school at a terrific speed - the children ducked into the shelters.

8th June 1945

The London County Council evacuees (those with homes) are returning to London on Sunday.

6th June 1945

School dinners were served from the school canteen for the first time today. 49 children stayed. The food is brought down fom the canteen (Mixed School garden) in containers. There is n o real accommodation for meal in this building [the Infants School, where Reception Class is now] and no proper staff. It was a wet day so there was no beak. Children have to sit at their lesson tables for their meal and if weather is bad, just continue sitting. Several were sick, having had no exercise exercise since drinking milk at 10.30. The staff (teaching) had no meal - there was no time as many of the Babies have to be fed. 1 Nursery Helper has been obtained ... Behavious & manners were very good - a short lecture on the subject having been given beforehand.

6th June 1944

Invasion of Europe by the Allies began. Landings were made on the beaches near Deauville & Cherbourg areas. Masses of aircraft are passing over - all day & night.

These were the D-Day Landings, when thousands of ships landed 150,000 soldiers along a 30-mile stretch of the Normandy coast in what is known as Operation Overlord.

6th June 1940

Captain Dean, local ARP head, called to examine and report on the shelter trenches and the school building. He approved of the trenches and discussed difficulties arrising from the fact that the massesof older children from the mixed school have to cross the path of the infants, thereby providing a very real danger. The actual school building he considers to be extremely dangerous, having only one exit from a bottlenecked room. He especially urged that strapping should be done to the windows immediately - as it is impossible to keep the children away from them. Should an air raid warning become necessary, Capt Dean promised to send the 'yellow'(stand by) signal, in order to give a little more time for evacuation to the trenches. There being no telephone in the school, Miss Pond at Everest was asked to take the message and transmit it to school if electric bells could be installed in each department.
...
Children from both departments went to the trenches at a given signal - the time taken being about 3 minutes. Should enemy planes be in the neighbourhood, less than 5 minutes warning could be given, Capt dean stated.

The ARP were the Air Raid Patrol wardens. ARP wardens or air-raid wardens had to patrol the streets during blackout, to ensure that no light was visible to German bombers. Windows were 'strapped' to stop glass from shattering into the room.

Swanage First School's trenches were on the site of Queen's Mead, on the other side of Queen's Road.

15th May 1941

Attendance dropped - reason, machine-gunning and dive bombing of the town at 6pm on the 14th - damage extensive - no fatal casualties.

14th May 1940

Traditionally schools were closed for two days after Whitsunday. Whitsun celebrates Pentecost, the date in the Christian calendar when the Holy Spirit visited the disciples. It is always seven sundays after Easter.

By order of the Government school re-opened today (Tuesday) - all Whitsun holidays having been cancelled because of war developments. (Holland & Belgium have now been invaded). Staff & children were recalled by wireless broadcasts during the week end. 30 children were absent this morning- 20 this afternoon.

As of Whitsun 1940 all bank holidays were cancelled for the duration of the war.

8th May 1945

Peace in Europe was announced by wireless last night and this morning.

The children met at 9am as usual - had a talk and a short service and were then dismissed for 2 days special holiday.

4th May 1945

Attendance very irregular again - there are a few cases of chicken-pox and many bad colds. Some rain has fallen this week and the footwear problem is a real one; supplies are very short, materials are poor and repairing very slow.

1st May 1945

Hitler reported dead.

28th April 1965

Three German children from the refugee camp at Hamburg joined for five weeks. They are in Swanage under the International Help for Children Scheme.

28th April 1943

20 planes flew low over the school during the afternoon - the children, who have had 2 bad nights, were frightened and rushed into the shelters.

26th April 1944

Attendance low again - 2 alerts during the night 12-1am and 5-5.30am. All doors & windows were kept open - by order - from 3pm as there was an RAF practice in the Battle Area when 100 planes dropped live bombs (of 1000lbs). Concussion was terrific. Children sat in shelters - with handwork - in case of any broken glass. They were quite happy.

24th April 1944

Attendance very low in the morning ... Reason - an alert in the night 1.30-3am when incendiaries & anti-personnel bombs were dropped on the town. Police called during the day to ask that the children be warned against picking up any strange objects.

20th April 1942

At 7.15 am bombs were dropped on the town and machine gunning took place. Much damage to property was caused - several people were killed and many injured. 3 school families lost their homes - 1 child (in Class III) Rosemary S. was injured. School opened as usual at 9am. 78 children were present.

13th April 1942

School reopened today ... Black out curtains have been erected during the holiday.

12th April 1926

18 children went to the annexe this morning at 11 and had teeth extracted. 13 of the 18 were absent in the afternoon.

11th April 1935

Influenza being rampant, instructions to close the school until after easter have been received from the District Medical Officer. Confirmation from the County Medical Officer has been obtained. Average attendance ... 54.4% Re-opening date April 29.

8th April 1941

Nurse examined children this morning. 3 evacuees were found to have dirty heads and were sent to the clinic for treatment.

Children from Vauxhall Street School in London were evacuated to Swanage and were taught by their own teachers in the afternoon session from 1 to 4.30pm. Local children were taught in the morning session. All children brought gas masks to school and had gas mask drill as well as practicing evacuation of the school and occupation of the trenches which had been dug in the school gardens.

March 26th 1941

An organ has been supplied for use in the Hall. The cost was £14, £7 of which was paid by the County, the other £7 by the School. In addition the school also paid 25/- carriage and later £5 for overhaul.

At that time £14 was a huge amount of money!

On the same day the Infants school reports:

Siren at 10.50am. Children were sent home in groups with mothers, sisters etc from 12.15 to 12.30. The all clear was not sounded until 2pm but some of the children returned to school at 1.30.

March 20th 1942

Warship Week - children have subscribed £14.10 to National Savings.
Siren 2.30 - 2.45pm - a good deal of gunfire was heard - in the Channel direction.

Warship Week was a national effort to raise money for the War effort by encouraging people to buy National Savings certificates to help pay for ships.

March 9th 1945

Some of the children, both evacuaees and local children, were not as well behaved as they should have been:

WM - evacuee aged 6 3/4, being left alone in the room while Mr T interviewed a parent in the cloakroom, went to the bag containing the "dinner" money, took 11/8 1/2d [nearly £1] - put it in his pocket, then came to Mr T & asked to go to the lavatory. Permission was innocently given and he dissapeared & could not be found. Mr T sent a note to the Mother, who later found the child in the town. He had bought & consumed cakes, ice creams, fish cakes & lemonade & had done away with the money left over. The mother is to pay the money back in two installments. This child plays truant regularly when U.S. soldiers are in the town.

WM sounds like something of a scamp!

March 7th 1941

The air raids during the war years were very disruptive for the school:

Registers were marked late in the afternoon. The siren went at 12.55 & the all-clear came at 2pm. 18 children & the staff arrived at 1.30 - the other children came after 2pm. Siren went again at 3 - children were kept till the all clear at 3.30pm.

Around 30 children lived close enough to school to run home if the siren sounded, some parents came to collect their children to shelter them at home, while the rest sheltered at school with the staff.

March 2nd 1942

Amalgamation with London evacuee school.

Hundreds of children were evacuated from London to Swanage where it was thought to be safe from bombing. They went to school with a gas mask, in a box around their necks, sometimes the gas mask was Mickey Mouse shaped. The children had to practice a drill at school in case of attack and there are dozens of alerts recorded in the log books and the town was badly bombed several times. Anyone with empty houses or spare rooms took evacuees. There were large boulders, barbed wire and scaffolding to stop any invasion on Swanage beach.

March 1st 1940

From the Infants School Log book:

Dr O'Keefe called on Monday morning for injections - but so many of the children were absent that he did not stay.

Average attendance for week 74. No on books 105. There are more cases of German Measles.

February 28th 1927

In 1927 an Influenza Epidemic spread across Britain, and at one point 1000 people a week were dying as a result of flu. So much illness had a dramatic effect on Swanage Council School's Infants Department:

School re-opened this week after closure of 3 weeks. Number present 106. Miss Rolls absent - suffering from influenza.

At that time the Infant School had 136 children on the register.

February 26th 1886

Attendance has not been so good as two past weeks owing to cold east wind that has been blowing.

I don't think that excuse would work nowadays!

February 26th 1951

At Dorchester, on saturday, girls of this school won the Dorset County Netball Association Intermediate School Section Shield. "Swanage County School" will be the first to have its name on this new trophy.

February 24th 1896

Examined school throughout. The children are making good progress since Xmas, as the attendance is much better. Chickenpox has been very bad, but I think we are now free from it, with the exception of Freddie R.

Marching is very badly performed owing to the smallness of the room.

There is a great improvement in drill & singing. The children are very pleased with the dumb-bells, but a piano is much needed.

Drill or games in school is taken every day, instead of games in the playground during cold weather. The children are much pleased with "Musical Chairs" adapted.

Drill was a period of the day where the children performed military drills. Other times they would use dumbbells to do exercises to the beat of a piano. There is lots of information about Victorian School life at this website: www.exhibition.stbarbe-museum.org.uk

February 22nd 1943

After the damage caused by the air raid of February 4th, the Infants Department was closed for more than two weeks:

School reopened this morning. During the closure, the plaster was removed from all ceilings ... being replaced by asbestos boards ... many parents are still afraid to send their children to school.

February 19th 1937

Mrs Taggart gave a demonstration with the spinning wheel and showed an Angora rabbit and the materials which can be spun such as camel hair, dogs hair, cat and rabbit fur, sheeps wool etc.

February 15th 1929

Just like in February 2009, February 1929 saw heavy snow in Swanage:

On February 12th, the Log Book reports:

A fine morning, but snow rather deep. 77 children absent. Very sunny afternoon - 70 absent.

And on February 15th:

Snow falling heavily - 56 present in morning. As only 34 children came in the afternoon, registers were not marked ... The children were sent home at the usual time when their parents called for them.

February 14th 1896

A photographer took the children's photos (in 4 groups) during play-time this afternoon.

Maurice C. is withdrawn from religious instruction for a time owing to his health.

February 14th 1930

In the past, children were treated by the dentist at school. On february 4th the log book says:

The Dentist started treating the children today - fillings only - children attend separately at Annexe when required.

On February 10th:

20 children had teeth extracted today, 12 noon - 2pm.

16 children had teeth pulled out on the 11th, 6 more on the 12th, 1 on the 13th "without gas" and finally, on February 14th:

5 children had extractions today 7 1 was treated at the Cottage Hospital.

It doesn't say whet the last unfortunate child was treayed for!

February 12th 1942

Loud gunfire was heard twice during the morning (there was an air raid warning from 8.15 to 8.40 am)

February 8th 1952

Morning break was taken early today in order that the school might hear the broadcast proclamation of Queen Elizabeth's Accession.

The new monarch read an official Proclamation at St James's Palace declaring her reign as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.

February 6th 1952

News was received during the late morning of the death of the King.

King George VI died peacefully in his sleep at Sandringham House. Princess Elizabeth was at the Royal hunting lodge in Kenya and immediately became Queen at the age of 25. See the BBC On This Day website to find out more.

February 4th 1943

Throughout the Second World War the log books report a series of Air Raid Alerts.

Hit & Run raid at about 4.30. Much damage in the town but only slight at school. School opened as a rest centre so school was closed on Thursday. Reopened on Friday. I gave permissionfor the Brit Restaurant to use the Cookery Room to provide dinners for bombed people. Dinners for children cease this friday.

Very few children at school. 38 children in the morning and 54 in the afternoon. Cookery Classes carried on in the Woodwork Room as best as possible.

In the Infants Dept Log Book on the same day:

During a 'hit & run' raid at 4.30pm yesterday when bombs fell near the school, the ceilings were damaged - a quantity of plaster falling into the room & cloakroom. School was therefore closed. It was later found that door locks were broken, 7 tiles blown from playschool roof ... advised that the school should remain closed until a thoroght examination of the whole roof has been made.

January 31st 1919

On January 23rd 1919 the log book reports: School very cold today owing to the lack of coke and the poor quality of what is supplied and on January 30th the log book tells us: School closed this afternoon owing to lack of fuel. The explanation for the fuel shortage comes on January 31st:

School still closed, for above reason. There is plenty of coke at the Gas Works but the contractor will not deliver up this hill.

January 31st 1901

Found that Rosa W. was suffering from mumps. Ascertained from Medical Officer that such was the case and sent all family with instructions not to return until better ...

January 25th 1907

The weather had a much greater affect on the school 100 years ago and back then the school didn't have much heating. Often the log books report poor attendance due to bad weather, and in the winter there are a lot of entries about severe colds and flu which kept large numbers of children at home.

Attendance today poor. Average for week 306. Have borrowed gas stove as middle room is so cold.

January 24th 1896

Names have been edited to protect the innocent!

John C. punished for truanting on Wednesday and for coming to school in a filthy state, not fir to go near any other children.

January 23rd 1901

Occasionally, internationally important events are mentioned in the log books, such as here:

Classes 1, 2 and 3 were assembled in Centre Room this morning at 11 o'clock and at 2.45 this afternoon and were told of loss of Empire in the death of the Queen yesterday. Accounts of the Queen's life and illness were also read to them from the 'Daily Telegraph' and 'the Daily mail' for today.

January 18th 1917

There were some strange occurrences from time to time - whether this event was connected to the First World War the log book doesn't say.

At 1.35 today a bullet passed through the centre window on the north side and crossed the hall passing through the screen - 24 ft width of room - on other side then striking the wall on the south side of the corridor about 12 inches above a small window. The police sergeant was at once informed and the ocurrence reported to the secretary at Dorchester.

January 18th 1901

Attendance this week on the whole very good. Wednesday morning and this morning being very wet there was a drop but it was much better in the afternoon each day. On books 354. Average 319. 90%

School numbers were much higher in 1901 than they are today, and they were all squashed into fewer buildings!

January 17th 1895

School closed this afternoon on account of the funeral of Mr William Brown, Coxswain of the Swanage Lifeboat who was drowned on Saturday last (12th) during a gale, by being washed out of the lifeboat off Old Harry Ledge while proceeding to the rescue of the crew of a Norwegian barque wrecked off Hook Sands to the north of Poole Bar.

A barque is a saling ship with three or more masts. The ship that the lifeboat was on its way to rescue was called the Brilliant - you can read more about the history of Swanage's lifeboats here: http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/southwest/stations/SwanageDorset/history

January 15th 1900

Very rough and stormy day. Attendance bad, as those who were away ill last week, but are now better are afraid to venture out in such weather.

January 12th 1899

We now think of Victorian children as being polite and well behaved, but it's clear from some entries in the log books that one or two were nothing of the kind! Bad behaviour was rewarded with severe punishment, though, as you can see:

Richard M. severely punished for inattention, disobediance and insubordination. He was inattentive in Geography lesson and he was stood out and punished with pointer by the teacher. He was told the answer to the question previously asked but refused to repeat it. When sent to Master he refused to go, and started home. His teacher told Master but boy refused to raise his hand for punishment. As master had been kicked by boy on similar occasions previously he called Mr Knight and took boy into cloak-room and gave him about a dozen cuts on buttocks with the cane. The boy did not cry at school, but did at home about half an hour later. Father called this afternoon and complained ...

January 8th 1917

The First World War had an effect on Swanage First School, as it did on the rest of the country.

Reopened this morning. Attendance only fair.
Mr Grant returned having been invalided out of army - wounded.

January 8th 1894

School scrubbed and walls brushed during holidays. Reopened this morning, snow very thick on ground from fall of Friday last. Very few children present. These sent home and school closed for the day.

The headteacher responsible for keeping the log book in 1894 was Mr Padmore, who according to a note added at the front of the book began teaching at Swanage National School, as it was then known, in 1890. In 1894 there were 217 children attending, with room for 300. There was an Infants Department and a Mixed Department.

January 7th 1895

Victorian schools taught the 'Three R's' - reading, writing and arithmetic. The children were divided into six Standards, and to move from one standard to the next the child had to pass a test, meaning that some children would be held back in a lower standard if they failed. The entry in the log book for January 7th 1895 shows how some children were judged rather harshly:

School has been scrubbed and cleaned and maps and pictures cleaned during holidays. Gravel has been laid in the playgrounds also. All teachers present this morning. Moved 4 children from Standard IV to Standard III as they are backward and a drag for the higher classes.

January 6th 1896

Again, the entry in the log book for January 6th 1896 shows how some children were judged rather harshly:

Reopened this morning. School has been thoroughly cleaned during holidays and repairs where necessary. All teachers present except Miss Barton who had leave of absence. Standard III divided into two sections - the upper to go on into Standard IV work when ready as it contains the forward children and three dullards from Standard IV. E Ward to help Mr Willimont in taking this class with Standard IV.