A lesson in school's history
1:21pm Tuesday 8th April 2008
AT Winwick Primary School, there has always been a strong sense of history. That is why it was unsurprising when the announcement of a £1.5million renovation project to modernise the building caused quite a furor.
Now, teachers and parents have been leafing through old logbooks dating back more than 130 years to make sure the improvements reflect the school's heritage and protect the building's future.
The journal entries date back to the 19th century when the Myddleton Lane school opened in 1872.
First headmaster Walter Haskell wrote a log almost every day and the tradition was continued by other head teachers until 1985.
Headteacher Graham Martin, who also keeps a school diary, said: "We've always had a sense of history at the school and the building is of architectural interest.
"We're determined to make sure the improvements are in keeping with the history of the area. We're a historical school with a modern outlook."
Governors hope to raise £50,000 within the next few years to get the project started.
"For a small village school, it's a huge amount of money," said Sharron Honey, treasurer of the governors.
"It's also a huge thing for the village and with the way the government is selling off interesting looking schools for housing, we're battling to keep our 100-year-old school alive. I'm quite proud to be a part of that."
The first phase of the rebuild has already begun and will cost £400,000. It will see the old extensions of the 1960s and 70s torn down and replaced with modern classrooms, a larger staffroom and new toilets.
Later developments will include adding heating to the hall, more classrooms and eventually a new play area and adventure trail. The Victorian elements of the school will be retained.
It is anticipated that the first phase will be completed by the summer but the whole project will cost £1.5million and take five years.
And although most of the funds will be provided by government grants, Winwick Primary School is required to stump up 10 per cent of the costs - £150,000.
Mr Martin, who has been at the school for 17 years, added: "I'm thrilled with the project. The first phase will make a massive difference and I'm determined to see that happen before I retire.
"The school is going from strength to strength and it's encouraging to know that parents are happy and onboard with the improvements.
"The staff here are excellent at managing what they have got but it's good that they have something to look forward to."
The head teachers' logbooks offer a wealth of information about the school's past.
Winwick School first opened its doors on March 4 1872 when Mr Haskell admitted 42 boys and 39 girls and spent the morning classifying them according to their reading ability.
At that time, school fees were 4d for children of farmers and 2d for children of cottagers and for the first decade all the pupils were taught in a very small room.
Mr Haskell only stayed with the school for three years and logged no personal details about his life apart from his annual salary of £100 including a free house and garden.
His last day was December 16, 1876, and in his journal he said: "Reason for children being so troublesome on Friday afternoon was they were waiting anxiously until 4pm in order to present a time piece to me as a token of their affection and sorrow at my leaving them."
He was succeeded by Richard Clarke who led the way for the school for the next 24 years until the turn of the 20th century. Space was an issue at the school until an extension was approved in 1881 and in his journal in January 1882, Mr Clarke said: "Work of school somewhat disturbed by workmen, the work in connection with the new classroom, not being quite finished."
The First World War seemed to make little impact on the day-to-day running of Winwick School and headteacher James Pettener's journal entries seemed to be much more concerned with the rebuilding and alteration work that was taking place.
Between the wars, one of the biggest changes was the introduction of a special subjects centre where boys could learn woodwork, while girls could practise cookery and house craft.
However, the centre was torn down in the 1950s when it was deemed unsafe.
The Second World War was somewhat more of an interruption on school life than the First World War.
Villagers queued at the school door to collect their gasmasks and in 1939 schoolboys were excused from their lessons to help fill sandbags.
Gas masks drills were frequently held in the classrooms and an air raid shelter was prepared in the old rectory grounds.
On November 17, 1939, headmistress Nora Blackwell wrote: "At 11am, a practice for quickness in getting to the airraid shelter was taken and, as on emerging, the warning sirens were heard.
"The children were sent back to the shelters and stayed there until the all clear was sounded."
Current head teacher Mr Martin said a time capsule was buried around eight years ago, due to be opened in 2022, so that future pupils will know what it was like when he was in charge.
He added: "It's always very exciting to be at a school with so much history. We also use the history as part of the curriculum so the children can learn about the community and their place within the community.
"We're lucky because a lot of historical artefacts were left from my predecessors such as these logbooks."
Now you have the chance to become a part of the school's history yourself as the school is running a buy a brick' campaign.
This means you can have your family or business name or a message etched on one of the new bricks of the rebuild for £30, which will go towards the project.
There will also be a 26-mile sponsored walk from Liverpool Cathedral to raise funds on June 28.