Waterford Church of England (Mixed) School, 1876
"This little school is amply supplied with equipment & staff; is in excellent order, & remarkably well instructed." HMI
By Geoffrey Cordingley
Waterford School behind the War Memorial
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
January, 1876
| 10th | Re-opened school after the holiday. |
February, 1876
| 7th | A first-class girl asked for a week’s leave of absence because of her mother’s illness. |
| 14th | School not well attended because of the snow. |
| 25th | Allowed three children to come to school without paying school-pence, because of their father being out of work. |
March, 1876
| 1st | A very wet morning consequently a small school. Classes III and IV had Poetry instead of Object lesson on account of Miriam Pearce neglecting to collect materials for her lesson before commencement of school as directed. Children had the lesson at Play-time instead. Being Ash Wednesday children had a half-holiday. |
| 7th | Miss C. Gosselin visited in the afternoon. |
| 14th | Miss C. Gosselin visited and brought Reading Books for Class 1. |
| 20th | Miss C. Gosselin visited and brought new slates for school. |
| 21st | One child withdrawn from school before the expiration of the two hours’ secular instruction – attendance cancelled. |
April, 1876
| 3rd | The Rev. A. Fairbanks visited in the morning. |
| 25th | Mrs Robert Smith visited, heard children sing, and examined Registers to see the bad attendances of two children. |
| 28th | Put up notice in school of the Religious Inspection. |
May, 1876
| 11th | The children were examined in Religious Knowledge in the morning by the Diocesan Inspector. Mrs R. Smith visited. Holiday in the afternoon. |
| 29th | The Rev. J. Mansel Pleydele visited. |
June, 1876
| 19th | Two children absent because of their mothers making hay. |
| 26th | Two children still absent because of their mothers making hay. |
| 27th | Gave Division I a lesson on the Uses of the British Possessions, and their names. |
| 28th | Several children still absent because of the hay making. |
July, 1876
| 4th | Children rather idle owing to the heat of the weather. |
| 14th | The children were examined in the afternoon by H.M. Inspector’s Assistant Mrs Baldry. All children on books were present. Mrs R. Smith, the Rev. G. Thornton and the Rev. J.C.M. Mansel-Pleydell visited. |
| 21st | School as usual in the morning. In the afternoon the school was inspected by H.M.’s Inspector the Rev. C.J. Robinson. Mrs R. Smith and the Rev. J.C. Mansel Pleydell visited. The Rev. C.J. Robinson consented to Class I learning the same Geography during the year ending June 30th 1877, which is required of Standard IV in the Code of 1876. |
| 26th | Taught Standard vi the definition of a fraction. |
| 31st | A holiday – the members of the Church Choir went to Gravesend. |
August, 1876
| 3rd | A holiday – the children had their school treat at Goldings. |
| 11th | Mrs Smith and Mrs Daniells visited. School closed for Harvest holiday. |
September, 1876
| 11th | Re-opened school after the holidays. All children present except three, two of whom were ill. The pupil teacher M. Pearce absent through illness. The Rev. C.J. Mansel-Pleydell visited. |
| 13th | The school was much disturbed by the crying of a new scholar. |
| 14th | A holiday in the afternoon – the children went to Bengeo Flower Show. |
| 15th | During the week Rosa Pearce a Pupil Teacher of the 4th Year took the place of her sister M. Pearce. |
| 18th | Miriam Pearce still absent through illness. One of the girls of Class I took Class IV. Mrs Smith and Miss Smith visited. |
| 22nd | 47 children present in the morning. |
| 25th | M. Pearce still absent. One of the girls of Class I appointed monitor for the week. The Rev. G. Thornton visited. |
| 29th | Summary of Inspectors Report & Remarks “This little school is amply supplied with equipment & staff; is in excellent order, & remarkably well instructed. The Reading and Handwriting earn a very high mark. The Grammar and Geography are very creditable for a beginning. The Infants are well forward. M. Pearce has passed fairly under Article 19(E).” Principal Teacher Martha Cordell Certified Teacher of the 2nd Class Pupil Teacher of the 2nd Year. Miriam Pearce Signed Isabel Smith For School Managers |
October, 1876
| 2nd | M. Pearce returned to school. |
| 26th | A holiday – on account of the grate requiring repair. |
November, 1876
| 29th | A holiday in the afternoon to allow children to spend their club money. |
December, 1876
| 20th | Departure from Time-Table – Children went on with needlework till 4 o’clock because of some work requiring to be finished. |
| 21st | Children did Lessons all the afternoon instead of Needlework. |
| 22nd | School closed in the morning for a fortnight’s holiday. |
This page was added on 02/10/2014.
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