Extracts from School Log Books

Buildings

Curriculum & Resources

Attendance

Illnesses

Wartime

Games and Entertainments

Buildings

21st January 1867   Topsham Wesleyan School

Kept children round fire, obliged to depart from routine and do what numbed fingers would allow. Too cold to hold a pen. Ink frozen.

2nd August 1886    Topsham Board School (Boys)

The school room has been washed and the walls washed with a blue tint as suggested by Her Majesty’s Inspector. Hat pegs have been fixed, windows repaired and several other necessary improvements made.

6th January 1902    Topsham Infants School

Until the days lengthen, school will open at 1.30 and close at 3.30 in the afternoon as the children cannot see their slates until 4 pm as there is no artificial light in the school.

13th February 1990    Topsham Middle School

Very severe storms. Much structural damage – many slates, coping stones etc torn from roofs at the school.

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Curriculum & Resources

22nd November 1865    Topsham Weslyan School

Boys asked for drawing in the afternoon and were favoured.

5th October 1877    Topsham Infants School

Grammar still remains a mystery to the IVth and Vth Standards. Their minds do not seem capable of taking it all in.

5th November 1903    Topsham Board School (Girls)

The number of exercise books ordered has been reduced to one half – in consequence I have not enough to give one to each girl. Girls must consequently work on slates.

2nd March 1927    Topsham Junior and Infants School

The timetable has been altered to allow more time for the three R’s. 

Junior and Infants School 1931

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Attendance

30th May 1864    Topsham Weslyan School

Opened school today with 172 scholars returned after several weeks, some having been in the workhouse and the parents unable to send others.

20th October 1868     Topsham Somaster National School (Mixed)

Acorn picking and another ‘Salt Fish Vessel’ unloading causes the school to be very small.

6th June 1904    Topsham Council School (Boys)

The greatest difficulty is experienced at this time of year in holding the attention of the scholars who appear to be sleepy, tired and stupid, which is not surprising when such large numbers work in the fields from 5 and 6 o’clock in the morning until school time, and then from 4.30 until dark. I find no fault with the work of the scholars during the other part of the year but from May until August while the fishing and fruit picking industries are in full swing the teachers have difficulties to contend with.

4th May 1926    Topsham Junior and Infants School

Owing to the General Strike and the consequential curtailment of the train service, school closed at 4.15 to enable those teachers who come by train to reach their homes by the only available trains.

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Illnesses

23rd February 1872    Topsham Board School (Girls)

Mrs Durban called in this morning, remarked that the children were looking rather cleaner and promised to reward those with tidy heads and clean skin at her next visit.

2nd November 1894   Topsham Board School (Boys)

School closed for 2 weeks by order of the District Sanitary Authority.

29th August 1921    Topsham Infants School

The school nurse called to examine all the children’s heads.

8th November 1934    Topsham Senior Mixed School

Visit of the school dentist:

• Children examined: 122
• Objections: 21
• Number treated: 75
• Temporary teeth extracted: 59
• Permanent teeth extracted: 22
• 76 fillings inserted in 58 teeth.

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Wartime

12 October 1914    Topsham Council School (Boys)

School opened this morning. Work should have commenced yesterday but the building has been fitted up as a hospital for the wounded during the war.

20th April 1940    Topsham Senior Mixed School

Gas mask inspection carried out throughout the school. The gas masks were not in good condition, nine had been damaged

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Games and Entertainments

14th May 1917    Topsham Council School (Girls)

Dr Abbott has presented the school with a cricket set so that we may have organised games on the recreation grounds.

25th March 1976   Topsham Middle School

Children were taken into the town to witness the preparations for filming sequences for the BBC TV series, "The Onedin Line."

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