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Home>1871 Tour> Education in Kelvedon Hatch

Education in Kelvedon Hatch.

Detailed information on education in Kelvedon Hatch is sparse, with schooling appearing to be very haphazard with no permanent building or funding until the establishment of a school in 1875 under the Education Act.

According to a Digest of Parochial Returns, in 1819 there were two day schools, one supported by a lady, and the other by the rector's wife, containing together about 40 children. It was reported that "the poor are supplied with books from the society for promoting Christian knowledge.". There also Sunday schools attended by 40 boys and 35 girls.

In 1833, according to the Abstract of Education Returns, there was one Day School and Sunday School at which "30 females attend daily, with the addition of from 10 to 20 males on Sundays; this school is supported by voluntary contributions".

In 1848 the Committee on Education reported on the boys part of the school. 1 teacher and 35 pupils. "The attendance is irregular and not punctual; little system. The reading very defective in the girls school, rather better in the boys school. Some children show intelligence and knowledge of Scripture."

In 1871, there was a small parochial school for 20 children. Established in 1861 by voluntary subscriptions, from education reports it appeared to have no permanent teacher or accommodation.

In the 1871 census Annie Noakes is shown as the school mistress, she was assisted by Stephen Thomas aged 15, and Emily Ffitch aged 18. It is probable that the school was situated near Old Crown House where she was living.

In 1875, under the power vested by the Education Act of 1870, a school board was created in the parish to ensure that a permanent premises was established. Four years later, a school was built on the north side of the former common land. It cost £1,150 to build and could accommodate 80 children.

News from the past: KELVEDON HATCH SCHOOL BOARD
"The return of the election of a school board for the parish of Kelvedon Hatch has been published by the returning officer, without a poll taking place, five members as under have been duly elected as directed by the Education Department - namely, Mr Edward Carington Wright; the Rev. Samuel Slocock; rector; Mr James French, farmer; Mr Robert John French, farmer; Mr Henry Knightbridge, butcher."
Essex Times 20/1/1875

The opening pages of the 'School Log Book' for the 28th November 1879 record the first day. The first school master was Henry Cawdron assisted by his daughter Francis.

"On Monday last the handsome and commodious school buildings lately erected in this parish of Kelvedon Hatch were opened for the reception of children. Previously the only means the parish had been able to furnish for their accommodation and instruction had been a cottage and an elderly dame to teach. As might be naturally expected, the children were found by the new teachers to be totally unacquainted with the forms of discipline now required in the management of schools; and, before the formation of constituted authority, had attended only as their parents thought fit to send them......"

Mr Charles F. White became school master in 1884 and he became an important member of the community. He was assisted by his wife. It is he who is standing outside the school in the photograph.

With the kind permission of the Head Teacher of Kelvedon Hatch School, History House has been given access to the School Log Books 1879 - 1897, and a great deal of information has now been copied from them.

The Head Teacher was required to report weekly in the Log Book on any events during the week which were unusual, comments on attendance, equipment supplied, visits by the School Board, School Inspectors, yearly School Reports, admissions, re-admissions, and those who had left. Some of the pupils included those who lived in the parish of Doddinghurst and Navestock.

The Log Books show that most children in agricultural labouring families worked in the fields as early as the age of 8. As a consequence, schooling clashed with the need for a family to have an additional income, no matter how small. Indeed, further legislation was required in later years to pressurize parents into to ensuring their children attended school up to age of 14.

Generally, during this period the tasks which the children of agricultural labourers would be involved in were:
Jan. Plough driving.
Feb. Planting seeds.
March. Bird scaring, dropping peas, land ditching,
potato setting.
April. Stone picking.
June. Bird scaring, fruit picking, haymaking, pea picking.
July. Fruit picking, haymaking, taking dinners to their fathers in the fields, pea picking.
August. Corn harvest.
Sept. Gleaming, blackberrying, potato picking.
Oct. Blackberrying, acorning, gleaming, gathering sloes, apple picking, potato picking.

Although the health of chidren improved during the Victorian period, there were still many childhood deaths. The School Log Book reports on many of these diseases: measles, scarlet fever, mumps, ring-worm, typhoid fever and smallpox.

In 1898 the school was extended, cloakrooms added, and a separate entrance for boys and girls built.

The school became an important venue for meetings and social events. It was seen as the sober alternative to holding meetings in public houses.