It was hoped … ‘a steam of kindness as boundless as the oceans’
would be result from this small beginning. The success, or otherwise, of the
venture is unknown but the R.S.P.C.A. visited the school regularly and some
ex-pupils still have ‘medals’ or certificates to remind them of their
membership to the ‘Band of Mercy’ club.
At a time when general health and hygiene were, perhaps, not of the same
standard as today, speakers other than the medical services visited to
encourage the children to care for themselves. One talk, given to the older
children by the Midland Band of Hope Union, was entitled ‘The Hygiene of
Food and Drink.’
Music played an important part in the life of the school from the outset.
The choir took part in the Birmingham School’s Festival of Music at the Town
Hall in 1934 but much of the music, and there was plenty of it, was aimed at
performing for parents and each other.
It was not until January 1946 that the City of Birmingham Orchestra
visited the school and played for the children. On their second visit, two
and a half years later, the programme played, to encourage the children’s
interest in music, was ‘Serenade’ (Elgar), ‘Nocturne’ (Dvorak), ‘Folk
Tune and Fiddle Dance’ (Fletcher) and ‘The Toy Symphony’ (Hayden).
Miss French continued to encourage the involvement of Birmingham’s Symphony
Orchestra and the strings section, a brass quintet, and groups playing wind
instruments gave regular informative concerts.
On her appointment Miss French inherited the musical talents of Miss
Hughes, and encouraged her to develop her skills and interests. As a result
the participation in Music, Choral Speech and Dance Festivals became a
regular part of the children’s educational development. Non-competitive
performances were given at such venues as the Martineau Teachers’ Centre,
the Central Hall, the Town Hall, Severn Street Gymnasium, Greet School and
Lakey Lane School.
The school’s musical talents were sufficiently well thought of in the
city for it to be invited to participate in an instructional film that was
being made. ‘The Appreciation of Music Through Percussion’, filmed at
Queensbridge Road School during 1954, involved thirty infant and thirty
junior children.
The seeds of the school’s current impressive programme of ‘out-door’
education, which aims not only to instruct but also to broaden the
children’s interests and to help them develop socially, were sown soon after
the school opened.
As early as 1934 a visit was arranged to The Prince of Wales Theatre to
see ‘Alice in Wonderland’, while the following year there was an even more
ambitious project when a hundred and twenty children and parent helpers were
taken on a visit to the Birmingham Water Works in the Elan Valley. This
visit was summed up as –
‘ memorable one – interesting and instructive. Enjoyed by all. Parents
well pleased.’
Other early visits were arranged to art exhibitions, the Birmingham Art
Gallery and to the Centenary Pageant of Birmingham held at Aston Hall. The
cost of entry to this grand event was 3d per head (including the
teachers!!). This special event was organised to celebrate the Birmingham’s
one hundred years as a Corporation. To recognise this milestone in the
city’s history the school gave each boy a souvenir badge (294) and each girl
a souvenir brooch (260).
In October 1938 ninety-two children and thirteen adults were taken on a
weekend visit to Dudley Zoo. It proved to be an enjoyable day for all
concerned and this compliment was paid to the teachers involved –
‘The voluntary work of the staff again calls for commendation.’
There was little or no scope for organised outings and visits during the
war years and it was not until Miss French became the Head Teacher that
similar educational visits were recorded again. From then they were held
annually.
In 1950 Whipsnade Zoo was the venue chosen, while in the following years
the children went to Weston-Super-Mare and Dudley Zoo respectively. A very
special outing to London, to see the Coronation decorations and to visit the
Zoo, was organised for the Junior children in 1953. That visit surpassed all
expectations as –
‘The children had a delightful day, seeing the Queen on horseback with
the Duke of Edinburgh returning to Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the
Colour Ceremony. It was a memorable sight of pageantry and colour.’
(Presumably the Queen and the Duke were on separate horses!!!).
Windsor, including a boat trip up the River Thames, was the destination
in 1954 while the following year the school’s plan to take all the Junior
children to Rhyl by train were thwarted by a rail strike. Coaches were hired
at short notice to ensure the children were not disappointed and –
‘on an exceptionally warm and fine day the children thoroughly enjoyed
themselves.’
Before returning to Rhyl and Colwyn Bay in 1957 there was another visit
to Whipsnade Zoo. Everyone, it seemed had and enjoyable and interesting day
except Miss French who –
‘spent the whole time in two hospitals with a boy who had suspected
appendicitis.’
It was back to the seaside for Miss French’s penultimate annual outing
and then to London Airport in 1959, her last year as the Head Teacher.
Several ex-pupils recollect the visits they took part in. Among them were
these memories from Barbara Dodd (nee Bolstridge) -
‘We would save by taking money into school every week. One trip was to
Colwyn Bay. Another trip by coach was to London Airport and on a boat up the
Thames to Runnymede…’
and these vivid memories from Carol Whopples (nee Tindall)
‘We went on a trip to Rhyl on a coach (charabanc in those days). We went
round the Horse Shoe Pass and I was scared out of my wits. Our family would
see and wave us off in the morning and meet us at night. We all thought we
had been away for a week.’
The years have rolled on but little has changed at the school in terms of
providing opportunities for children to widen their knowledge and interest.
Visits to museums, theatres, education centres, farms and other places of
interest, as well as an involvement in concerts and festivals, are still
very much part of the extended curriculum today’s children enjoy.
