Stourton Caundle Education
1. Setting the Scene- The School building was erected and opened in 1884 as a two class Primary School, until 1929 the children's entire education took place at the School. After 1929 the eleven year olds transferred to Stalbridge High School, except for those passing the Eleven Plus Examination, who transferred to either the Boys or Girls Grammar Schools at Sherborne, providing their parents were able to meet the extra costs involved such as the provision of school uniform. From 1958, the children transferred at the age of eleven, to a new purpose built Secondary Modern School at Sturminster Newton. The secondary transfer changed again in 1974 to Sherbone, following the Primary Schools amalgamation, with the neighbouring parish of Bishops Caundle. The school continued as an annexe to Bishops Caundle until its closure in 1976, following the opening of the new Area Primary School, which combined the pupils of Primary School age from the parishes of Bishops Caundle, Folke and Bishops Caundle. In the entrance hall of the new School was placed the bell from Folke, mounted in the turret removed from the former Bishops Caundle School, and surmounted with the clock from Stourton Caundle. All of these items were stolen in a burglary at the new school building in 1982. The redundant School building, the only surviving property still in the ownership of the Stourton Estate, was then purchased by the former Headmaster Mr Ted Foxwell from the trustees of the Hoare Estate, and converted to a domestic dwelling.
2. The Primary School- During the early years of the century, the Headmistress at the Village Primary School was a Mrs Clench, and her daughter Miss Daisy Clench taught the infants class, they lived at Myrtle Cottage. In 1918 a new lady Headteacher was appointed she lodged at Brunsells Farm, and later married Mr Harry Holdway. Mrs Holdway remained as Headteacher for a period of twenty-eight years. Miss Dutton who took up residence at Corner Cottage replaced her. Miss Dutton left after the 1953 fire which left her homeless. Mr Foxwell was then appointed Headmaster, and he remained in post until he transferred to Bishops Caundle in 1974, taking up the post as Headmaster of the new Area Primary School in 1976. Miss Tite gave many years of dedicated and loyal service as Teacher of the infant’s class and remained in post until the schools closure.
In 1884 Stourton Caundle was at the fore front of moves to bring an improvement to education in rural Dorset, illiteracy was widespread, and the recognition of the benefits of a good basic education scarcely perceived, until the first world war all children could finish their education at the age of eleven. Teachers also had to contend with truancy caused by the needs of agriculture, with children expected to undertake many of the menial tasks in the fields such as potato picking. There was Strong discipline at the school, and the cane was used whenever the child misdemeanour was considered of sufficient gravity to warrant it, with no distinction made between boys and girls. There were four rows of double desks in the large classroom, with the youngest pupils situated in the front row, and the ten to eleven year olds at the back. The pupils were seated in perceived order of ability, with the brightest to the Headteachers left when facing the class, and then in descending order across the classroom to the far right. The Head Teacher taught a mixed age and ability range of pupils in a single classroom without any kind of support, the children walked to the school unsupervised, and parents never set foot inside the school gate. The parents always supported punishment administered at the school. Pre war the school playground was partitioned by means of a stone wall, and any boy caught in the girl’s playground was immediately punished by caning. Following Mr Foxwells appointment in 1953 the dividing wall was removed, morning assemblies were held in the large classroom for all of the schools pupils, and all children shared the same playtimes. Christmas nativity plays were also produced, and as the years progressed they became more ambitious, culminating in a production of Charles Dickens Christmas Carol, with the Village Hall being hired on that occasion. Post war pupils were divided into mixed age groups for outdoor activities, such as team sports and gardening, pre war there was no playing field, the land being used as a garden plot for the Schoolhouse. The only out door equipment was a swing and a sandpit, marbles, hop scotch rope, skipping and chainey, more commonly known as tag, were the normal playground activities. In the classroom the emphasis was very much on numeracy and literacy, tables were recited on a regular basis by all the class, and left imprinted on the pupils mind. School visits were also organised based on educational need, these included visits to the Swannery at Abbotsbury, and the Bath and West Show. Following the announcement of the proposed closure of the School, there was much protest and discussion.
Numbers attending the school had dropped to below thirty, with no prospect of any increase. The school finally closed in 1976, just eight years short of its centenary. An excellent standard of education was provided, when measured against the resources available at the time, and all the pupils can look back with a sense of gratitude, to all the staff who taught at the school.
After 1971 numbers declined even further, down to the lower twenties, resulting in 1974 with the amalgamation of the school, with Bishops Caundle Primary School. Closure followed in 1976, with the opening of the new Area Primary School at Bishops Caundle. To counter opposition to the closure, the Education Authority gave all pupils of primary school age, free transport to Bishops Caundle. This was later withdrawn for pupils over the age of seven, and living within two miles of the school gate. The two mile demarcation line is half way down Golden Hill.
In 1884 Stourton Caundle was at the fore front of moves to bring an improvement to education in rural Dorset, illiteracy was widespread, and the recognition of the benefits of a good basic education scarcely perceived, until the first world war all children could finish their education at the age of eleven. Teachers also had to contend with truancy caused by the needs of agriculture, with children expected to undertake many of the menial tasks in the fields such as potato picking. There was Strong discipline at the school, and the cane was used whenever the child misdemeanour was considered of sufficient gravity to warrant it, with no distinction made between boys and girls. There were four rows of double desks in the large classroom, with the youngest pupils situated in the front row, and the ten to eleven year olds at the back. The pupils were seated in perceived order of ability, with the brightest to the Headteachers left when facing the class, and then in descending order across the classroom to the far right. The Head Teacher taught a mixed age and ability range of pupils in a single classroom without any kind of support, the children walked to the school unsupervised, and parents never set foot inside the school gate. The parents always supported punishment administered at the school. Pre war the school playground was partitioned by means of a stone wall, and any boy caught in the girl’s playground was immediately punished by caning. Following Mr Foxwells appointment in 1953 the dividing wall was removed, morning assemblies were held in the large classroom for all of the schools pupils, and all children shared the same playtimes. Christmas nativity plays were also produced, and as the years progressed they became more ambitious, culminating in a production of Charles Dickens Christmas Carol, with the Village Hall being hired on that occasion. Post war pupils were divided into mixed age groups for outdoor activities, such as team sports and gardening, pre war there was no playing field, the land being used as a garden plot for the Schoolhouse. The only out door equipment was a swing and a sandpit, marbles, hop scotch rope, skipping and chainey, more commonly known as tag, were the normal playground activities. In the classroom the emphasis was very much on numeracy and literacy, tables were recited on a regular basis by all the class, and left imprinted on the pupils mind. School visits were also organised based on educational need, these included visits to the Swannery at Abbotsbury, and the Bath and West Show. Following the announcement of the proposed closure of the School, there was much protest and discussion.
Numbers attending the school had dropped to below thirty, with no prospect of any increase. The school finally closed in 1976, just eight years short of its centenary. An excellent standard of education was provided, when measured against the resources available at the time, and all the pupils can look back with a sense of gratitude, to all the staff who taught at the school.
After 1971 numbers declined even further, down to the lower twenties, resulting in 1974 with the amalgamation of the school, with Bishops Caundle Primary School. Closure followed in 1976, with the opening of the new Area Primary School at Bishops Caundle. To counter opposition to the closure, the Education Authority gave all pupils of primary school age, free transport to Bishops Caundle. This was later withdrawn for pupils over the age of seven, and living within two miles of the school gate. The two mile demarcation line is half way down Golden Hill.
3. The School Flower Show
When Mr Foxwell was appointed Headmaster in 1953, he felt that the School needed some sort of corporate activity to bond children, staff and parents together, and in the summer of that year he organised the first Flower Show. At first it was intended to be a Children's Show, but very early on it became evident, that there was a need for a full scale Flower Show under R.H.S. rules. In the early years competition amongst the cottage gardeners was fierce, cups were awarded to the winners of the various sections, and a cup was also presented to the person who overall gained most points. After the show, Mr Vern Guy auctioned all the unclaimed exhibits, to raise money for the school funds. Various side-show’s and attractions were organised, including skittles and a coconut shy. On the evening of the 1955 show, a comic football match took place in the orchard at the rear of the School between the fathers of school pupils from either end of the village, the demarcation line being the Trooper Inn. Adult sports competitions also took place in the orchard, with staggered starts for the participants in the sprint races, according to their age. The funds raised were intended to be used for the purchase of sports equipment, but such was the enthusiasm and support shown, that a 16mm cine camera and projector were purchased, In the mid 1960s a learners swimming pool was purchased which meant that during the last five years of the Schools life every leaver was awarded a proficiency badge for swimming. In 1969 the show was jointly organised by Mr Foxwell and the Sports Club Committee, Mr Henry Paull organised a Tug-of-War competition, in which teams from the village and surrounding area participated, on this occasion the money raised was divided equally between the School and the Sports Club.
When Mr Foxwell was appointed Headmaster in 1953, he felt that the School needed some sort of corporate activity to bond children, staff and parents together, and in the summer of that year he organised the first Flower Show. At first it was intended to be a Children's Show, but very early on it became evident, that there was a need for a full scale Flower Show under R.H.S. rules. In the early years competition amongst the cottage gardeners was fierce, cups were awarded to the winners of the various sections, and a cup was also presented to the person who overall gained most points. After the show, Mr Vern Guy auctioned all the unclaimed exhibits, to raise money for the school funds. Various side-show’s and attractions were organised, including skittles and a coconut shy. On the evening of the 1955 show, a comic football match took place in the orchard at the rear of the School between the fathers of school pupils from either end of the village, the demarcation line being the Trooper Inn. Adult sports competitions also took place in the orchard, with staggered starts for the participants in the sprint races, according to their age. The funds raised were intended to be used for the purchase of sports equipment, but such was the enthusiasm and support shown, that a 16mm cine camera and projector were purchased, In the mid 1960s a learners swimming pool was purchased which meant that during the last five years of the Schools life every leaver was awarded a proficiency badge for swimming. In 1969 the show was jointly organised by Mr Foxwell and the Sports Club Committee, Mr Henry Paull organised a Tug-of-War competition, in which teams from the village and surrounding area participated, on this occasion the money raised was divided equally between the School and the Sports Club.
