Carmountside Primary School

75 Glorious Years

1935 - 2010

History of Abbey Hulton

Abbey Hulton is named after the former Hulton Abbey, which was located about half a mile from Milton, on the east side of the road from Stoke to Leek, close to Carmountside Primary School. In the Domesday Book, Hulton is recorded as ‘Heltone’ meaning ‘hill town’

The abbey, dedicated to St Mary, belonged to the Cistercian order, the White Monks. It was founded in 1223 by Henry de Audley. The Audleys continued to be benefactors of the abbey during the Middle Ages, although it was always poor with only ever a small number of monks who were engaged in sheep farming and they had sheepfolds at Normacot and at Mixon in the middle of the 13th century, as well as granges at Hulton and Rushton in Burslem. They were also producing tiles at Hulton in the 14th century.

Sir James de Audley, who was famous for how courageously he fought under the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, was buried in the choir of the abbey church in front of the high altar with his wife (There is a story that, when the abbey church was demolished and the tombs opened, his wife’s hair had continued to grow luxuriantly). Hulton Abbey was surrendered to the Crown on 18th September 1538 by which time it was worth only £200 per year and had only nine monks including the abbot. It was always one of the poorest of Staffordshire’s monasteries.

The abbey site and all its lands were then sold to Sir Edward Aston of Tixall, near Stafford, in 1543. He later sold it to the Sneyds of Keele in the early 17th century.

Excavations of the abbey site took place in 1884 and again in the early 1930s. Stone from the abbey complex was used in a number of buildings in the vicinity, including Abbey Farm.

It was the Housing Act of 1919, which transformed the area to what we know it as today. This encouraged the beginnings of much-needed housing development in many parts of Stoke on Trent, including Abbey Hulton, which helped to re-house families from Burslem, and later in the 1930s from Hanley, under slum clearance programmes.

In 1922 Abbey Hulton became officially part of the County Borough of Stoke on Trent and on the 9th September 1935 Carmountside Council School opened.

History of Our School

On it’s first day, our school admitted 288 pupils, including 64 seniors (11+) from Abbey Hulton School and 36 infants from Milton Infants School. The Headteacher was Mr. George Ackerley, who had a team of 7 staff. The school opening hours were 9:30 to 12:30, and then 2:00 ‘til 4:30.

The school grew quickly. Another 51 children joined in January 1936 and by September of that year, a further 142 pupils arrived – most from Abbey Hulton Junior School. Over the next few months the school continued to grow with building extensions and temporary classrooms added and by September 1937 almost 650 pupils were accommodated within the school grounds.

During July 1938, education in the city was reorganised and Carmountside Council School was renamed Carmountside Junior Mixed School. The school reopened on 1st September with a new headmaster (Mr E. A. Wragg), 6 teachers and 278 children. The smallest class contained 43 children and the largest 51 children.

In February 1950, Mr. C. Talbot commenced duties as Headteacher and remained at Carmountside until September 1959, when his successor, Mr J.H.R. Horley took over the reins. Over the following years, pupil numbers declined and when Mr. R. Machin became Headteacher in 1964, there were only 153 children on roll.

Mr Machin retired in 1967 to be replaced by Mr. I. Thomas. Mr. J.A. Berrisford became Headteacher in May 1970; during this time the number on roll rose to over 440 and the school was renamed Carmountside County Middle and Infants School.

In September 1975 the school was renamed Carmountside First and Middle School. It had 13 classes and 388 children. Eight years later, the school was renamed again, this time becoming Carmountside Primary School. Mr Berrisford retired in 1983 and was replaced as Headteacher by Mrs Tabinor.

In 1994 Mr R. Fotheringham became Headteacher Following his retirement in 2008, Mr Fotheringham was replaced by the current Headteacher, Mr. P.R. McLauchlan.

The War Years

The Autumn term of 1939 started late. The School Log Book entry on the 30th October 1939 reads: ‘ Owing to the outbreak of war, the school has remained closed until this morning. Staff have been in attendance on various duties. This morning 60 children – one shift- were admitted for 1 ½ hours. The whole school working in shifts of 60 attends twice per week with a third shift for scholarship children. Three shifts a day, two in the morning and one in the afternoon are taken’

During the following months, the school prepared for the war. Windows were covered in muslin and strips to prevent breakages from blasts in the event of an air raid and three air raid shelters were built.

On 17th September 1940 at 3:20pm, the school had its first air raid warning. The School Log reports that ‘all children were in the shelter within one minute’. During the next 6 months there were a further six air raid warnings. Gas mask inspections started on 4th July 1941 and continued frequently.

During July 1944, 30 evacuated children from London joined the school, accompanied by one evacuated teacher. They stayed until 22nd June 1945.

In May 1945, the school closed for ‘two days to celebrate the cessation of war Europe’ and the whole school were treated to a day trip to Trentham Gardens. The school then closed for one week at the end of October 1945 to commemorate V.J. Day.

Food, Glorious Food.

From 23rd February 1942, midday meals, both free and paid, were served at school for the first time. These meals were prepared elsewhere and transported to school for the pupils. All this changed on 20th March 1961 when the school kitchens were built and their first meal was served – roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, cabbage and potatoes followed by lemon tart.

On 10th January 1966, Mrs Sharville took up her position of school cook. She had a difficult start when, on the morning of 26th January 1966, the School Log reports that ‘a fire occurred in the school kitchen as a result of the fat igniting in one of the ovens. The fire brigade attended although the flames were extinguished before their arrival’.

On 13th January 1972, ‘the new dining centre was used today for the first time. All the children were accommodated in the middle and new (Top) hall in a single sitting’. One year later, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress visited the school and had lunch with the children; they commented on how much they enjoyed the lovely home cooking provided by the kitchen staff.

Today, school meals are provided by Mrs Mann and her staff who, with the help of Fitzy Fox, encourage the children to eat healthy food. Indeed, in early 2010 the school was awarded Healthy Schools accreditation.

Punishments

Just recently the school’s ‘Punishment Book’ was found. It records the names of every child who has received corporal punishment. The first entries were Ernest and Timothy Benbow (aged 11 and 10) who, on the 27th May 1936, each received 4 strokes of the cane for truancy.

The youngest children in the book were Eric Hughes and Ronald Gordon, both aged 6, who each received two strokes of the cane on the hand for truancy in 1936. The last child to receive the cane at Carmountside was Nicholas Marshall on 23rd June 1982.

The book shows that children’s behaviour hasn’t really changed in the 75 years since the school opened. Most punishments were for misbehaviour, fighting, being cheeky, climbing over fences, disobedience and name calling. However, some of the more unusual reasons for punishing children included: ‘throwing stones at a cow at dinner time’, ‘taking food out of the pig bins’, ‘placing pins on teachers seats’, ‘constant grinning’, ‘unseemly behaviour at a football match’, ‘flagrant disobedience’, ‘shooting rice out of a pea shooter’ and ‘indecent exposure’.

Trips

During our 75th anniversary, we hope to buy a school minibus to allow us to take our children on a variety of outdoor visits. Reading through the School Log Book shows the variety of visits provided to our pupils over the years.

During the 1930s, the ‘senior’ boys and girls spent one week at a time at ‘Camp School’ and visited various ‘Floral Fairs’. Visits stopped during the war years, but picked up again in 1949, when the whole school went on an excursion to Chester Zoo and Rhyl.

The 1950s saw various school trips to theatres and to attend several ‘royal visits’.

1960 saw the whole school again go on an educational visit by train to Chester Zoo and to Rhyl. The following year, the whole school went to Liverpool, Llandudno and then St. Tudno and then, in 1962, the whole school went to Lake Windermere and Morecombe – To replicate these trips today would probably require a team of experts and at least a week to complete the relevant ‘Healthy and Safety’ risk assessments!

During the late 1960s, school trips reverted back to going to theatres, sporting events and music festivals. However, when Mr Berrisford arrived as Headteacher, things changed. Mr

Wood, Miss Hurst (Mrs Halfpenny), Mr Chibbett and Miss Hargreaves began to regularly take groups of children to Youth Hostels in the Lake District and to residential stays at Stanley Head Outdoor Activities Centre. They also started to lead walks and rambles to places like the Roaches and Leek or to Hartington and the Manifold Valley. These walks and visits were regular events throughout the 1970s and provided opportunities for the pupils to participate in exciting activities that were not normally available to them.

Unfortunately, the 1980s and beyond saw the culture of ‘health and safety’ and ‘value for money’ take a hold in education and many of these trips were abandoned. However, over the last few years we have been trying hard to develop more trips as a part of our curriculum and we hope that the addition of our new school minibus will help this. We are also looking at plans to reintroduce residential visits to Stanley Head Outdoor Education Centre for our older pupils.

Parties, Performances and Plays

Carmountside has always been known as a school that encourages drama and celebrates success.

The school always ensured a happy time for pupils as Christmas drew near. All preparations were generously made by volunteers and funds were accumulated through Fairs, sponsored events and gifts from well wishers. The younger children enjoyed a traditional Christmas party with games and food, and Santa would visit to give every child a present. The older children usually had a treat, perhaps a visit to a pantomime or to the cinema.

The children were reminded of the real meaning of Christmas through their assemblies, in word and in song. The youngest pupils often performed a nativity play whilst the older pupils sang carols.

Carmountside has always enjoyed the live performances of drama, music and dance, whether by artists and companies visiting the school or, more especially, by pupils, supported by staff in directing, coaching, writing, singing and dancing, making costumes and

stage sets. The high level of success and commitment is reflected in the pleasure on the faces of the children and audiences alike.

Our recent performances of ‘Whoops-a-Daisy Angel’ and ‘Magic Moments’ were perhaps the best ever given by children at our school and would be worthy of gracing the

stage at a large theatre.

Children have also been encouraged to write, choreograph and direct their own performances at our ‘Carmountside’s Got Talent’ events and have been able to show their creative side, designing Easter bonnets and easter Gardens.

Carmountside had a period of great success with music during the 1970s. Here are a few exerts from the School Log:

16/3/73 – The school choir took part in the Newcastle Festival of Music and gained third places in the open class and Under 12s Junior Choirs

22/3/74 – A choir and recorder band participated in the Newcastle Music Festival at Edward Orme School, and each group gained ‘first class honours’ and first place in their class’.

11/5/74 – ‘At Biddulph Music Festival the school choir came first in their class winning the Rex Brown Gibson Trophy. In recorder solo class, Sheena Condliff came first, Tracy Sims third and Angela Smith fourth’. 1/11/74 – ’14 children to Macclesfield to participate in the Music Festival groups for

recorders and clarinets. Clarinets quartet gained first place. Recorder group gained first place. Tracy Sims and Jane Williams joint 2nd Solo recorders’.

Sporting Success

Carmountside has always enjoyed success in many sports. Teachers led the teams with enthusiasm and generosity, spending many hours coaching and taking teams to matches and tournaments. Many teachers worked steadfastly on behalf of Hanley Town Sports

Association and at City events, ensuring that high standards of sporting activity could thrive

Sport England introduced its ActiveMark which was awarded to schools meeting standards of excellence in sporting provision; needless to say, Carmountside

was an early winner of this award. Some of Carmountside’s outstanding achievements are listed below:

2nd July 1947 – Hanley Sports. Carmountside Junior boys are champions 8 July 1947 – Junior Games Festival. Carmountside Girls win the Exchange Relay Race, the

Circular Pillar Ball Game and Rounders. 3rd July 1962 – After her success at the City Sports Event, Linda Temperance Price is

chosen to represent Hanley in the High Jump 5th May 1964 – Two children chosen to represent Hanley in the City Swimming Gala 8th July 1964 – Two boys chosen to represent Central Area Stoke in the Stoke City School

Sports 6th March 1980 – Girls Cross Country Team are Hanley Town Champions 2nd April 1980 – Boys Football Team are League Champions 5th June 1980 – Town Champions in Shotput and Rounders Ball Throwing 15th October 1980 – Boys and Girls teams are Town Cross Country Champions 12th March 1981 – Girls team are Town Cross Country Champions again. Two girls coming

1st and 2nd overall in individual competition

In 2008/2009 the school had a fantastic sporting year. Our girls teams were town champions in Netball, Cricket, football and rounders; they were also city champions in rounders and cricket and county finalists in cricket and netball.

2009/2010 has also proved to be a very successful sporting year. The year started with two teams competing in the British Indoor Rowing Championships. Our boys team finished a very credible 4th place and our girls team were bronze medal winners – an amazing achievement!

Sporting success continued throughout the year with Carmountside teams reaching three different County finals.

Trials and Tribulations

Of course, everything doesn’t always go as planned. Over the years there have been break ins, injuries, powercuts and problems.

Heating and inclement weather has always been a problem for every school. The School Log Book comments that on 17th November 1937, the ‘infant department (4 classes) occupying new huts, dismissed at end of morning session owing to condition of the atmosphere in the huts due to non efficiency of the heating stoves’.

1963 was a particularly cold winter. The following are extracts from the School Log:

16th January 1963 – ‘During the extreme severe frosts of last weekend the school water supply froze completely. The new water meter housed by the gate was damaged. No water was available to the kitchen either. However, on Monday 14th January, by careful husbandin of, the water left in the tanks, the kitchen managed to function. On Tuesday diligent efforts by the fire brigade and caretaker (Mr Carter) and plumber, the girls toilets were returned to working order, the boys toilets remained frozen. Last night a burst above the staff kitchen flooded the electric store and the boiler room to a depth of six inches’

21st January 1963 – ‘Following the bitter east wind and blizzard of the weekend, we arrived at school to find all water supplies still frozen. The classrooms with the east wind blowing on them were cold 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Many children absent. The Office informed me that we must keep going if possible. The boiler was set at 190, the extra pumps set going and the children sat in coats’.

22nd January 1963 – ‘School a little warmer. Hot cocoa and sweetened milk prepared by the kitchen staff, using school milk supplies, was served out of beakers to the children at playtime .. Several boys this dinner hour helped to clear the Barratt Bungalows of snow. Under Mrs Lee the dinner children have done Trojan work breaking up the ice and snow in the south playground’.

25th January 1963 – ‘Temperature only at freezing point, quite tropical’.

1st February 1963 – ‘More snow. The children have written letters to Mr Joe Acton (Pop) our school caretaker who is in Loggerheads Sanitorium. Mr Acton was taken ill just before Christmas. I will be visiting him with gifts, cards and letters’.

6th February 1963 – ‘Bitter east wind and driving blizzard, very cold in school’.

During the fuel shortage of 1972, a rota system had to be introduced for classes. Only two classrooms were heated by electricity, so only two classes could come into school at a time. This continued throughout February and March.

Over the years, we have also had our share of bumps and bruises. On 7th May 1936 ‘Eric Hughes fell down the concrete steps and badly cut his eye. Took the boy to Dr Wood who inserted a stitch’. A few months later, ‘Gordan Dyke fell and cut eyebrow, taken to Dr Wood who inserted two stitches’. The school certainly seemed to keep Dr Woods busy.

On 13th February 1946, the School Log Book reports that ‘accident happened in playground. One child collided with another while playing marbles and ripped a nail off. Injured boy taken home’ – what dangerous games we used to play!

28th June 1972 was a date remembered fondly by many ex pupils and staff as it was the day that the ‘quad’, or veranda, was at last made weather proof as it became enclosed thanks to the installation of windows