Perlethorpe School teachers

I was fascinated to read a comment from a HMI report on Perlethorpe School dated 1907 saying that children should be taught to think and not just memorise. Of course today we would all agree, but maybe in that post-Victorain age it was still a new concept to some. I can assure you that all the teachers at Perlethorpe between 1950 and its closure in 1984 certainly placed a healthy emphasis on thinking.

Miss J E Bruce became the Headmistress in January 1950. At the start of the school day, and after dinner, the pupils would line up in two orderly rows at the sound of her bell, ready to enter the school via the dark oak door which was situated on the left of the front of the building. (This porch entrance was converted to a window during the renovations of 1959, and the porch became a storeroom.) Coats were hung inside that porch. The seniors then turned right and sat in rows with their backs to two rectangular windows, awaiting Mrs Bruce's instruction. The juniors walked straight ahead, beneath the high arched window on their left, and entered the rear classroom to be taught by Mrs Ward. A spelling mistake might merit a slap on the leg from her, whilst good work could merit a new pencil, complete with the novelty of having an eraser on the end.

The curriculum involved a rich variety of pursuits from the learning of "times tables" (during which one was forbidden to sit down until you got it right), to plentiful nature walks in Thoresby Estate. The exercise books in which we recorded details from our Nature Studies were emerald green, a favoured book amongst older pupils. Juniors wrote in pencil in a small brown "My Bijou Book" (see sidebar picture).

Miss J E Bruce, a slim, reserved lady, usually dressed in grey, resigned as Headmistress in December 1960. She was noted for her dedication towards getting her pupils through the 11+ examination and to a grammar school beyond.

Above: Renovations to Perlethorpe School were completed in 1959. During the course of those renovations the children attended lessons in the Village Hall, 100 yards down the road, which had been built in 1957.

Mr Peter Pierpont took over as Headteacher in January 1961, with Mrs Morgan in charge of the juniors. The dinner lady was Mrs Langstaff. Peter Pierpont (no relation to the Pierreponts) was probably the first male schoolteacher Perlethorpe had employed. His outgoing nature, and slightly boisterous attendance at Village Hall socials, whilst the children got involved with Twist dance competitions, is something I well remember. Examination results for the 11+ in 1961 show standards of education were high with the majority of the applicants going on to grammar school. Mr Pierpont died in 1963.

Above: Mr Peter Pierpont stages a joke photograph with the pupils outside the side entrance to the school, c.1959, with Mrs Morgan in the rear. (Pupils names listed in the comments box). Below: My childhood sketch of either one or both of the Fretwell brothers who posed for the class.

 

Peter Pierpont was replaced by C. Alan Bollans in April 1964, whilst Mrs Morgan continued to teach the juniors. Mr Bollands would be the last teacher to work at Perlethorpe School before its closure. His service towards all aspects of the life of Thoresby Estate was notable, and when the school closed Mr Bollans became the attendant at Thoresby Gallery.

Above: Mr C. Bollans with a group of school children outside the school grounds in front of Perlethorpe Church, c.1962. (Pupil names are listed in the comments box. Many thanks to those ex-pupils who emailed details).

See also: Perlethorpe School, Perlethorpe School class of c.1954, Perlethorpe School environmental centre, and Perlethorpe School Environmental Centre renovations 2015.