The Free and Royal Free Schools in Windsor
Extracts from the School Log Book 1863-1929
“Monday, June 1st, 1863 – First day under revised Code of regulations promulgated by the Committee of Council of Education.
Morning Attendance 135
Afternoon Attendance 119
Thin attendance (Ascot Week)
Vicar started for Italy.
Commenced working the school in the new “standards.”
Thos. Caley fainted thro’ the heat and closeness of the afternoon.”
This is the first entry in the oldest book and is quoted in full as in many ways it is typical. It can hardly be that this was the first day in the new school. The first few pages are missing. The code of Regulation referred to is that of Robert Lowe who introduced the hated “payment by results,” which was the curse of Elementary Education for the latter part of the nineteenth Century. Definite “standards” 9 from 1 to 6 and later 7) were laid down, and for a child to earn the grant for the school he had to pass a yearly examination in the “3R’s.” This led to a narrow curriculum; cheating by masters and boys; to a hatred of learning; and instruction in cultural and scientific subjects, which had started to be introduced, gradually ceased. This is the oldest surviving record of any school log book in Windsor.
“Friday, June 26th, 1863 – Prince Consort’s Windsor Association Meeting in Home Park. Vegetables sent in for exhibition by four boys (each obtained a prize)”
Attendance was entered for each day and varied from 132 to 152.
“Tuesday, September 1st, 1863. – 8 boys elected to Foundation.”
This sort of entry occurs each year. There were always 35 boys on the Foundation. These received their schooling free and were given a suit and two pairs of boots per year. Other boys’ parents had to pay a fee “school pence”.
“Tuesday, September 8th, 1863. – Teachers accompanied a party of 73 boys who visited the Zoological Gardens, Regents Park, from 7.55 a.m. to 8 p.m.”
“Thursday, September 10th, 1863. – Boys all proceeded to the site of the New Church to witness the formal commencement of the foundation.
Rev. S. J. Stone – Scripture lesson.”
All saints’ Church. – The Rev. S. J. Stone was curate, and wrote the hymn “The Church’s one foundation”
“Thursday, 24th September, 1863. – Boys troublesome today; excited by the appearance of a travelling circus on the Acre.”
“Saturday, 21st November 1863
– at the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of All Saints’ Church by the Princess Royal of England (Princess William of Prussia).”
“March 10th, 1864. – Half holiday. Baptism of Prince Albert of Wales.” (Later Edward VII).
There were many holidays such as this. Although the normal school holidays were short compared with those of today, the boys of last century enjoyed many more “occasional” holidays than do the boys of today.
May 18th, 1864. – Elder boys went for their annual walk to Burnham Beeches with the teachers.”
In June 1864 the first master (Albert Williams) left. Mr William Whittington succeeded him in August, and Mr. Baldwin was in charge in the meantime.
“June 27th, 1864. – School Fees – collected 15s. 5d. – 1s. 7d. back money.
It seems to have been a normal duty at the time for the boys on the Foundation to clean the school. “Payment by result” was by now having its effect by reducing the subjects of the curriculum to the 3 R’s,” and in 1864 no boys were presented above 4th Standard so that more grant was secured.
On August 3rd, 1864, an entry in the same book reads “Miss Watkins left to take charge of the new Infants’ School at Spital.”
“September 19th, 1864. – Boys sitting round the altar do not behave properly.”
“October 18th, 1864. – Cautioned choir boys about their behaviour in church.”
“December 14th, 1864. – Rev. S. Rooke attended and addressed scholars present on —-‘s crime and the punishment that would have been inflicted but for the intercession of Mrs. —- (the victim’s mother) – expelled the choir.”
The crime was “when excited by drink he had stabbed – with a penknife – in church.”
“December 21st, 1864. – Church in morning. Free boys had each a 4lb. Loaf.”
Pyle’s gift – S. Thomas’ Day
“February 1, 1865. – Cautioned boys throwing snowballs in British School premises.”
“May 2nd, 1865. – Half holiday, the opening game of the cricket by the newly established club. All the boys accompanied the players to the Home Park where a pleasant afternoon was spent.”
“December 15th, 1866. – Friday, Boys out in Industrial work from 3 – 4pm.”
Similar entries occur several times, It has not been discovered what sort of work this was, but it always took place on Fridays.
“March 2nd, 1866. – Whole school went to Church at 11, being Fast Day on acet. of Cattle Plague.”
The great outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.
“September 18th, 1866. – Teachers and 54 boys paid visit to Kensington Museum.”
“May 19th, 1867. – Boys went at ??? to the Home Park and enjoyed a game of cricket, racing, balloons, etc. Milk and buns served at 4.30.
Attendance 157 – 15 above average.”
“August 12th, 1867. – School Feast at Shaw Farm. Rifle Volunteers’ Band accompanied procession at 1.45 p.m.”
“September 17th, 1867. – Much excitement – circus on the Acre.”
“October 1st, 1867. – Night School commenced.”
This appears to have continued till the end of the century and was sometimes inspected by H.M.I., but nothing is known about what was taught.
“November 27th, 1867. – Mr. Griffin visited about Free Boys’ clothing – measured boys in afternoon.”
December 13th, 1869. – School closed at 11.15. Elder boys attended Parish Church. Foundation Stone of new Chancel laid.”
1869 – Roll fell from 170 to 150.
“November 27th, 1870. – Revised registers – filled up returns as per New Education Act.”
The 1870 Education Act appears to have left the school largely unaffected. There was never a School Board for Windsor and all schools were Non-Provided until the building of Clarence Road in 1930.
A typical staff at this time was:
Headmaster (Mr William Whittington).
An assistant teacher.
Two third year Pupil Teachers.
Two first year Pupil Teachers.
The roll was (1871) 200, but the average attendance only 158. Throughout this period the attendance was very poor by modern standards.
1871 pupil numbers from the first Government Inspection indicate: Boys 275 Girls 275.
“September 2nd, 1872. – Altered Time Table – as regards Music in the afternoon substituting Arithc.”
“Specific” subjects earning grant apart from that earned by 3 R’s introduced about this time. To some extent this counteracted the evil effects of Low’s Revised Code.
“October 30th, 1875. – Floods in lower part of Windsor kept many children absent.”
Harrod & Co Directory 1876 lists 36 boys, 36 girls (must have referred to the old school) ~ “and are doing a great work for the rising generation, the instruction being very liberal and efficient”
“January 8th, 1877. – Many children kept away because of flood. Roll 270.”
“June 27th, 1877. – New rooms opened with a short service by the Vicar. Roll 318.”
In 1878 the Boys’ School Log Book has the entry “New rooms opened with a short service by the Vicar.” It is not clear to which rooms this refers. In 1894, with the approval of the Charity Commission, stock belonging to the National School (Marratt’s Charity) to the value of £400 was sold and used for improving the school. It was at about this time that the cloakroom was built. In 1910 considerable additions were made to the back of the school. The extent of these can be clearly be seen today by the newer bricks, and by the fact that the older part deep scores have been made by former scholars sharpening slate pencils. During the process of building, rooms at the Old Infirmary were used for instruction.
“November 8th, 1878. – Commenced Algebra with class 1.”
“January, 1879. – New S. Bd. Officer made an appearance.”
Difficult to understand this, as there was no School Board for Windsor. Probably it means an Attendance Officer – “School Board Man” was a common title for this official until recent times.
“1881, – Wm. Lutwyche – Monitor. Roll 363.”
He had been a pupil at this school since 1875. Became Monitor, Pupil Teacher, then uncertificated and certified Assistant and finally Headmaster retiring in 1930. Mr Lutwyche died 1954.
“December 21st, 1881. – Free Boys received the usual loaf from the Pyle’s Charity.” (S. Thomas’ Day).
“1883. – Wm. Lutwyche ??????????????????????????
In 1885 Mr Whittington retired and was succeeded by Mr Richard Knight. Mr Whittington died and was buried on December 4th, 1885 and boys and masters attended his funeral.
“June 17th, 1887. – Broke up in consequence of Her Majesty’s Jubilee – distributed to the children the badges to be worn on the left breast on the day of entertainment – the 23rd inst.”
In 1889 School Pence was still being collected regularly £5 0s. 6d. per month.
July 23rd, 1890 The school Managers ask the Department of Education if they may combine the school accounts for three schools, Royal Free Middle School, Royal Free Infant School and Spital Infant School. On 4th November 1908 the Managers were told by the Board of Education that separate accounts must be kept.
“September 23rd, 1891. – Master left at 9.30 to go to London to select Drawing material.”
The curriculum was expanding. Grammar, Geography, Singing were being taught in 1890; and in 1892 “My Lords have paid the grant for Animal Physiology this year….”
“March 7th, 1898. – The master left school at 12 in order to purchase library books.”
In 1900 a Nurse started visiting the school, to attend to and inspect the boys.
“Mar.16th, 1904. – Members of Education Committee visited the school.”
This is first mentioned of the Education Committee formed as a result of the 1902 Education Act. The school has become a “Non-Provided” School under the Windsor Part III Education Authority in 1902. Up to that time the Managers of all schools of this type had dealt directly with the Education Department.
One great difference between the school of 1863-1910 and today was the very low average attendance. To encourage better attendance a half day’s holiday was given monthly by the Education Committee if attendance was above 92% – not high for today. The Royal Free Boys’ School generally obtained its holiday.
Medical Examinations mentioned for the first time ; and there were free places gained to the “New Secondary School.” This school had been established in Trinity Place by the Berkshire Education Authority under the 1902 Act. Every year boys gained “free places” from the Royal Free.
February 2ns 1909 The Borough of New Windsor Education Committee suggested to the Managers of the schools “Some members of my committee request that the Managers be asked to consider whether less cumberson names might be adopted” Existing New Windsor Royal Free Church of England School”
“December 15th, 1909. – Incandescent lamps were used for the first time today.”
1909 pupil numbers Boys 383, Girls 314, Infants 344
“June 21st, 1910. – H.M.I has given permission for the instruction of the children in swimming to be held in ordinary school hours.”
In 1910 the buildings were considerably extended. On November 2nd “New classrooms opened.”
“January 18th, 1911. –Sgt. Shardlow gave drill instruction.”
This is the first entry mentioning Sgt. Shardlow who will be remembered by many – he cam to both Boys’ and Girls’ Schools to give “drill” instruction – in the playground, and later in the Congregational Church Hall in inclement weather
March 15th 1915 Board of Education approve plans for the extension of the school and the numbers of pupils it will house.
Kelly’s Directory 1915 Royal Free Church of England, 365 boys, 301 girls, R G Knight master Miss H Curtis mistress
“February 2nd, 1916. – Sgt. F. Fuzzens, who has been granted the M.M…. revisited his old school.”
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rapidly in 1917 owing to people coming to Windsor from London to avoid Air Raids. A communal Kitchen was established in the “committee Room” (where the Gym now stands) and this was visited by the late Queen Mary on 20th September, 1918, a team of Service “Old Boys” played the school at Football.
“11th November ’18. – News of Armistice at 11.10 a.m. At midday whole school assembled and cheered and sang ‘God Save the King.’ A half holiday was given by the Mayor.”
“1st April, 1919. – Boys who have passed through Standard VI have been formed into a Students’ Class with a special curriculum consisting of Algebra, Geometry, Literature English and European History, Geology, Physiology and Hygiene and Esperanto, to encourage boys to remain longer at school.”
This class was successful and continued for many years. H.M.I. considered it would have formed the nucleus of a “Central” School had one been established in Windsor.
“ June 28th, 1921. – The V. Provost of Eton attended (Managers’ Meeting) and explained that a sum of £100 had been collected with which to perpetuate the memory of Mr. Batt, late librarian of Eton College, who had as a lad been a scholar here. He explained that it was the wish of his relatives that this money should be invested as a Trust Fund the interest to be spent in buying prizes…. for greatest proficiency in old and New Testament History….”
Since then these prizes have been given on the result of an examination each year. Thus the school has two endowed prizes for religious Knowledge. The “Champagne” prizes are always presented on Speech Day by a member of the Chapter of St. George’s; and the “Batt” prizes by a member of Eton College.
During the years of the war, and immediately after, visits to places of interest in the vicinity became a feature of the teaching – S. Georges Chapel; Runnymede; Town water Works, etc.
“March 9th, 1923. – The whole of the boys taken to Empire Theatre to “listen in” from 3-4 p.m.”
“January 9th, 1924. – Boys went to Western Cottage to witness unveiling of Memorial Tablet to Rev. J. S. Stone and sang “The Church’s one Foundation.” (see 10.9.1863).
1925 and 1926. Many sports Trophies were won, including the Berkshire County Shield and the Borough Shield, both for swimming, for four years in succession.
“April 29th, ’29. – H.M.I. visited and viewed premises with regard to their fitness for use as a Senior Boys’ School.”