New Penshaw Council Schools for Boys and Girls
The dimensions of the schools are :-
Size of school rooms
boys 52 ft x20 ft x 131/2 ft =14040 cubic ft
girls 52 ft x20 ft x 131/2 ft =14040 cubic ft
infants 42 ft x 25 ft x 131/2 ft =14175 cubic ft
classrooms
boys 1st 18ft x 15 ft x 131/2 = 3645 cubic ft
boys 2nd 18ft x 15 ft x 131/2 = 3645 cubic ft
girls 1st 18ft x 15 ft x 131/2 = 3645 cubic ft
girls 2nd 18ft x 15 ft x 131/2 = 3645 cubic ft
infants 20 ft x 15ft x 131/2 = 4050 cubic ft
1879 January 27th
The boy school opened this morning at 10'o clock, present were Mr Smith and Mr H Banks members of the board. 21 children were admitted, but owing to the non delivery of books and other materials, no work could be done before noon, a consignment appeared but no slates.
January 29th
Books received from the North of England funn Co
12 Richardson's Temperance Read
12 Curtis Poetical Reader
20 each of Royal Readers no 4 and 5
24 each of Royal Readers no 1,2 and 3
20 each of Farrold's New Code Readers 5,4,3,2,1- ordered but not arrived
1/2 ream of foolscap, 1/3 ream of blotting, 1 gross of pen holders,2 gross of pens, 6 doz slates, 1000 pencils, 2 gallon of ink
January 28th
Slates delivered in the course of the morning, Mr Smith called. I examined children and found 12 who were entirely ignorant of the alphabet or only knew part of it. the writing and arithmetic was in an equally backward state, two more children were admitted.
February 3rd
Admitted 12 children making a total of 37 now in attendance. Wallace fell down and dislocated his elbow, sent for his mother, I punished Edward Reed. Mr Smith called at the school.
February 4 th
At a meeting of the Penshaw and Offerton school board held on the 4th February. resolved on the motion of Hedworth Banks, seconded by Joseph James Spraggon, that the bible be read for the first half hour after school is opened in the morning without note or comment
signed John. R. Legge, Clerk to the board
Mr W. Parkinson starts his duties today, as the school attendance officer
February 11th
The board met in the afternoon messrs Smith, Spraggon, McClaren and Banks and also came into the school.
February 24th
Sever snow storm today and consequently all children from a distance are absent. My wife being ill I sent standard 1 into the infant school and the rest into the girls in the afternoon while I went to seek assistance.
April 2nd
Resolved at a meeting of the school board held on April 1st - that the children, whose parents are thrown out of employment by the stoppage of the colliery, be allowed to come to school, without payment till there is some settlement at the pit. And that the teachers be instructed to collect the arrears as far as possible after that period.
July 1st
Names of the children who have been reported for irregular attendance -
C.Elliott; J.Wilson; J.Wallace; J.C.Wallace; J.W. Kinross; T.Nicholson; S.Waite; J.White; T.Irwin; R.Hajar; T Waite; T Muncaster; J.Baster.
September 22nd
Shiney Row school closed 36 new boys admitted.
September 23rd
Mr. T.Hutton came to teach till 1st October
October 7th
Several boys having gone to Newbottle and Herrington schools, I have communicated with the masters from each district and two have agreed not to accept children from each others districts.
1880 February 23rd
Having accidentally learned that some members of the families of Chisholm; Kinross; Wilcocks were suffering from Scarlet Fever, I immediately sent them home and cancelled their attendance, I also informed other teachers of the existence of fever in the families.
May 10th
Many children are absent through illness like measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough
The Girls School
1879 January 31st
School opened and only sixteen children were present, owing to the sever weather. Mr Smith and Mr Banks paid a visit.
August 1st
Margaret Higgins punished on Wednesday for disobedience
September 22nd
Owing to the closing of the colliery school the number of children has increased.
1880 June 4th
A number of children are absent due to measles, Isabella Malcolm still absent. Average attendance is now 76.
June 11th
Isabella Malcolm returned for her duties, but she fainted in school, and was ill for some after.