School Archive

In 2019, the school was presented with former headteacher Gill Llewellyn’s collection of newspaper articles from her time at the school. This was the start of my journey of discovery of the school’s fascinating past via the log books and the assortment of photographs and other mementos boxed up over the years. It then expanded to newspaper articles from The British Newspaper Archive and various other sources for earlier information.

The log books were very revealing. To begin with, they provided a formal and quite mundane record, with a gradual move to a more interesting school-life after the Second World War. An informality in the style of recording became more pronounced from the 1970s. They were dutifully kept by successive headteachers until 2012 and a summary may be found below. I retired as senior administrator at the school in 2022 but if you have any photographs or documents you think may be of interest, do please get in touch with the school at admin@southmarstonprimary.co.uk or myself at wttmh1@gmail.com

Hilary Brooks

Archivist

Late in the decade, intelligence tests for 7, 9 and 10 year-olds, arranged by Swindon Education Authority were launched, followed by the school becoming recognised as having Controlled Status by the Board of Education in 1951.

It wasn’t until around this time that running water was installed. Soon after, the lavatories were connected to the main water supply and a teachers’ lavatory was provided in 1953. Past pupils may recall the partition in the main room (now the hall) creating two classrooms. It was fitted in 1955 due to a shortage of space and remained in place for many years. Two Alycan stoves were installed to heat the new spaces.

Report by HMI in 1956:

“…There are three small classrooms, two divided by a movable partition. The older children, 21 in number, are taught by the Head Mistress. The 7-8 group, 25 in all, have had many changes of teacher over the past 4 years, and are at present taught by their third teacher since September 1955. The Infants, 21 in all, are taught by a mistress, who like the Head Mistress, has given long and devoted service to the school…”

“There is a close link between school and village. It is unfortunate there is no adequate space for folk dancing.”

Folk and country dancing appears to have been quite an important activity from this time forward, becoming regularly noted in the log book and with festivals taking place in Swindon annually.

Gladys Baker resigned in 1960, after 26 years of service to South Marston School. It is sad that no photographs of her appear to be in existence.

Sarah Ellison resigned in July 1974, having overseen an era of great change, both to school amenities and to enrichment activities for the children.

This entry from January 1975: “AH [teacher] and myself (Mr Emery) in cars together with three parents in theirs, took a group of twenty-three (!!!) children to St Peters Junior School, Marlborough for a football match against their 3rd team and some netball practice on their pitches. We lost 2-1 but everyone enjoyed themselves and the girls got on very well with the Marlborough children who were coaching them. A few tears when we left! Even the weather was wet!”

Sports matches and events featured regularly, both home and away, much enjoyed by the children by all accounts. The log book also records waterlogged pitches in South Marston from time to time, which has continued until recently.

Frequent fund-raising events were held, and in December 1975 the first disco-dance for parents and teachers raised £15. A sponsored walk around the village in October 1976 raised £150 for school funds – a significant sum then.

Swimming lessons had been a school activity for some time, but suddenly they were taken to a whole new level when in 1978 the school won the first of a number of national awards:

14 December 1978

 “The Mayor presented a swimming prize, our school having come first in a national swimming contest, sponsored by a large company (Coca Cola) – we won out of 48,000 children! The school was packed with people. Ended at 10.30pm.”

17 December 1979

Children won the Area Championship in swimming under the Dolphin Trophy scheme.

19 November 1980

Children went to Crystal Palace for presentation of the trophy for the Dolphin National Swimming Award.

3 March 1982

“School closed so we could visit the Crystal Palace as National Winners of the Dolphin Trophy Swimming Award…we had a good day and the children were presented their trophy by television personality Keith Chegwin.”

29 November 1982

“A gala day for the school. Mr Neil MacFarlane, Minister for Sport came to present our swimming awards. This was a very major occasion and we had most parents as well as the Area Education Office, Mr David Williamson, and representatives from Coca-Cola and the press, the school having “swept the board” in the national competition. This year we felt very proud of ourselves. We are unlikely to repeat it!”

3 February 1983

“After a very quiet January, we begin February with an exciting trip to Crystal Palace for the official trophy presentations for the Dolphin Trophy. It was very similar to last year except that this time it was RN [child] who was sick (twice!)”

The first meeting of the newly formed parents’ association “The Friends of South Marston School” took place in January 1982. Mr Emery noted “It is hoped this more formal association will improve still further the involvement of the parents with the school and with the village itself…”

On 19 July 1985 the school year ended and Malcolm Emery recorded his last entry in the log book “Today is my final day at South Marston School after over ten years. I shall miss this school very much, but I wish my successor, Mr Steve Bicknell, as much happiness as I have had and best wishes in his new post.”

As with all previous head teachers, Steve Bicknell divided his time between teaching and his duties as head. There were 3 classes in 1985, one with the youngest pupils and the other two with a mix of three year groups. The number on roll was 53, with 19 children in the top class, 16 in middle class and 18 in reception/middle. Mr Bicknell took the top class.

The children’s success in swimming continued and the following entries were recorded:

6 March 1986

“Presentation of the Dolphin Award Trophy at the school. Officials from the ESSA, The Dolphin Trophy, Coca Cola (sponsors), W.C.C., local press and radio were all present. Colin Gordon and Colin Calderwood from Swindon Town FC presented the trophy. We all then went to the Link Centre and had a swim followed by lunch. Extremely successful day. The children enjoyed themselves and were able to demonstrate their musical prowess in the morning by singing “Learn to Swim” – a song composed by the children and Mrs M [music teacher] especially for the occasion.” Teacher Mrs H was credited with enabling the children to reach such a high standard.

12 February 1988

“School closed whilst the teaching staff accompanied by myself [Mr Bicknell] and my twenty 2nd, 3rd and 4th year juniors went to London for the launch of the new Dolphin Swimming Trophy “Learn to Swim” scheme. We had been invited to sing our composition “Learn to Swim” in the presence of Colin Moyniham MP, Minister of Sport and the BBC Newsround cameras. We were also filmed swimming at the Chelsea Sports Centre and later returned to the Dolphin Brasserie for a superb lunch. We even had time to visit The Tate before returning home. A film of us singing and swimming appeared on Newsround at 5pm that day. A famous and unforgettable day!”

The children did not wear school uniform at that time, other than a school t-shirt. At a meeting in May 1986, the t-shirt was voted out and it was agreed that parents would dress their children in any combination of grey and blue. In 1987 sweatshirts with the school logo (appropriately, dolphins around the school name) were adopted, followed by new t-shirts in 1988.

Discussions regarding the lack of space started immediately after Mr Bicknell’s appointment and a second mobile classroom was finally installed behind the toilet block in summer 1987.

Mr Bicknell resigned as head teacher in Summer 1988 to take up a post as an advisory head teacher and Mr Dan Sinclair took over a headteacher of South Marston School.

With Mr Sinclair’s headship came the era of big drama productions, starting with “Oliver!” in over 3 nights in Spring 1989.

The log book records:

““Oliver!” performances 7pm – 9.15. Played to packed houses to enthusiastic support.

The full realisation of the enormity of the task we had taken on only gradually dawned on everyone! I have produced such shows many times so I, at least knew something of what to expect – I think!

Every child in the school was in the cast with the major parts going to the older children. Two adults appeared as Fagin and Mr Bumble – both put in a tremendous amount of time and effort and were excellent. Teachers coordinated and directed operations on props and costumes with great enthusiasm and dedication.

All the parents were involved in supplying their own child with much of their costumes.

Together with parents we built a folding unit stage system (materials supplied by Crosby Doors) and set (materials supplied by parents).

We put up full theatre lighting, operated by a parent.

G [teacher] rehearsed and trained the whole school regarding singing.

We rehearsed after school 3 times a week with the principals until 2 weeks before the show when we involved all the children in and after school time.

The leads had enormous parts to learn and lots of singing to do and the outcome was truly amazing.

Olivers (MW, AJ) Dodgers (AF, JB) Sykes (MS) and Nancy (MC) stand out exceptionally, but everyone had fears to conquer, hurdles to clear and self-discipline to learn. They all grew visibly as the term wore on.

In the end we played to a total audience of over 250 who were fulsome in their praise.

Financially, we priced programmes at £2 (designed and word processed by the children) and broke even in the whole event.

During performances teams of parents did make-up, marshalled back stage and supervised those waiting.

It was a tremendous effort on everyone’s part and everyone can be justifiably proud of what we achieved.”

School trips were many and varied and summer terms included a ‘School Trip Week’ where multiple visits to near and far took place. Notable visits included Camber Sands, Bristol Exploratory, Wilton Windmill, the Honda factory, Jansen Pharmaceuticals, Tower of London, London museums, water sports at South Cerney…

SATs began in 1991, involving considerable preparation which was quite a strain on resources. The school’s number on roll had continued to increase and with it came an evident frustration about the school’s accommodation and facilities. However, along with the difficulties there were also successes and a large pond/environmental study centre was completed after much hard work, especially by parents RT and JC. As Mr Sinclair left to take up a new position, he was very pleased to leave it as a lasting legacy of his time at the school.

Ray Norman took over as headteacher in Autumn 1991 with 75 children on roll in three classes.

Immediately discussions began with regard to extending the school but a visit from the Chief Education Officer was disheartening. Mr Norman logged, “Sympathetic words but no money available to extend the space in the school. We are ‘no worse off than similar size schools’. He doesn’t have to work here!” However, in early 1993 it became evident that something had to be done when the hut at the front of the school had to be closed due to problems with its supports, and work on a substantial extension started in July 1993. The hut from the rear of the school was removed and the children’s education transferred to a double decker bus loaned by Telford Travel, to everyone’s great delight. There followed an article about it on the front page of the Evening Advertiser, swiftly followed by an appearance on Central TV on the last day of term. Work on the new buildings took place during the summer break. The log book entry on 6 September 1993 records “the results are superb – we have three new rooms, a proper cloakroom and a staff room! We are all very pleased with the results.”

Local Management of Schools (LMS) was introduced in 1990, allowing boards of governors and school principals the autonomy to make decisions on resource allocation and priorities. South Marston School gained this in April 1993 and it was greeted with a cautious welcome, albeit knowing it would entail more work in-house.

The children began participating in regular tree planting sessions at Nightingale Farm, later to be renamed Nightingale Woods, from 1994. These were to continue for a number of years, with the school having its own area to plant for the future.

The log book registers the school’s first Ofsted inspection in June 1998, just three days after an RE inspection.  The inspectors were on-site for three days, in the midst of the school’s 125th anniversary. Festivities had to be deferred to the end of term when the school celebrated by having an old-time music hall concert and a barbecue.

By 1999, there were 99 children on roll in three classes and space had once more become a pressing issue. The log book noted the school was “more than crowded” but the LEA would not grant another classroom. This escalated beyond anyone’s imagination in the summer when a tent was loaned by the South Marston Recreation Committee to provide shaded outside activities. The Evening Advertiser ran an article which was soon picked up by the national newspapers and Central TV. The story became exaggerated, suggesting the tent was being used as a classroom, and finally led to even being mentioned in Parliament by the then Spokesperson for Education, Theresa May. Mr Norman had been away for a few weeks whilst this was happening and lamented that he’d missed all the fun! The school finally became a four-class school in September 1999 but, without room elsewhere, the hall had to become a classroom once again.

Ray Norman penned his last entry in the log book in July 2000, as he left to become headteacher at Lethbridge Primary School:

“So this is my last entry, over nine years South Marston has possibly had its greatest period of change. The school has grown to around 100. There are now 4 classes, the school runs its own budget. It was always a good school but I feel I leave the school in better shape than I found it. By a number of indicators, it is a very good school: Ofsted, Basic Skills Chartermark, the best SATs results in the area, superb staff (everyone), a tremendous governing body, supportive parents, super children. Time to leave. I wish my successor Gill all the very best. I have every confidence that she will continue the good work – in her own way. I am very proud of South Marston, the future begins now…”

Gill Lewellyn became Acting Head in Autumn Term 2000, the position becoming permanent at Easter 2001.

As mentioned above, space was an ongoing issue and a planning application to build on the mound area in the school grounds was deferred in November 2000 due to residents’ objections. The mound was subjected to archaeological investigation at school expense and was found to have no historical significance. Despite this, an alternative site had to be found and planning permission was finally granted in early 2001 for a building behind the mound, necessitating the filling of the school pond. The new building was officially opened in September 2001 and housed Class 1, Pre-School and an ICT suite.

Other improvements during this period included a new headteacher’s office. The head’s office was the small room off the school office (now reconfigured as the reception area) but a new, larger space was provided in 2003, and was much appreciated by Mrs Llewellyn. It remained the Head’s office until about 2018 when, after a further extension provided extra space, it became an additional learning room.

A new pond was opened in 2004 beside the mound, being maintained by Year 6 children under the expert guidance of village resident, MC. It remained in place until 2021, finally being filled in due to the cost of maintaining it.

In 2007, the whole school was involved with the GW Forestry Commission funded Woodland Art Sculpture Project for the newly planted Oxleaze Wood. The children worked with artist Andy Frost to create numerous small artworks and totem poles plus a wonderful, imposing sculpture of a ‘Carecrow’, several feet high, at the entrance of the wood. Everyone was immensely proud of the work and a picnic was held at the foot of the sculpture just before the end of Summer Term 2007. It was with great sadness to the whole school and village community that the sculpture was destroyed by fire in 2008 leaving only photographs of the original work to remember it by.

On 20th July 2007, the village was flooded following days of rain. The school term had not yet ended and it became clear by early afternoon that the children needed to go home due to another severe rainstorm. Village roads soon became impassable and several village homes were flooded. Water flooded into school, affecting the office, reception corridor and the kitchen off the hall. Staff worked until late into the evening, throughout the weekend and into the following Monday to minimise the damage and to make the school accessible for pupils to return on the 24th. The children returned for their last day of the academic year on a positive note, performing the end-of-term Abba concert that had been planned for the day before. And, as Mrs Llewellyn noted, the sun shone!

During her tenure, the school achieved and retained numerous awards, adding Basic Skills Quality Marks 2 and 3, Investors in People, an Excellence Award from DfE which included a cash award shared amongst staff, and Healthy School Awards. A further Ofsted inspection in January 2004 resulted in another good rating for the school.

Mrs Llewellyn retired in December 2007 having been at the school for 14 years, seven of them as headteacher. Her last entry in the log book mentioned the great team she worked with, and how she would miss the people – parents, governors, children, as well as staff. She added “I feel [the school] has developed and progressed, I am very proud of the achievement of the pupils, and of the ethos of care and mutual support.”

Mrs Alison Lowe had previously been a numeracy adviser for Swindon Borough Council and was enthusiastic in taking up her first headship in January 2008. Much changed in the early days, including a more-topic based approach to the children’s education. Many technical improvements took place in the school office over the period. 

Hot school meals had ended a few years prior to Mrs Lowe’s appointment, moving to a packed lunch only arrangement. The government set about a review to the provision of school meals as part of a drive to improve the nation’s health, and announced new standards for school lunches to be implemented over a number of years. This necessitated another expansion to the school in 2009 to include a fully-functioning kitchen and dining room, It also included a new staffroom, office improvements and a meeting room. Hot meals cooked on-site were reintroduced in November 2010. 

2011 saw the official opening of St Julians Woodland and a metal bench and mosaic were unveiled. The children had helped to design the mosaic with artist Anita Andrews. The same year, the children helped design a sculpture for the front of the school. It was installed in January 2012 by the artist Diccon Dadey on the grass by the red door.  

Christmas 2012, like many others over the years, was a special time at South Marston Primary School. Festivities started early that year with a staff trip to Bath Pump Rooms for afternoon champagne tea and a walk around the Christmas Market to mark Mrs Lowe’s leaving at the end of the term. The school nativities were a great success and were followed soon after by Christmas Dinner Day with the whole school eating dinner in the hall with party hats and Christmas music. There was a pantomime at The Mercure Hotel, funded by The Harris Trust, and a carol service in church where everyone said their goodbyes to Mrs Lowe.  

Mrs Lowe recorded these words in the log book: “It is now my final entry into the log book. I have had a wonderful time at South Marston, we have made many changes and I am so very proud of our achievements. The children and staff have been amazing people to work alongside and lead. The parents and governors have supported me every step of the way. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start my headship career. South Marston C of E Primary is a very special place and I shall miss it tremendously.” 

Luke Maddison took over the headship in 2013, having previously been acting head at Lacock School. 

An Ofsted inspection was conducted just weeks after his arrival and the school received a ‘good’ rating. He said at the time, “Being in post for just over five weeks when we were inspected gives me a great starting point for leading the school forward and identifies very clearly what we need to do to improve.” Another inspection took place in 2019, when the school celebrated another ‘good’ grading.

Mr Maddison will be remembered for taking the school from Local Authority to Academy status when, in 2016, it joined the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust.  

Throughout Mrs Lowe’s and Mr Maddison’s time at the school there were many detailed meetings, consultations and plans regarding the expansion of the village and school.

Luke Maddison left South Marston at Easter 2020 to take up a permanent headship at Sutton Benger. He had been sharing his working week between the two schools for some time prior to his appointment. Marie Hendry, the deputy headteacher, was appointed Head of School and her position as Headteacher was confirmed later the same year. 

In March/April 2020, the same time as Mrs Hendry became Head, the Coronavirus pandemic struck, and hers was a baptism of fire, as the school closed for the first of the country’s lockdowns.

Much work was going on at home by the headteacher, the teachers and administrative staff, handling the massive changes that had occurred in such a short period of time and planning for the return to school. Home schooling was put into place with teachers and teaching assistants working incredibly hard to provide lessons and support online and to keep in touch with the children. Fortunately, the school’s laptops had only recently been replaced, so the old laptops were provided for children who needed them. When the school reopened, it was for children in certain categories only, later opening to all with class ‘bubbles’ in place to protect children and staff as far as possible.  

A further lockdown closed the school to most pupils between January and March 2021, when only children of key workers and those in a few other groups attended. The pandemic continued to challenge for some time after, with numerous adjustments required to manage the risks to children and staff. 

In late 2021, elements of the office function were centralised and, over the course of the academic year, were honed by office staff and the Trust with the intention of establishing a smoother and more efficient organisation throughout the schools within Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust. 

The school’s 150th celebrations took place in brilliant sunshine on 23 June 2023, with cream teas for parents, staff and children in the school grounds. Children from Class 4 told the history of the school and a new wellbeing lodge was opened. Gifts were given to children as a memento of the occasion.