With the current uncertainty about the future of our school I thought some details of past difficulties encountered may be of interest.
In 1842 land was given to build a school on the upper site for the purpose of educating the children of the district in the ‘principles of the Established Church’. The school opened in 1843 in a two-storey building with the infants upstairs but in 1890 the upper floor and staircase were removed, the building enlarged and an infant classroom built on at the back. The usual age for entry was three and numbers of children were between sixty and eighty-four. Imagine!
At the end of 1945 correspondence took place with the County and Diocesan Authorities regarding the future of the school. At first improvements to the building were intended but later it was intimated that that it would not be possible to meet the new regulations required by the Ministry and as the cost of a new school would be over £8,000 (!) it was intended to close the school and transfer the children to Ottery. An announcement to this effect was made on a public holiday with a request to respond in three days but fortunately the School Managers (as the Governors were known then) protested strongly against the rush. They pointed out that Tipton was a Voluntary Church School not a County one and an inaccurate figure of the number of pupils was being used. Some of the Ministry of Education Development plans of 1946 laid down that village schools should be considered individually on their merits with special reference to parents wishes and the extent to which the school contributes to the life of the village community.
It seemed our school had not had a fair deal. After much correspondence, an appeal led by the then Chair of Managers, Major General Dening, was made to the Ministry of Education in London accompanied by a petition signed by seventy-four parents. In 1950 the retention of the school in Tipton was confirmed. In fact, the then permanent Secretary for Education John Maud visited the school and remarked that ‘It was the best of its kind he had seen for some years’
In 1959 a site for new school next to the Church Institute (now Community Hall) was earmarked. Development was slow but assurance given that there was reasonable future for the school as long as numbers kept up. In 1958 the County Director of Education said it was hoped to proceed with the building in about six years!
In 1951 the managers had opted to be classed as an Aided School which gave them more control over management, religious education, appointment and dismissal of teachers as well as a percentage of responsibility for exterior repairs. Also the Managers should provide 25% of the cost of building a new school. I think this was later lowered to 10%.
The percentage was provided by generous donations from individuals, parents, fund raising events and the PTFA. To help meet the obligation a scheme was started by Manager and benefactor, Mrs Marriott which involving eight village organisations agreeing to contribute £7 a year. In the event of the funds not being used for a new school they would be returned. It was called ‘The Tipton St John Building and Endowment Fund with an account opened in July 1953. In January 1972 it stood at £1,477.30.
Still no new school but in 1969 a temporary classroom (with a twenty years expected lifespan I believe) was provided by the Education Authority for the infant class on land next to the Institute. By 1978 school numbers were in the sixties and more accommodation was needed so the Building Fund then standing at £2,500, plus money from a Trust accessed by, Mrs Marriott, was used to provide another classroom, a wooden building manufactured by Devon Lady, a firm in Honiton. It was sited next to the ‘temporary classroom’ with the proviso that if no longer required by the Education Authority it should become the property of the village. Although wooden this building has planning as a permanent building.
In 1990, with numbers having dropped refurbishment of the old building started with the whole school being accommodated on the lower site. The floor was put back in the old building with a staircase enabling two classes to be held in the space. The loos had a make-over too I think. In 1992 school moved back over the road but by 1993 the Mary Marriott room was being used for reception and in 1994 with numbers reaching sixty-five the infant classroom which had been briefly used by the ‘Owlets Playgroup’ was needed for the infants again.
In 2000 a staff room was provided and in 2002 the porch was added on the front of the lower site buildings. More efforts to get a new school built were being made but encountered continual setbacks. The problem of flooding became a major consideration in the 2000’s and the site earmarked in 1959 which has actually been used by the school for over fifty years was no longer considered suitable.
What a fight for survival the school has put up throughout its history. Think what the village might have been like if the school had closed in 1947. How many young families might not have moved in. Nearly eighty years of fighting-keep it up.
WE MUST KEEP OUR 180-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL IN THE VILLAGE.
Ann Knight (Former parent, manager and classroom assistant. Always a supporter)
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