Day 39. The School.

Preston School was built by James Roberts-West, the owner of the Alscot Estate, in 1848. The building comprised a central school with teacher's houses at either end. There were originally two schools, one for boys and one for girls, which catered for children from Preston and the neighbouring villages. The two schools were later combined and children segregated by age.

 

School photograph, c.1910. Baker's son Percy Beavington is on the far right, middle row. The expressions on some of the boys' faces suggests something amusing is happening to the left of the photographer.

Lessons covered the 'three Rs'; woodwork, geometry and gardening for boys; needlework for the girls; and the all-important religious education. Prizes were awarded each Christmas for each subject and general achievement.

 Rudyard Kipling's Selected Stories was awarded to gamekeeper's daughter Vera Noyce.

A formal education  system was lauded as vital for the lower classes as a means to climb out of poverty, and schooling became compulsory for five- to ten-year-olds in 1880. In 1893 the leaving age was raised to eleven; in 1899 to twelve; and in 1918 to fourteen. In 1944 it was raised to fifteen and children had to attend a secondary school from age eleven.

Smaller families, better transport and the growing popularity of larger schools in Stratford meant that by the 1970s, only twenty or so children were taught at the school. At its peak it had 120 pupils. The school was deemed non-viable, and closed in 1974. It then became the village shop.