160th Celebration

On 24th October, Bedfield CE Primary School celebrated its 160th Birthday! We owe a debt of gratitude to Reverend John Day, who raised the initial £433 for the school to be built, so its foundations are due to the Church of England. The original building still stands and currently accommodates our youngest learners in Reception and Years 1&2 in Maple Class. The original plaque is still on the wall commemorating the opening of the school.

Our celebrations started in the morning when staff and children arrived to school dressed in period costume. We had chimney sweeps, maids, school mistresses and ladies and gentleman of the manner. As in Victorian times, the children started their day using blackboards and chalk, they were not allowed to speak unless spoken to and obeyed their teachers’ instructions immediately.

Children wrote in their best joined handwriting lines in a copybook, whilst younger children used sand trays to form their letters. The children then completed observational drawings from botanical sources, read a bible story and played Victorian games such as hoops, stilts and Hopscotch.

In the afternoon the children congregated at St Nicholas’ Church to perform a section of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, sang songs and hymns from the period and performed a poem. We were joined by ex-pupils from the schools, previous headteachers and parents who were former pupils. The service was led by Reverend Chrissie Smart, who, as a woman, could not have a been a vicar as the church would not have allowed it. They then returned to school in a procession, just as their forebears did 160 years ago, led by Iris (Year 4) on her pony with her mother and sister in attendance. We all returned to school for a Victorian high tea of cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and Victorian sponge cake which was greatly appreciated by all.