Important Questions
At the meeting of the Rushden Education Sub-Committee on Tuesday a letter was received from Mr. Holland (secretary of the County Education Committee), regarding the Rushden Church of England school, as follows:-
“I am desired by the Buildings Sub-Committee to bring before the District Sub-Committee for their consideration the serious problem which is raised by the condition of the Church of England Infants’ School at Rushden. This school has been virtually condemned for some years past. The condemnation, however, was not made actual by the Board of Education, as representations were made on behalf of the Education Committee that other improvements in and additions to the school accommodation at Rushden were more urgent, and a programme was laid before the Board which the Committee undertook to carry out.
“With the alteration of Alfred-street School, the second stage in this programme is reached, and the Board of Education is now taking up the question of the Church of England Infants’ School. They have fixed the 30th April, 1916, as the date after which they will decline to recognise the infants’ school further, and as the date from which, therefore, other accommodation must be provided for the infants attending the school, either by the Local Authority or otherwise.
“There are three ways in either of which the problem might be dealt with: either the Managers of the Church of England School might themselves provide a new infants’ school; or the Local Authority might provide an infants’ school to feed the Church of England Mixed School; or the Managers might rearrange the accommodation in the present mixed school whereby the mixed accommodation would be reduced and a certain amount of infants’ accommodation equivalent to the mixed accommodation would be provided. The present position of the Managers is understood to be that owing to the war they are quite unable to give any undertaking, either to carry out the first or the last of these suggestions. With regard to the second suggestion it will be obvious that a serious addition to the rates of the parish would be involved, and with regard to the third, it is quite possible that the Authority might have to build a small infants’ department to take those infants who could not be accommodated in the remodelled Church of England mixed school, and perhaps also a small mixed department.
“In view of the decision of the Board to discontinue their recognition of the present infants’ school as from the 30th April, 1916, it will be evident that the question brooks no delay, and I am accordingly to ask that the District Sub-Committee what, in their opinion, would be the best solution from all points of view.
“If I can be of any assistance by personally attending a meeting of the District Sub-Committee I shall be glad to do so.”
The Chairman (Mr. J. T. Colson): We have ample accommodation in the other infants schools for the 159 children on the register of the Church of England school. We have
220 Unoccupied School Places
for infants in the Council schools.
Ald. Miller: The Foundation Managers of the Church School have had this question under consideration. In July we put the matter in the hands of the diocesan architect who produced two plans. The managers had considered the two schemes. One was to provide a new infants' school and the other was to enlarge the present mixed school by adding a wing to take the infants. We also had a suggestion by the secretary of the County Education Committee which would reduce the school places by reconstructing the whole school to a lower grade, but this we put out of court at once and refused to consider it. Then the war broke out, and practically put the whole thing on one side. It would be most unpatriotic to try to raise funds to build a new infants school at a time like this, when we are considering something much more important. We think it hardly fair to ask the infants in that part of the town to walk to North-end or Newton-road. There should be an infants school in that part of the town, because, without a feeder, the Managers would have to consider whether it was worthwhile to keep the mixed school open. The mixed school has already been affected because the infants school has been
To close the infants school means that the mixed school will sink to a lower grade and an inferior headmaster appointed. We should prefer to close the whole block than to keep open the mixed school without an infants school. This would mean that the County Council would have to build a new mixed school there.
Mr. Hensman : Then the town would have to face a £10,000 loan.
Ald. Miller : If this committee could see its way to recommend the County Committee to build an infants school in that part of the town we might get a free site, which would be something towards the scheme. The Council schools and Church schools have worked very well together, so far.
The Chairman : I do not think public opinion in Rushden would back us up in building an infant school there when we have sufficient accommodation for infants in the present schools.
Ald. Miller : The cheapest solution from the ratepayers’ point of view would be to build an infants school there as a feeder to the mixed school.
Mr. Claridge : Personally I do not see much objection to building an infants school there.
Mr. Hensman : If the County Council build an infants school there, who will have control of it?
The Chairman : The County Council.
Eventually it was decided to invite Mr. Holland, secretary of the County Education Committee, to confer with the local committee on the matter.
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