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Bill Porter’s Memories of Forton and St. John’s School

I went to the Infants’ School at the age of five and well remember three of my teachers who names were Miss Williams, Miss Carberry and Miss Rose who was the Head Teacher.  We were given sand trays to draw on, and then slates to make figures and help learn our tables.

When we were seven years old, we were taken to the Boys’ School, which was situated in Lees Lane.  We entered Standard II.  All classes were known as standards in our day.  Miss Enid Smith was our teacher.  She was a very strict disciplinarian.  An exam was held at the end of the School Term.  If you passed, you went up to the next class, if you failed you stayed down.  Having passed through all classes you reached Standard VII.  Some of the boys had passed the Scholarship Exam, but owing to the poverty of the family budget their parents were unable to meet the expense of uniform, books and sports equipment.  All boys left school at 14 years of age, either to become Boys in the Royal Navy, or Bugler Boys in the R.M., or as errand boys to local tradesmen.

Pupils sat 2 at a desk, in lines facing the teacher, when they had finished their subjects, they had to sit upright with their arms folded.  Each desk had a china inkwell.  These were filled on Monday and emptied on Friday, 2 monitors had to wash them and return them to the cupboard.  Woe betide any boy who upset the ink.  He was punished with 2 strokes of the cane.

The Classrooms were very bare, painted either dark brown or green, had a gas lamp in the centre of the ceiling.  In winter a coke stove was lit, that was usually situated in the corner.  The Master’s desk was on a dais, so he had a good view of his class.  The day began with prayers, and at 12 noon grace was sung, and also when you returned after dinner.  I can hear the School singing now:-

“Be present at our table Lord”.

Father C.S. Covey, the Vicar of Forton, used to come twice a week and give Scripture Lessons, which I believe is now called R.I.

Drill, which is now called P.E. was held in the morning, in the playground, which consisted of jumping up and down with arms held in front and above the head, and running around the playground several times.  On Friday, we had ½ hour football practice in the Forton Recreation Ground.  Fire Drill was held once a week.  A bell was rung, each class had to leave the room and assemble in the playground.  Two boys had to collect the blackboard and easel, for what reason, I could never understand.  Another boy had to collect the register.  On occasions the local policeman would be standing with the Headmaster. PC Jenkins was his name.  He was a very big fellow and the boys nicknamed him “Cockerchest”.  Some boy or boys had misbehaved on the way to school.  He would sort the matter out, give the guilty ones a telling off and depart.  The head would discipline the boys, either with the cane or staying in after school.

Toilet facilities were outside, one small urinal and three closets.  You were allowed to leave the class only once during the day to visit them.