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Other Gosport Books

New Book By

John Sadden

Discovery Centre Books

Gosport Gardening

Photos of the UK

Weather In Gosport

OR

Gosport Weather

In the Junior School, Mr. Stainer was Headmaster.  The School needed to be painted, but the money was not available, so the Headmaster painted it himself. The next time the H.M.I. visited the school, he remarked that although the classrooms were decorated in 1948, and the offices rebuilt, the school was still dreary and deteriorating.  There was still a gravel playground which was unsuitable for P.E.

By 1951, St. John’s Church had been rebuilt and on October 23^rd of that year, the school was closed for the afternoon on the occasion of the Re-Hallowing of the Church.  End of term services could then be held in the Church.

In 1953 the Inspector reported that the rebuilding of the war-damaged church had raised considerably the general standard of tidiness by removing bomb damage material which formerly littered the site.

Further improvements followed.  The roof was repaired in 1955 and the playground was renewed the following year.  In April 1957, the playground was officially opened and blessed.  The Mayor and Mayoress of Gosport (alderman and Mrs. H.T. Rogers) performed the opening ceremony.  It was blessed by the Archdeacon of Portsmouth (the Ven. M. Peck).  The chairman of the school managers, the Rev. L.C.G. Munro (Vicar of St. John’s Church), introduced the Mayor and the Mayoress.  Dr. L.J. White (Divisional Education Officer), the members of the Gosport Divisional Education Executive Committee and the School Managers were present. The method of teaching P.T. was changing, amongst other things and the school was closed for a day so that teachers could attend a demonstration at New Elson School.  Another day, the Headmistress of the Infants’ School was in sole charge of the Infants after the afternoon playtime while 3 of the staff attended Dr. White’s Training Class.

Before the war, speech training was included in the English syllabus, but it was only after the war that a speech therapist either visited the schools or helped children in need of therapy in her own office. The children started music and movement lessons and this became part of the music festival.  St. John’s School took part in the singing n the music festival as well. The provision of school dinners had started in 1943.  In 9147 about 55 children partook of school dinners which were cooked and served in the Junior department. People became conscious of the need to train children to cross the roads safely.  The Road Safety Society gave a film show in school for this purpose.

There were signs of recovery from the wartime drabness.  No concerts could be held in school during the war, but now this was possible.  In 1949, the parents of children who were leaving the school in July, were invited to a concert performed by the children, including a short performance of “Cinderella” by Standard I.  Canon and Mrs. Power were present.  Mrs. Power presented the prizes.