The Clough and Risegate Primary school was built in 1877 with a house for the head master, it was built to accommodate 200 children. The first headmaster was Charles Quarmby.
Some years ago, Gosberton Risegate resident, and Gosberton & District Local History Society member, Ron Wood, had the opportunity to examine the Headmasters’ Log Books from the school. Ron diligently compiled extracts from them. Some of the highlights are:
In the first Log book entry 18th to 22nd June 1877, Mr Charles Quarmby wrote:
“This school was opened temporarily in the church mission house in Surfleet parish, this building will hold an average attendance of rather over 100. As there has been no Government school in this neighbourhood, the children are exceedingly backward in their attainments. I have admitted none this week who were able to pass the first standard. I had no Reading books, Registers, Arithmetics, Chalk, Blackboards, Easels. I could only work in a very rough way. The people complained that the fees were too high.”
Thursday May 5th 1887: “Boy came back to school without his money saying that his mother would not pay any more. I sent him back telling him I would not have him without it. He did not return.”
Monday December 29th 1891. “Resumed school after weeks holiday, admitted several boys in the upper standard, who have been absent since last spring. They only come for the winter, while there is no work on the farms.”
Friday January 10th 1891. “Attendances has been affected by skating matches being held on the river, these attract older boys, and I have had to punish one for truancy.”
“On the 5th November 1895 William Draper Wood was fined 5 shillings (25 pence) from Donington magistrates for not sending his children to school.” (He was a school manager)
“A school inspection report on the 15th Dec 1895 said that it was impossible for good scholastic results to be procured with such an irregular attendance, the board should really exert itself to check irregularity and illegal employment.”
Entries in the Punishment book for Clough and Risegate school.
March 5th, 1903: “One stroke on each hand for throwing Peas about school”
July 1st, 1903: “Three strokes on each hand for burying frogs alive”
November 13th, 1903: “One stroke on each hand and several on the back for disobedience and repeated bad behaviour.”
July 28th, 1905: “One stroke on each hand for making silly noises in classroom.”
December 13th, 1905: “One stroke on each hand and 2 strokes on posterior for putting whistle in his nose to blow it.”
A more comprehensive article on the Log Books appears in Book One of the Bygone Gosberton: A Miscellany series, authored by Stuart Henderson
