Reference
SDLutonWallerStreet
Title
Waller Street Boys School and immediate predecessor
Date free text
1874-1941
Production date
From: 1874 To: 1941
Admin/biog history
Began as the first school opened by the Luton School Board as the Langley Street Mixed School. The first entry in the first log book is as follows:
April 1st 1874 Wednesday. These schools were transferred by Mr J E Arnold to the school Board for Luton today. Mr J E Arnold was appointed Head master, Mr Fred Stokes assistant master and Miss Douglas assistant mistress. This is the First School opened by the Luton School Board; the School Board having been ordered by the Education Department under Section 12 (2) of the Education act of 1870. The school has never been closed it having been conducted for the last two years as the ‘Victoria British School’ under Mr Arnold who carried the school from the Langley Str schools to these premises. The school and appliances were now transferred to the Board intact. The Board hiring the premises of the Primitive Methodists as their tenants. The school worked on as usual no one knowing that the change of management had taken place save the Board & the teachers.’
13 April 1874 Monday – Commenced work again after the Easter holidays in the High Town premises. The stay here till the premises in Langley St are ready for occupation’
29 April 1874 Wednesday The school was removed to the Langley St premises today although they were a long way from being in a fit condition to enter upon the workmen were all over the place and the teachers had to stand on one side to let the woman scrub the floor under their feet; and then stand on the damp floor highly endangering their health…some of the old scholars left because their parents object to their going to Board Schools.
4 May 1874 the discomfort we are compelled to work in is something indescribable. We have very little to use in the shape of school material, nothing but what we brought from high Town…the Headmaster is suffering from a severe cold consequent upon the unfit condition of the school rooms when we entered.
30 Oct 1876 this school seems to be highly popular with both parents & children for we had a number of applications for admission today but we really are so full we scarcely know what to do with the children.’
27 Nov 1876 Waller Street Schools Luton ‘These schools were opened this morning at 9 o’clock by the Head Master. The scholars hitherto attending Langley St schools both boys and girls being transferred to these buildings. The school is intended for boys only but the girls are to remain with us till Xmas as the Langley St Schools are being enlarged. Temporary accommodation has been provided for girls’ offices. The builders are still all over the premises and the place is yet very unfinished. The public opening of the school took place at 12 at noon.
’21 Dec 1876 We break up this afternoon for the Xmas holidays – two weeks and the girls leave us, to go to Langley St where they are to be taught separately by a certificated mistress. A few words of parting were spoken to the girls before they were dismissed. This school is then to be appropriated to Boys only, the High Town board School Boys being transferred to this school.’
Created as a Board School in 1877, becoming a Higher Grade School in 1890, a Council School in 1903 and a Senior School in 1932; closed in 1941 with boys transferring to Surrey Street and Old Bedford Road.
Level of description
fonds