Scope and Content
Routine entries include:
- Staff appointments, leaving and absences
- Numbers of pupils on roll and new admissions etc.
- Visits from the school nurse, medical examinations and immunisations
- Empire Day
- Closures for holidays
- General repairs and maintenance of school property
- Deliveries of coal and coke
- Accidents involving pupils
- County assessment tests for places at secondary schools and names of children offered scholarships and grammar school places
- Visits from the schools dentist
- Visits of school inspector, school managers etc.
- Piano tuning
- Visits of music organiser
- Reports of H M Inspectors
- Visits to Stewartby swimming baths for swimming lessons
- Receipts of furniture and equipment
- School concerts
- School Christmas party
- Visits of needlework supervisor/organiser
- Closure of school for local and national elections as building used as polling station
- Visits from rural sports organiser
- Imminisations
- Term dates
1950
14 Sept: New 'Elsan' lavatory for staff
27 Sept: Case of scarlet fever notified to SMO
1951
1 Feb: New piano delivered
10 Apr: received wireless
11 & 12 Jun: Miss O G Faulkner, absent - Mrs C Robinson came from Wootton to teach the infants
24 Oct: Visit of student from Bedford Training College
12 Nov: Miss Stannard, student from Bedford Training College came for 3 weeks teaching practice
1952
10 Mar: Visit from school dentist
21 Apr: School opened after Easter holiday. Attendance poor due to whooping cough
14 Oct: Visit from Mr Ellis, chief attendance officer
15 Oct: 'Safety First' film show given by the police
6 Nov: Mrs E M Franklin came as an 'occasional teacher'
1953
22 May: Closed school for Whitsuntide and coronation holiday
24 Jul: swimming certificates
1954
6 Jan Mrs Cooper appointed as assistant cook, replacing Mrs Pamela Marfell
17 Feb: BBC recording and took films of a puppet play of "Jack and the Beanstalk"
2 Jul: County Archivist visited school to see the logbook
29 Sep: Sale in aid of Christmas party raised £24 15s 11d
22 Nov: Mrs D Carter appointed to post of canteen supervisory helper
1955
25 Jan: Mrs E M Franklin, occasional teacher left.
8 Feb: Mrs J Billington commenced duties as occasional teacher; ceased duties after 3 days
16 June: Boy aged 7 years passed entrance examination to Bedford Modern School
1 Oct Sale in aid of Christmas party raised £28 11s 11 1/2d
8 Dec: Talk to children by RSPCA lecturer; commencement of work on new building for wash basins and lavatories.
1956
23 Mar: Talk on road safety given by 2 policemen
28 May: Mrs Franklin began as clerical help and occasional teacher for 4 hours per week.
During the summer term, work completed on the new sanitary arrangements - children now have use of 4 flush lavatories and 6 wash basins and staff one lavatory and 1 basin. All basins with hot and cold water. Also two drinking fountains provided.
21 Dec: Miss O G Faulkner left to commence duties at Wootton
1957
7 Jan: Mrs B Avison started duties
30 Jan: Mrs Denton appointed assistant cook
1 Feb: Mrs Daphne Faulkner finished duties as assistant cook
1 May: Permission granted for Mrs Franklin t come as occasional teaqcher 3 days a week
7 Jun: 1 girl notified she has passed entrance examination for Dame Alice Harpur School
12 Jul: 7 children absent in afternoon to attend dental clinic in Bedford for extractions.
16 Jul: swimming awards
23 Jul: 2 children have mumps
3 Oct: Only 16 of 54 children present
22 Oct: Given schools road safety award for third time
1 Dec: Two Italian boys admitted
1958
8 Jan: Several cases of mumps
4 Feb: Boy excluded due to suspected impetigo
22 May: Two children have gained free places to grammar schools
22 July: Swimming awards
24 Jul: Mrs Avison left to take up duties as headmistress of Caldecote County Primary School
9 Sep: Miss O F Faulkner came from Wootton and resumed duties at Shelton School
1959
5 Jan: 6 children admitted, including 1 American boy
25 May: Children offered free grammar school places
3 Jul: Telephone installed in school
17 Dec: Nativity play by whole of school. This year parents not allowed to be present – new safety regulations.
1960
30 Apr: Mrs Elsie Franklin resigned from position of clerical assistant; Mrs Shirley Nicholls appointed to the post for 4 hours per week.
6 May: School closed for wedding of Princess Margaret
25 May: Notification of 1 boy gaining a free place at Bedford Modern School
1961
11 Jan: Head teacher absent serving on jury in Bedford
28 Feb: 2 cases of measles reported
29 Mar: Mrs Shirley Nicholls will be teaching at Marston Moretaine School next term
17 May: Visit from educational welfare officers
31 May: Notification of 1 girl gaining free place at Dame Alice Harpur School
11 Jun: Polio immunisations
30 Jun: Visit e policeman to inform the children about the automatic barriers at Lidlington crossing
10 Jul: Diphtheria immunisation and polio vaccination
18 Jul: Swimming certificates
11 Sep: Miss Celia Harrington appointed clerical help for this term only, 4 hours per week
14 Sep: Children shown 2 films by Brooke Bond – East Africa and Four Corners of the British Isles
1962
20 Feb: Mr I Harris commenced duties as temporary assistant teacher prior to entering college in September
22 Mar: Miss Wooldridge of HMI brought an inspector from Pakistan to visit
12 Apr: Mrs Franklin left to take up duties at Kempston Up End
10 May: 1 case of German measles, 1 case of ordinary measles
1 Jun: Several cases of measles
4 Jun: Immunisations for diphtheria
24 Oct: Official name of school Shelton County Primary School, Marston Moretaine, Bedford. Official number 2111
15 Dec: Notes the death of Mrs E Harris caretaker of the school for more than 25 years.
1963
7 Feb: Mrs Smith, cook absent due to a fall; dinners brought from Queens Park kitchen
8 Feb: Dinners to be delivered in containers from Silver Jubilee kitchen until cook returns
1964
12 Feb: Visit of representative of British Rail to talk about Lidlington railway crossing
15 Oct: School closed for general election
1965
3, 10 & 17 Feb: Miss Faulkner attending classes on mathematics at Mander College – infant and junior classes taught by 1 teacher
26 Mar: Epidemic of measles
27 May: 9 children took and passed cycling test
22 Sep: Mr Banks of National Savings visited the school
6 Oct: Children’s hearing tested
17 Nov: School dentist examined children’s teeth – 19 out of 45 require treatment
1966
Meetings of swimming pool committee
23 Feb: Work commenced on swimming pool
11 Jun: Fete and official opening of swimming pool by W Scotchbrook
17 Jun: H Odell visited to discuss civil defence with teachers and cook
3-13 Jul: Miss Hawkes attending school on day-to-day basis prior to becoming infant teacher in September.
15 Jun: Miss S Fothergill commenced work as non-teaching assistant
13 Jul: Headmistress Mrs E E Johnson attended informal tea party at Shire Hall where the Director of Education hosted retiring teachers.
22 Jul: Retirement of Mrs E E Johnson, headmistress, to be succeeded by Miss Olive G Faulkner
25 Jul – 26 Aug: children allowed t used swimming pool 2-4pm
6 Sep: Miss Frances Hawkes commences work as infant class teacher
18 Oct: Miss Hawkes attended civil defence course
16 Dec: New telephone with extension to school house installed
1967
22 Mar: Miss Fothergill terminated her engagement as non-teaching assistant
17 Apr: Tape recorder delivered
20 Apr: Mrs Margaret Gooding appointed as non-teaching assistant
7 Jun: First of 6 weekly lessons to teach cycling proficiency. Courtesy visit of Education Welfare Officer [note that her services are rarely needed at Shelton School]
26 Jun: Mrs Y Smith observing lessons till the end of term, and will start at Bedford College of Education in September
13 Sep: Permission granted to close school on 14 November to allow both teachers to attend a one-day civil defence course
20 Sep: Mrs B Preston joined the staff as a pert time teacher
10 Nov: Mrs Preston left to take up appointment as a remedial teacher
17 Nov: Television set installed
20 Nov: Miss Lennox commenced duties until end of term
1968
19 Jan: Mrs M Gooding resigned as non-teaching assistant
14 Feb: Mrs B Wilson appointed as non-teaching assistant, 1 hour each day.
1 Mar: Mrs M Richards commenced duties as assistant teacher
26 Mar: Tests to be arranged for 1 child, thought to be maladjusted
25 Apr: Cost of school dinners risen from 1s to 1s 6d. Admitted child with special educational needs, who will attend mornings only for a few weeks
8 Jul Mrs E M Griffin appointed as second assistant teacher to commence duties in September
19 Jul: Miss Hawkes left to take up duties at a school in Swansea
5 Sep: Member of county architect department visited to discuss overcrowding and need for a third classroom
20 Sep: Mrs B Wilson terminated her engagement as non-teaching assistant
10 Oct Mrs S Johnson appointed as non-teaching assistant
Week of 22 Nov: Attendance low due to mumps and tonsillitis
1969
22 Apr; Possibility of setting up air pollution test on school premises; areas to be chosen near brickworks
5 May: One child to be transferred to special school, The Grange School, Kempston
20 May: Parents meeting; hoped to raise money to erect changing rooms for when the pool is in use. A committee has been formed.
12 Jun: Planning consent granted for changing rooms
19 Nov: Children watched man’s second successful moon landing on the television
20 Nov: Work commenced on long awaited temporary classroom
1970
4 Mar: Heavy fall of snow
5 Mar: School closed due to electric power failure and poor road conditions
1 Jun: A number of fathers have built and equipped the changing rooms which are now completed
4 Jul; Fete and official opening of changing rooms
16 Jul: Sports day
2 Dec: Member of county architect department visited to discuss site for a second temporary classroom
1971
31 Mar: Mrs Griffin leaving to each at Kempston Up End Infants School
1 Apr: Second temporary classroom erected
17 May: Informed of death of Reverend Taylor, chairman of group of managers
8 Jun: Major Thomas from the Commonwealth Office gave an illustrated talk on Malaysia to the older children
25 Jun: Junior children taken on educational trip to Greenwich
2 Jul: Class 1 went to Fulbrook School, Aspley Guise to perform in a music festival with children from other schools
8 Sep: 2 new teachers appointed – Mrs L Mountain and Miss J Jarvis
25 Sep: Annual fete
11 Oct: One pupil’s entry in the Census Day Essay Competition was selected to be sent to the Registrar General and has been selected to be retained for posterity at Somerset House
22 Oct Mrs S Nicholls, part time clerical assistant has resigned
11 Nov: Mrs M Goodey appointed clerical assistant
1972
Mrs M Berry is the new caretaker
14 Jan: 107 children, teachers and parents visited the Arts Theatre, Cambridge to see the pantomime ‘Cinderella’
30 Jun: Primary Schools Music Festival at Fulbrook School, Aspley Guise
1 Jul: School fete
7 Jul: 2 junior classes taken to the Science Museum, London
21 Jul: Infants teacher Mrs S Draper left after 4 years at the school
12 Sep: Miss Keens commenced duties as new infants teacher
20 Nov: School closed at the request of the Queen and Prince Philip on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary
1973
6 Jan: Work to prevent rats and mice entering canteen block
26 Mar: General adviser visited to discuss possibility of a nursery class, as it appears to be the policy of the present government to extend nursery education
28 Mar: Class 1 visit to Victoria and Albert Museum
30 Mar: Epidemic of mumps has caused low attendance for last 2 weeks
30 Apr: Miss Keens married during the Easter holiday, and is now Mrs C Mobbs
15 May: Concert by county instrumental staff
7 Jun: School closed for district council elections
16 Jun: School fete opened by David Cook of ITV’s programme ‘Rainbow’ [Press cutting included]
22 Jun: Visit to London Zoo
13 Jul: Mrs L Mountain left as her husband has a post in Somerset
6 Sep: Meeting with a view to forming a ‘Tufty Club’ based at school to teach the children road safety
29 Oct: Part of playground tarmacked during half term. Would have been better if financial resources had allowed for a larger area to be tarmacked
30 Oct: The top class visited the Geffrye Museum, Shoreditch
8 Nov: Fire drill
14 Nov: School closed to mark the wedding of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips
16 Nov: Comments about reducing heating in temporary classrooms and the energy crisis
1974
28 Feb: School closed for general election
20 Mar: reading tests for 7-8 year olds
15 Jun: Fete
28 Jun: Class 1 to inter-schools music festival at Lidlington
4 Jul: First meeting of newly constituted managing body
5 Jul: Visit to Drayton Manor Park
15 Jul: Junior class entertainment for parents and friends
18 Jul: Miss Jarvis and Mrs Hooper, part time teacher left.
3 Sep: Miss Harris, probationary teacher, commenced duties
10 Oct: School closed for general election
1975
23 Jan: Student from Bedford College of Education to teach infants’ class till 12 March as third teaching practice
12 Feb: Outing to Wembley to see the pantomime ‘Aladdin on Ice’
25 Feb: Open evening
5 Jun: School closed for European Economic Community referendum
7 Jul: Junior class outing to the Shuttleworth Collection and RSPB
18 Jul: Mrs M Richards resigned as she is leaving he district
8 Nov: Firework display organised by various organisations
1976
19 Jan: Report of a meeting regarding school reorganisation
7 May: 10 children taken to Woburn swimming pool – small group to be taken each Friday
11 May: Visit of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to Bedford -children joined others lining the route.
11 Jun: Midsummer bazaar
16 Jul: Retirement of Mrs Smith, school cook for 25 years
1 Sep: New school year as a full lower school
1977
10 Mar: 35 Good News Bibles deliverer – gift from niece of Mrs E E Johnson, previous headmistress, who died September 1976
3 May: Mrs Mobbs awarded first aid certificate – now have a member of staff qualified to treat minor injuries
27 May: Fancy dress and rounders matches organised by PTAs of both the village schools, part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations
14 Jun: Notes on allocation of resources for the year 1977-1978; staff and capitation allowances
24 Jun: Midsummer bazaar
21 Oct: Mrs Mobbs taking maternity leave
1 Nov: Headteachers, teachers and managers meeting regarding budget proposals for 1978-1979
7 Nov: Mass meeting of teachers at County Hall to demonstrate concern about proposed cuts.
1978
16 Jan: Possibility of developing land at rear of school as a playing field as a self-help project
11 Feb: Party organised by PTA
25 Apr: Meeting to discuss playing field self-help scheme
1 May: School closed - first May Day bank holiday
24 May: Specification for provision of grassed play area
14 Jun: Class 1 trip to Whipsnade zoo
28 Jun: Infants class visit to Bedford fire station
21 Jul: Headmistress Miss O Faulkner leaves.
5 Sep: Mrs Daphne M Davies commences duties as headmistress
16 & 23 Sep: Stone picking the new play area ready for seeding
25 Sep: Harvest assembly
19 Oct: PTA annual general meeting – agreed that the children should have a school uniform
23 Nov: Visit from photographer who photographed all children and staff
13 Dec: Christmas entertainment
1979
14 Feb: Visit from speech therapist, who will attend weekly for the remainder of the term to assist three boys
15 Feb: School closed at 1.30 pm due to snow
2 Apr: Three children went with teachers to present Easter eggs to children of Bromham Hospital
26 Apr: More grass needed on playing field
7 Jun: 1 classroom used as polling station for elections for European Parliament
19 Jun: School concert
21 Jun: Interviews for new caretaker
14 Jul: PTA fete
18 Jul: Older children visit to Peterborough Show
5 Sep: Mrs Cardell, new caretaker, also began duty as an extra dinner supervisor. Staff car park has been completed
21 Sep: Harvest assembly
17 Oct: 28 older children went to see Shuttleworth collection
20 Oct: PTA barn dance
13 Nov: Trees donated by London Brick Company planted on the new playing field
12 Dec: Performance of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ by the children
1980
23 Feb: PTA organised children’s entertainment
5 Mar: Class 1 children entered Kennings ‘Car of the Future’ art competition. Two pupils were highly commended.
22 Mar: PTA barn dance at Marston village hall
21 Apr: Packed lunches re-introduced, due to increase in cost of school diners. Mrs Barber has moved to Wootton Lower school and not being replaced, so school dinners to be sent from Wootton in containers
28 Apr: Mr & Mrs Ping brought a calf and a lamb for the children to see and touch
1 May: Class 1 work on building set up in Mander College as part of a schools exhibition on environmental studies.
6 Jun: First swimming lesson of the season
13 Jun: Mrs Kearns informed she would be re-deployed for 0.5 of her time next year
28 Jun: PTA fete opened by Budge Rogers, England/Bedford rugby player
1 Jul: Visit from Clive Wilmer, poet
2 Jul: Younger children visit Billing Aquadrome
9 Jul: Older children visit to Stoke Bruerne Waterways Museum
11 Jul: Sports day on playing field
18 Jul: Arrangements made with Cranfield Lower School for Mrs Kearns to teach there in the mornings from September as her 0.5 re-deployment
3 Sep: School reopened. Miss Harris married in the summer and is now Mrs Sturton
10 Oct: Harvest assembly
11 Dec children perform ‘The Three Kings.’
17 Dec: Children attend performance of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ by the Da Sieva Theatre Company at Church End Lower School. Mrs P Button appointed to replace Mrs Kearns, who is transferring full time to Cranfield
1981
19 Jan: Mouse poison put down in main building
2 Feb: Children allowed to buy hot drinks at lunch times for 10p
12 Feb: All children attended a concert at Bletchley Leisure Centre
23 Feb: Sponsored spell in aid of Royal National Institute for the Blind. Mrs Down, peripatetic teacher, started violin lessons
14 Mar: PTA barn dance at Marston village hall
14 Apr: 32 children and 18 adults attended performance of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in Bedford
10 Apr: Mrs Sturton passed the RYA elementary sailing certificate during the holiday
12 May: Visit of educational psychologist to see two pupils
16 May: Minor vandalism – police informed
12 June: Visit of H E Todd, children’s author
27 June: PTA fete opened by Lord Luke
1 Jul: Trip to Woburn Safari Park
23 Jul: Football match at Houghton Conquest, who beat Shelton 4-2.
22 Sep: Children to Church End Lower School to see De Silva Puppet Theatre perform St. George
2 Oct: Harvest assembly
4 Dec: Removal of Elliot classroom
5 Dec: Magic show for the children organised by the PTA
11 Dec: School closed at 2.00 pm due to road conditions (snow).
17 Dec: Christmas party
1982
7 Jan: Arrival of a Punjabi pupil who speaks no English
20 Jan: Welfare officer checking on attendance
26 Jan: Cookery for class 2 commenced, supervised by parents
4 Feb: Children to Church End School to see ‘The Music Machine’ performed by the Spectrum Theatre.
5 Feb: Transfer to middle school letters handed out; following the 1980 Education Act, parents have a choice of schools for the first time.
13 Mar: Paving slabs laid round the garden patch by fathers
19 Mar: Mrs J Ellis appointed as general assistant to replace Mrs Johnson, who is retiring.
11 May: Concert of woodwind instruments by the county music staff
16 Jun: Outing to Tring Museum and Ivinghoe Beacon
26 Jun: PTA fete
7 Jul: Cycling proficiency tests: 6 passed and 4 failed
9 Jul: Sports afternoon
21 Jul: Swimming gala