Astor School Nearing “Moving Day”

July 20th 1951.

“Formidable Task” says Headmistress.

Details of improved teaching facilities following on the removal of Astor County Secondary School into the new building at the end of term were given on Wednesday by Miss G. M. Jenkins the school headmistress. Miss Jenkins also referred to the task of moving schools as a somewhat formidable one was presenting her report at the annual prize giving at the Town Hall when prizes were distributed by Lady Violet Astor.

Possibly next year said Miss Jenkins she might have the pleasure of welcoming them to prize giving in the new school for they were to move into that building at the end of term, ready for work there next term. There had been much criticism of the appearance of the building from the road but that was the back of the building and the inside of the school was very different and the children who would be housed inside should be very fortunate. She only hoped they would appreciate their good fortune and treat everything there with the care and respect it deserved.

Although the task of moving schools would be somewhat formidable she was sure it would be lightened by the willing co-operation of both staff and pupils and when once installed there they should be more of a unit than they were at present with two classes so far removed and the assembly hall across the road. In addition to having a new school they were to have a share of the Castlemount metalwork room and from the beginning of next term would be able to send three classes there for one half-day a week.

There was a scheme afoot to convert the Astor central kitchen into an extra domestic science room to be shared by the three secondary schools but that room would not be ready anyhow until the middle of next term.

The extra practical rooms would be very useful for, with a growing school it was becoming difficult to arrange for everyone to have adequate instruction in practical work. In the same way although the new school building was ready for occupation, the grounds would not be laid out for some time to come though they would be ready. She thought they would come up to or perhaps exceed their wildest dreams.

To look back over the past year continued Miss Jenkins they had indeed been fortunate in having no staff changes at all. Last September three new masters took up duty – Mr Alcock. – Mr Beacroft and Mr Hart and they were all well established. Mr Bray who had been English master since they had become a mixed school had obtained a headship at Gravesend and would shortly leave to take up duties there. Mr Bray had always had the real interest of the school at heart and he took with him their thanks for what he had done and best wishes for his happiness. The staff increased by more one master for numbers continues to mount and soon it looked as though there would be a four-stream school throughout.

Attendance throughout the year had been good, when once they had the hop-pickers back, for the absence of those boys and girls continued to present a very real problem. If parents realised how important it was for children to begin their new year’s work at the beginning of the school year on September 11th they would make a real effort to send them at that time. A month’s time lost at the beginning of the year was more difficult to make up than at any other time and a slow child never made it up but got further behind

The ordinary schoolwork had gone steadily on throughout the year. In the senior common entrance examination twelve girl and three boys gained admission to the Technical School at Folkestone and Canterbury. There was still a tendency for parents to regard those children who were unsuccessful on gaining entry to a Technical School as failures. That is a pity they were not failures but had shown by their performance in the examination that they were more suited for education in a school of the secondary modern type rather than a specialised education in one of the Technical Schools, they would be misfits in the latter type of schools.

Referring to the various sporting actives and educational visits made by the school Miss Jenkins said that throughout the year these had been keen competition for the House Shield awarded to the house scoring most points for work, effort and behaviour. It was held by the Celts for the past year but when the marks were added up a few days before prize giving it was discovered that the new holders would be the Vikings a somewhat surprising victory as the Romans had led throughout the year and were only beaten by three points.

Miss Jenkins concluded her report with thanks to the various members of staff and to the school governors and the divisional education officer (Mr A. G. Hewlett) and his staff for their interest in the schools welfare.

Speaking on behalf of the governors, the chairman (Councillor A. T. Goodfellow) told pupils that on that day when they were celebrating another year of school work they wanted to say without any sort of reservation that they were proud of the progress which the school in common with other Secondary Schools in the town had made. They looked forward with interest to its future progress and he took that opportunity of publicity congratulating Miss Jenkins and her staff for the work they had done.

Hers had been no light task he continued and when those responsible for staff appointments had appointed a woman, some people had looked down their noses and thought a mistake had been made. At that time Miss Jenkins appointment the Governors had been pretty sure of their choice and now they were certain and were glad they had asked her to be headmistress. Speaking of the schools removal into the new building the chairman told pupils he was sure they would enjoy being in the new building and staff would find their work easier. He hoped that time would prove that their appreciation of the school that had cost so much of the public money would be kept in “apple pie” order and would be made good use of.
Presenting the prizes Lady Astor said that for her it was a special day to be asked to be present on such an occasion in the life of a school which was named after her husband as a compliment for the many years during which he had been connected with the town. She had listened with great interest to Miss Jenkins report and had been struck by how much had been achieved by the school during the past year.

Some of the scholars would be starting out on the great adventure of life something which she was sure would find thrilling and inspiring. They had also to remember that it was responsible and serious and when they were on their own and self-reliant their thoughts would turn to their school and comrades. They would think of the high standards, which they had been set and which would be the background on which they would live. This was a great heritage the future of England would be in their hand- theirs to cherish – to enjoy to be proud of – and to enhance. A vote of thanks to Lady Violet Astor was proposed by the Rev. A. S. Cooper and seconded by Mrs A. Beeston and Julia Ellender of form 4a thanked the chairman.

Prizes were awarded to,

Class progress prizes
4a. Peter Magrino. Kathleen Finch.
4b. Hugh Griffin. Ronald Edwards.
3a. Jack Hogbin. Chere Hall and Keith Button.
3b. Barbara Scott. Sheila Brann.
3c. Valerie Beer. Robin Culmer.
2a. Kenneth Shanley. John Kane.
2b. Rhoda Hocking. John Reed.
2c. Diane Layton. Margaret Pott.
1a. Janet Phillips. Ronald Shirley.
1b. Janet Pinnock. David Norley.
1c. Robert Everet. Iris Collins.
1d. Brian Dowle. David Terry.
1e. Alan Kirk. Barbara Stainer.

Subject Prizes.
Cookery.
4th year. Lorna Noakes.
3rd year. Patricia Emptage.
2nd year. Margaret Pott.

Woodwork
4th year. Brian Farrett.
3rd year. Stanley Cleaver.
2nd year. Robert Hollingsbee.
1st year. David Stacey.

Needlework.
4th year. Shirley Mills.
3rd year. Beryl Challenor.
2nd year. Joan Little.
1st year. June Osborne.

Science.
4th year. James Smith.
3rd year. John Lambert.
2nd year. Anthony Judd.
1st year. Roger Silk.

Biology.
4th year. Maureen Adamson.
3rd year. Rita Hartley.
2nd year. Janet Baker.
1st year. Janet Pinnock.

Art. Senior. David Godden.
Art. Junior. Peter Dagge.

Craft. Marjorie Charrison.
Special Reliability Prize. Maureen Chandler.

Gardening.
James Smith. Peter Sparshott. – Ronald Hackett. – Eric Robinson.

Sports. Senior Prize. Kathleen Finch.

Sports. Junior Prize. Brian Ellis and Diana King.

Swimming. Boy. Roger Maslen. Girl. Brenda Spratling.

Sports Trophy and qualifying shield. Normans.

House trophy. Vikings.

Swimming Certificates – senior club – John Kane 1 mile, Frederick Fox 1mile, June Halls 100 yds. Maureen Adamson 700 yds, Kenneth Price 650 yds, Frances Drake 550 yds, Peter Glew 500 yds.
First Year Brian Button 500 yds, David Norely and Peter Brooshooft quarter mile, Beginners Brenda Spratling 35 yds, Roger Maslen 50 yds, Brian Dowle, Trevor Mills and Ronald Stratful 25 yds.