Churchfields, The Village School - Monkton Farleigh
Headteacher: Mr Steven Bennett
Chair of Governors: Mrs Max Luff
Senior Teachers:
Atworth - Mrs Maria Genner
Monkton Farleigh - Miss Michele Pile
Approximate Number on Roll: 150
In 1818 a Sunday School was maintained by Voluntary Subscription at Monkton Farleigh. In 1829 Thomas Burgess, Bishop of Salisbury built a room attached to the Church for use as a Sunday School. By 1833 it was reported that there were three day schools kept by the women at Farleigh, in which eighteen children were educated at the expense of their parents. One of these schools was in the building built by Bishop Burgess. From 1842-63 (the incumbency of Edward Brown) a night school was held in the school built by Bishop Burgess. The pupils were of 14 to 24 years of age and each paid 2/6d (12½ pence) a session in advance. The teachers were the Curate and his wife and John Bishop.
In 1845-6 Mr. Wade Brown (lessee of the Manor) established a school for boys and girls, with a Master and a Mistress. When the Master died, the Rector assumed responsibility for the Boys' School, while Mrs. Wade Brown maintained the girls'. They wore red cloaks, blue gowns, white aprons and collars. In 1848 there were 40 boys in attendance at Bishop Burgess' school (the boys' school). They were taught by a trained but uncertified Master, and the school was supported by the Rector. A further 30 children were clothed and educated at the expense of Mrs. Wade Brown. The Girls' School was maintained after Wade Brown's death by a legacy of £35. The School was held in a cottage opposite Church Farm and continued until 1870. The legacy was conditioned on the continuance of the family in the Manor and lapsed when they left.
In 1870 a School Trust was created and the site conveyed to the Rector with the permission of the Bishop. A National School was provided at a cost of £626, with a building grant of £155 obtained from the State and Voluntary Subscription (raised locally) of £524. 11s. 0d.
The School log book starts on January 15th, 1866 when Mary A. Bailey first took charge of the school. The Rector regularly visited the school and gave the first and second classes a Scripture lesson. On August 7th, 1866 there was an afternoon half holiday for the annual feast day. The Inspector's Reports for 1866-1870 showed the children to be in good order and receiving careful instruction. In 1870 it was reported that the older scholars in the fourth and fifth standards were strong in Reading and Dictation, but had wholly failed in Arithmetic and Music. The school reports for the 1870s were generally good, though in 1878 it was noted that the Arithmetic had fallen off, though a considerable improvement was noted in 1879.
In 1881 the average attendance at the National School was 67. The school pence (fees) paid by the children amounted to about £14. £35 was raised by Voluntary Subscription and the remaining £50 paid by the Government. The main items of expenditure were the salaries of the Mistress £55, the pupil teacher £10, and the paid monitor £6. The stationary and books cost £5 and fuel and light cost £1. 11s. 0d. In 1886 a new school was built with accommodation for 90 and a teacher's house (the school was in union with the National Society).
There were often poor attendances in winter due to illness and bad weather. In December 1880 and January 1881 there were low attendances due to illness. On July 21st 1882 the school was closed due to an outbreak of scarlet fever in the village. There were further cases of scarlet fever on July 28th and the school was closed until September 4th. In 1884 there were low attendances due to whooping cough at the beginning of the year. The Report for 1884 observed that the "changes of teacher, combined with the recent epidemic, have tried somewhat severely the attainments of the children", though the percentage of passes in the standard subjects were well maintained. In 1887, Miss Dixon was replaced by Miss Annie Hopkins in charge of the school and Revd. Moberley succeeded Revd. Tooke. However, the Report in 1887 noted that "the school has suffered this year through the loss of teachers and the attainments show a decline. The class subjects are fair, but the elementary work is only moderate". The infants were said to be some degree better than the elder children, but improvement was also desirable. The report for the following year was better, though it was noted that in the Infant' class, there was an average attendance of 33 in a room that only accommodated 26, and that, if the overcrowding were to be found the following year, the grant would be imperilled. The school was closed for a fortnight on August 3rd, 1888 due to measles. A five week summer holiday was given owing to the late harvest. On September 24th, when the school recommenced, many children were still away as the harvest was not yet finished. Some were employed by farmers, others were gleaning.
In 1891 primary education was made free. The Reports for the 1890s were varied. They were good for the early 1890s, but in 1894 it was said of the Mixed school that "the children are orderly, but they show very little intelligence and are very weak in Arithmetic and Spelling". On August 1st, 1894 Jane Coates resigned charge of the school, and on September 10th, 1894, Jessie Agnes Macnee took charge. She found the children "backward" in their work, particularly Arithmetic and Spelling. The school had to be closed for a month on November 28th due to measles. However, when the school was examined in 1896 it obtained the mark "Excellent". By this time, the large room could accommodate 70 and the classroom 24. In 1897 standards IV and V were learning about the British Colonies and Dependencies in Geography, with maps of India, Canada and the Cape Colony. The list of Object lessons for the Infants included Water, Iron, Cotton and Sugar. The list of Object lessons for Standards I, II and III included Corn, Starch, Rice, Classes of Birds and Changes of the Frog. They were reported to be making satisfactory progress in all the Elementary Subjects. The Head teacher, J. A. Macnee was assisted by A. M. Curtis and L. E. Sumsion.
On June 11th, 1900, M. J. Wilkins became Headmistress, replacing J. A. Macnee. On Monday 10th, June 1901 it was noted that "owing to the decrease in the attendance it has become necessary to reduce the school staff, the funds being insufficient to meet the expenses of the school." Prizes were distributed at the end of the year, for diligence in the various subjects of instruction, for good conduct and for regular attendance.
In 1902 Standards IV to VI were learning about the chief events from Edward II to the Battle of Bosworth in History. Standards I to III learnt about the Ancient Britons, Druids, Invasions of Julius Caesar and Claudius, Progress made in civilisation under the Romans, the Coming of the Saxons and the Magna Carta. In Geography the Upper Group learnt about Ireland, the Dominion of Canada, New Zealand and Wiltshire. The lower group were taught about the divisions of land and water, hills and rivers, the meaning of a map and the cardinal points. The following year (1903) in history the Upper group learnt about the chief events and leading characters of the Tudor and Stuart periods. The lower group were taught about the late Saxon and early Norman periods, including Alfred the Great, Dunstan, William the Conqueror, Thomas Becket and the Conquest of Ireland.
In May 19, 1903 Sarah Green replaced M. J. Wilkins as Mistress and Miss Winfred Alice Burton took the place of Miss Lucy Sumsion as Assistant. The report for the year ending November 30, 1903 was rather critical, noting that the school had suffered due to the changes of teachers and that "pains must be taken to develop the intelligence of the children and to arouse their interest". The Mistress also required a more experienced assistant. The shortage of staffing continued to be a problem in 1905 and the Report noted that while Singing, Writing, Needlework and Drawing were satisfactory, the children were backward in all other subjects.
On December 4th, 1905 M. E. Guy became Headmistress, while Miss Moss was appointed her assistant. The average attendance for the year was 61. By 1906 the school was well staffed and the teachers were working well together, though in 1913 it was reported that considerable modification in the method of teaching was required and that the infants' room was slightly overcrowded. In 1910 there were 66 children on the register and the average for the year was 62. By 1912 the number had increased to 75 children. On Empire Day (May 24) the children assembled in the yard and saluted the flag.
In 1930 the senior children (over 11 years) were transferred to a secondary school at Bradford on Avon and Monkton Farleigh became a Junior Mixed and Infants' School. In July 1950 the average attendance was 48.
With houses built in the village after the Second World War and children from South Wraxall transferred to Monkton Farleigh numbers at the school increased and a high point of 77 on the register was reached in 1981. This declined to 46 in 1986 but then gradually increased to 75 children in 1996. Unfortunately numbers then fell away and there were only 43 at the school in April 2002, when it was known as Monkton Farleigh & South Wraxall School. By 2005 there were only 24 children at the School.
In September 2006, the schools of Atworth and Monkton Farleigh & South Wraxall were joined. There are now two bases for the new Churchfields, The Village School, one at Atworth and one at Monkton Farleigh. Children from both meet and share lessons on a regular basis.
