Aldbury school has an incredible history, dating back almost 150 years. The school is proud to still retain log books dating back to 1879.
Regulations for grant-aided schools from 1862 stated that a log book should be kept in which the principal teacher should make a brief daily entry on the progress and other relevant facts which might require to be referred to or may deserve to be recorded. In 1871 this requirement changed to a minimum weekly entry.
We feel that these log books help the school, local community and wider historians know more about what makes Aldbury so unique and over time we endeavour to share some of the contents.
It is important to note that the wording, views and descriptions are from the time that they were written and do not reflect the current teaching pedagogy, priorities or practices at the school.
Originally the school was run separately.
For the Infants' School.
In 1879 the dimensions of the school room were listed as:
Length 36ft
Breadth 18ft
Height 14ft
For the Mixed:
Dimensions: 58 x 18 x 14
Class Room 12 x 10 x 14
1867 - John Lines (School Master (Mixed))
1879 - Alice Mary Filmer (Infants' Mistress)
1881 - Maria Tunbridge (Infants' Mistress)
1884 - Eliza Eleanor Groom (Infants' Mistress)
1884 - Mary Emma Lydster (Infants' Mistress)
1890 - Elizabeth J Skeer (Infants' Mistress)
1894 - Rose Lilian Lewis (Infants' Mistress)
1899 - Lizzie Jane Carter (Head Mistress of the Infants')
1901- Sara Newell (Head Mistress of the Infants')
1906 - Mary Stephenson (Head Mistress of Aldbury Infant School)
1906 - Thomas George Dale (Headmaster Aldbury Church School)
1928 - Madeline Mary Dale
1933 - Norman Shaw
1938 - Grace Kathleen Burleton Harris
1960 - Margaret Constance Kitson
1970 - Mr Williams
1973 - Doreen Davis
1979 - Denise Ruston
1994 - Marion Crookes
1996 - Doreen Meek (nee Corney)
2008 - Jayne Bowles
Margaret Priggs
2012 - Kathy Little
2015 - Natasha Chiswell
2022 - Jacqueline Moore
1879 - 1907
Page 1 | Jan 10th 1879 | I Alice Mary Filmer commenced duties as Infants' Mistress Took charge of Infants in Boys' School The Infants' room being unfinished. |
Jan 17th | List of scholars above 5 years of age sent into Local Authority. Average Attendance good. Children learnt a new song called "Come Little Flock". | |
Jan 24th | Children above 6 years of age promoted. Average Attendance Poor. | |
Page 36 | Oct 31st 1881 | I Maria Tunbridge commenced duties as Infant Mistress. 66 children present |
Page 66 | July 7th | I Eliza Eleanor Groom commenced duties in this school this morning as Infants' Mistress. Number present 70. |
Page 68 | July 21st 1884 | Rather a poor school today - several children away ill and some at home on account of the weather. |
July 23rd | Mrs Wood visited the school this afternoon first as children were leaving | |
July 25th | School had a holiday yesterday as it was the choir treat and two of the monitors from this school belonged to the choir. Average Attendance for the week 64. Several children still away ill with colds. Gave lessons on "The Dormouse" and "The Walnut Tree" to older children during the week. | |
July 28th | Better attendance today. One new child admitted. | |
July 31st | Mrs Wood visited the school this afternoon and heard some the first class read. Some of the first still do not know all their letters. Taught children the words and rime of two new songs. "Little Bird" and "The Living". | |
Page 73 | Oct 23rd 1884 | Much Poorer attendance today - several children stayed away to pick up acorns. One new child admitted on Monday. |
Page 106 | Nov 27th 1885 | A very poor school indeed today on account of the Mixed school having a holiday - Number present in the morning 48 and in the afternoon only 36. Children had lessons during the week on "The Wild Boar" and "The Oak Tree". |
Page 127 | July 9th 1886 | Ordinary progress throughout the week |
Page 229 | Sept 30th 1889 | I, Mary E Lydster take charge of the school today. 53 children present. Mrs Wood and the Rev. R. H Ryland have visited the school. Nellie Deacon has commenced work as Mistress. |
Page 248 | May 5th 1890 | I Elizabeth J Skeer have commenced duties as Infants' Mistress, 49 children present. Mr Crawford visited the school. May Minall readmitted. |
Page 324 | Aug 10th 1894 | Weekly average 47.5. Average for the quarter 50.9. We break up today for the Harvest Holiday and I resign my office as teacher in the Aldbury Infants' School. E. J. Skeer |
Sept 17th | The School has reopened today and the Managers regret that they have been not yet able to find a suitable successor to Miss Skeer. They are in correspondence with two teachers and hope that one may be appointed. In the meantime Miss N. Deacon a P.T. is carrying on the school with Miss Nelling under the supervision of Ms Lines. I shall visit the school frequently - Three new children have been admitted this morning and their names duly entered in the Admission Register. 54 present. H. J. Wood. | |
Page 326 | Oct 23rd 1894 | Visited the school and found all in good order. The Managers have appointed Miss Lewis of Whitstable College to take charge of the school at Christmas as they found it impossible to get a suitable Head Mistress to enter upon her duties at once. No of children present 59. H. J. Wood |
Page 330 | Dec 31st 1894 | I, Rose Lilian Lewis, began duties as Head Mistress of the Infant Dept. The Attendance was poor, owing to severe weather the prevalance of bad coughs and colds. Morning attendance 30 out of possible 66. Afternoon attendance 33 out of possible 66. |
Page 386 | Jan 2nd 1899 | I,Lizzie Jane Carter commenced work this morning as Head Mistress of the Infants'. 51 children present. |
Page 425 | Jan 6th 1901 | I, Sara Newell commenced duties today as Head Mistress of the Infants Visitor Rev H. J. Wood |
Page 487 | Feb 5th 1906 | I Mary Stephenson commenced duties as Head Mistress of Aldbury Infant School. Reg No. 9584 Canon Wood visited the school this morning |
1895 - 1916
Page 1 | Sept 9th 1895 | Re-commence after five weeks holiday Harvest not yet finished - 27 absent Began the new books |
Page 321 | Aug 3rd 1906 | Rev. Canon Wood visited. Average for the week 83.4 p.c 95.8 Average for the qr 82.1 p.c 92.9 My duties as School Master, which appointment I have held since May 4, 1867 cease this day. |
Sept 11th | Entered upon my duties as Headmaster of Aldbury Ch. School this day. Thomas Geo Dale Miss Kate Keen entered upon her duties as Uncertified Mistress. Staff:- Thomas Geo: Dale. Trained Certificated Master Fanny Stratford. Uncertificated Assistant Kate Keen. " " |
1916 - 1930
Page 1 | Sept 4th 1916 | Received new attendance Registers, Summary Register + Log Book from the Educational Supply Association |
Page 144 | Feb 8th 1923 | Several children absent today owing to heavy rain. The attendance officer called. Miss Fairhead returned to her duties today. |
Feb 9th | The Rev. Cannon Wood visited the school Average for the week:- 98.7 Percentage:- 93.1% | |
Feb 12th | The Rev Cannon Wood visited the school. Closed registers for the afternoon session at 1.10 pm to enable the children to leave at 3.20 pm to attend the funeral of Mr John Lines who formally head master of this school for over 40 years. | |
Page 145 | March 2nd 1923 | James Kesley, Pupil Teacher, absent today without permission. I reported him to the Managers Average for the week:- 97.5 Percentage :- 93.7 |
March 5th | James Kesley still absent | |
March 6th | James Kesley still absent Boys gardening this afternoon. | |
March 7th | James Kesley returned to School this morning and informed me that he had tried to enlist in the Army but that they had rejected him on account of his youth. Feeling that his presence in school might be harmful to the discipline of the school, I sent him home pending the decision of the County Council. | |
Page 239 | Jan 10th 1928 | School re-opened after the Christmas holidays at 9 am. The staff were all present with the exception of Mr T.G. Dale (headmaster) who is very ill. The work of the school during the week has been carried out by Miss G. M. Read. Assistant Mistress |
Jan 11th | The Attendance Officer visited the school. | |
Jan 13th | The Rev. Claud. Wood who is acting as correspondent in the place of the Rev. Canon Wood during his illness visited the school and suggested that as Mr Dale's sickness was so serious, that a Supply teacher should be sent. Gardening and Woodwork were not taken this week. Average for the week 105.5 Percentage 98.5% | |
Page 240 | Jan 16th | Mr Dale being still very ill, I took charge of the school today as Supply HdTeacher. Madeline Dale |
Jan 18th | Mr. Bunn called and was asked if he could possibly make arrangements with a handicraft instructor to take the woodwork class for the boys. He promised to do what he could in the matter. In the meantime the boys are doing ordinary school work. | |
Jan 19th | The gardening class was not held today. | |
Jan 20th | The Attendance officer visited the school Average for the week 102.2 Percentage 95.5% | |
Jan 20th | Received 2 tons of coal for the School from F Rolfe + Son Tring | |
Jan 23rd | I was not present in school this morning owing to the death of my husband. Mr T. G. Dale. Headmaster of the School. Miss Read took charge | |
Jan 24th | The school was closed today for the funeral of the late Hd. Master | |
Jan 25th | Miss Read took charge of the school. | |
Jan 26th | I resumed duties today. The School Nurse visited the school and examined all the children Average for the week 101.1 Percentage 93.6% |
1931 - 1943
Page 1 | Jan 6th 1931 | Reopened school at 9am after the Christmas Holidays - a good attendance + all members of staff present. The Rector took opening prayers Received 8 blackboards from A Hedges of Tring which have been renovated. |
Jan 7th | The Attendance Officer visited Boys gardening in the afternoon Received 1/2 chaldron of coke from W. Lockhart of Tring. |
1943 - 1968
Page 1 | Sept 9th 1943 | At nine o'clock this morning, the whole school assembled, and the Headmistress took a short service of Hymns and Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving, for the great news of Italy's surrender and of Russia's victories. The proceedings began with the singing of the National Anthem, and ended with cheers for the King. In the afternoon, with the approval of Mrs Strand the timetable was suspended, and each teacher arranged a programme of activities suitable for her class. The two top classes were taken by Mr Harris and Mrs Eustace to Tring Museum. Kathleen Wright was admitted to school this morning. |
Sept 10th | Av att: 68.4 Percentage 93.7 Roll 73 Total Roll 92 | |
Page 2 | Sept 13th | Dr Minett and Nurse inspected the school for cleanliness. |
Page 116 | Jan 10th 1949 | School reopened as a Primary School |
1968 - 1987
Page 2 | Nov 15th 1968 | Weekly staff meeting held during morning playtime. This has become customary every Friday. Matters regarding the children, organisation, new trends in education are discussed. Most of this morning meeting taken up with the planning of the three classes' different approach to the theme of Children of other Lands and discussing how to use the various material for the Christmas Concert. Visit from Mr Gamlen, National Savings Movement. He was told that the School's savings group closed down since the withdrawal of the Gd savings stamp. |
Page 66 | June 5th 1973 | The AGM of the Friends of Aldbury School. Some points in the constitution were altered. Parents expressed concerns about the danger to children as they cross the road outside school. I have promised to investigate the possibility of a road crossing patrol. |
Page 147 | July 22nd 1977 | A further article appeared in the paper, in answer to last week's criticism. The response from the parents has been absolutely overwhelming and their support has been most reassuring. The end-of-term service was held at 2:30. Dale Memorial prize - Stephen Wright Games Cup - Trevor McNeill Swimming Cup - Phillip Crannage Leavers to Tring School - Listed in Log but not included here. Leavers to Berkhamsted School - Listed in Log but not included here. |
1987 - 2003
2003 - 2009