Pupils step back to celebrate milestone

They have been celebrating the milestone anniversary at Halesowen C of E Primary School with a series of activities including creating a special garden and a Victorian day.

The school in High Street was built in 1839 at a cost of £600 and provided places for between 500 and 600 of the town's youngsters.

It was founded by the Rev Richard Brindley Hone who wanted to build a school for "poor children" and funding was raised through subscriptions.

More than 1,000 people including a host of civic dignitaries turned out to see the first stone laid in 1838 and a party was held for the children – the boys were given cake and ale while the girls drank tea with their cake.

There have been some extensions to the building over the years, including three new classrooms in 1859. There were also further expansions in 1920 and in the 1960s.

Staff and pupils have been reading the old school logs dating back through the years which they say have made interesting reading.

Year six teacher Lynne Miles said: "There is information about what the pupils did during World War Two. An air-raid shelter was built under the playground and there are details about their air raid practices. The school was also used by soldiers based around the Midlands."

The logs also include details about high absentee numbers during the summer months in the late 19th Century and early 20th century when pupils used to go with their families into the countryside to do pea and hop picking.

Grandmother and former pupil Jaqueline Garbett, aged 59, has been teaching at the school for 25 years but will retire at the end of term. Her two children Jonathan and Kathryn, aged 31 and 33, also went to Halesowen Primary and two of her four grandchildren Joshua, aged nine, and Robyn, aged five, are currently pupils there.

"I have been associated with the school for 52 years so I'm going to be very sad when I leave. It is a really friendly school. I have enjoyed my time at the school. There are children that I teach now whose parents I taught too."

Mrs Garbett led a tour at the school for former pupils earlier this week. Other activities thoughout the week included burying a time capsule containing items such as comics, photographs and written work on what it is like to be a 21st century pupil, and laying flowers on the grave of Rev Hone.

A special thanksgiving church service was held at nearby St John's Church.