National School

Opened 19th May 1845 and enlarged in 1893, by subscription and aided by a parliamentary grant with about 48 pupils.

The school was threatened with closure in 1946 and and article about the school appeared in the Derby Telegraph. It eventually closed in 1963 and was converted into two private dwellings.

There was some sort of school prior to the National School being built as in 1842 William Hawsworth was listed as master.

Staff

The staff that I know about are listed below:

1846	Benjamin Gander was the master with Mary Goodall, mistress.
1855	David Brierly was the master with Miss Harriett Mason, mistress.
1870	Miss Hannah Massey
1876	Mr Davis was master until 1879 and also the leader of Shirley Brass Band.
1895	Sophia Hort was the mistress. Average attendance was 53.
1901	Mr. W. H. Lees
1906	Mr. A. Y. Jordan (also church organist) assisted by Miss Millward. He left in 1910.
1912	Margaret Robinson was the mistress. Average attendance was 50.
1917	The positions of head and supplementary teacher were advertised in the Derby Telegraph.
1929	Miss Scott was the headmistress.
1946	Mrs Helen Gilman was the head

Pupils

The following pages from the Admission Register are available:

01/04/1872

–

24/05/1875

(35 – 68)

16/11/1868 – 20/06/1870 (1 – 34)
01/04/1872 – 24/05/1875
09/08/1875 – 16/04/1877 (69 – 102)
23/04/1877 – 10/02/1879 (103 – 136)
07/04/1879 – 24/07/1882 (137 – 169)
06/11/1882 – 07/09/1885 (170 – 202)
11/01/1886 – 14/05/1888 (203 – 233)
28/05/1888 – 21/07/1890 (234 – 267)
01/09/1890 – 04/07/1892 (268 – 301)
04/07/1892 – 24/06/1894 (301 – 326)
09/07/1894 – 29/03/1897 (327 – 357)
30/03/1897 – 14/11/1898 (358 – 389)

Social

The schoolroom became a centre for social activities in the village. Below are some of the events:

1846	Annual examination of the school
1856	A sale of fancy articles in aid of a church organ
1861	Formation of a Band of Hope
1879	Presentation supper for Mr. Davis
1882	Concert in aid of the library and reading room
1883	A bazaar in aid of cleaning and decorating the church
1884	C.E.T.S and Blue Riband meeting
1885	A concert
1888	Vestry meeting An entertainment
1896	Lecture about "Silas Marner"
1897	Meeting about the Diamond jubilee
1899	Meeting of the Church Missionary Society
1902	Evening continuation classes Farm labourer's supper An invitation dance
1903	Evening continuation classes and social evenings.
1904	Social evening
1905	Evening continuation class
1907	Invitation dance
1909	Evening School
1910	Concert and Presentation (to headmaster Jordan who was leaving the area).
1930	A fancy dress dance Concert in aid of repairs to the church tower Presentation to T. Bassett Bullock, organist.
1935	A fancy dress dance
1938	Shirley F.C. annual dinner & dance
1939	Annual whist drive & dance in aid of Shirley Football club Whist drive & dance in aid of school boy's sports outfits

On 15 December 1830 WA Shirley wrote to RH Cheney: "I have fitted up a school-room, and opened it last Monday for a national school". Where was it?