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Memoirs of Poulton-le-Sands Primary School
The original Poulton-le-Sands Primary School opened in 1745 when a local Blacksmith bequeathed a sum of money to build a Church and a school.
School life in those days was somewhat different albeit there are similarities to today’s issues. The head teacher was required to keep a log book of school life and it is from these historical reference books that we can glean a wonderful picture into what our community was like hundreds of years ago. Keeping the log book has been a tradition for the head teacher of Poulton-le-Sands school from the late 1800s until today. The present head teacher, Vicki Atkins recently shared the books with us and gave an insight into the past.
The oldest log book is dated 1884 when the school was split into two combining infant and elementary schools. The entries are all hand-written and include Ofsted reports, the curriculum and additional information about the teachers, absences and the weather!
The head teacher changed often and there were only a couple of qualified teachers, the majority of staff were assistants. In addition to the log book there was a punishment book; this is a tradition that is thankfully no longer kept.
Visitors to the school were asked to submit an entry into the log book. In 1903 there was an entry left by English romantic composer, Sir Edward Elgar. Elgar was a close friend to the Morecambe Rector, Rev Canon Charles Gorton. Elgar used to visit Morecambe as a member of the judging panel at the Morecambe Festival. On 2nd May 1904 Elgar re-visited the school leaving another entry in the log book stating: “Heard with the same joy and pleasure as in 1903 the children sing. Edward Elgar.”
Throughout the periods of war, there were entries in the log book detailing how the children practised air raid drills and how to wear their gas masks correctly.
School trips were popular and mainly consisted of picnics. These were organised at last minute and, unlike today, parents were not asked for their permission for the children to leave school. In fact, in general, parents were not informed about their children’s progress at school at all.
In more recent times, the school buildings have been replaced and rebuilt into one primary school.
Current head teacher Vicki Atkins said: “Today there is far more multi-agency working and the school takes on more of a parental role in terms of the social and emotional aspects of learning. We now teach things like conflict resolution and how the children can sort out arguments by themselves. We have to teach social skills and encourage the children to communicate with each other. In today’s society there is less interaction because of televisions and computers. At lunch time we have a ‘top table’ and children are invited to sit at the table where they are encouraged to participate in conversation and they learn good manners.”
Miss Atkins also added: “Today, school is not just about learning the curriculum, it is about teaching the children social skills, good health and we help with home life too by encouraging parents and pupils to build relationships and do things together to give the children experiences of life.”
Dog Owners - Bag it and Bin It
Free poop scoop bags are available from the Poulton Neighbourhood Management office in a mission to reduce dog fouling on the streets.
Dog fouling is a nuisance and we would like to encourage dog owners to be responsible for their pets and clean up after them.
Please come and pick up your free bags and remember to put used bags in the bin.
Allowing your dogs to foul on the pavement could land you with a £50 fine and repeat offenders could be fined up to £1,000. The Police Community Support Officers can issue fixed penalty notices for dog fouling.
Please report any dog fouling ‘hot spots’ to the Lancaster City Council Dog Wardens by telephoning 582935.
