Helmdon School in the 1940s

an article by Margaret Watts

Margaret Watts.
My late mother Lucy Edden taught at Helmdon School in the early 1940s cycling daily from her home in Moreton Pinkney.

The headmistress was Miss Barnes and my mother was the infant teacher teaching the babies (the little ones new to school) the five year olds and Class I which was the six year olds.

I have her handwritten book showing details of the weekly lessons for 1942 and 1943 from which I obtained my information and I also have memories of what she told me.

The children read from the Beacon books, learnt sounds, built words, sentences and then paragraphs.

Miss Edden off to play tennis.
Numbers were important gradually learning more of these then doing simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and identifying money coins.

Regular singing took place and carols were practiced for Christmas and recitation also practiced.

Drawing was often a flower, animal or nursey rhyme. Observation lessons were also important and taking the children out as much as possible on nature walks, looking at animals and birds, ponds with tadpoles, frogs and toads and also picking blackberries was enjoyed.

Conversation lessons were to get the children to interact by looking at wall pictures and talk about these and increase their knowledge especially about the different seasons and life in the country.

The children were encouraged to play games outside at playtime as fresh air was an important part of their daily routine.

My mother also helped the older girls with needlework and knitting but at this time there was a limited amount of materials available but Magyar nightdresses and socks were made.

At Xmas 1945 she left to get married but had very happy memories of her time at Helmdon School and was always pleased in future years to meet the children she had taught and also follow their progress in life.

Margaret Watts
2020