(The following is an article written by an able writing group; some photographs they used for research may be found in the photo gallery "Views From the Past")
Rudgwick school over the years ...
Since the school started in early autumn 1880 a lot has changed definitely for the better. For example we now have computers, a link with a school in Kenya and different facilities. Through the years Rudgwick has had 17 head teachers leading up until today’s Miss Hikmet. The dedicated head teacher Mr Woods was our first (and bravest) headmaster managed to keep Rudgwick under control for a big 32 years! We think he should be awarded for his bravery!!!
Now count your lucky stars that you didn’t come across this head teacher! Mr. Watton was made of some rather tough stuff. He had 3 different canes each for a different cause. Once he beat a boy with his stick so hard he had to have his trousers stitched back together! Now we come to think about our head teachers today. (Don’t worry we are happy to say they don’t split trousers) In the last ten years we have seen many heads come and go the lists of names include: Mr Caughlin, Mrs Martin, and Mrs Frith all leading to our current temporary Head teacher MISS HIKMET! We have recently recruited a new permanent head Miss Botting who will be starting in January 2011!!
Each teacher (I’m sure you can agree) has made their own significant changes to the school all for the better and brighter future! For example the new front entrance, the meadow and not to forget our amazing link with Misemwa primary in Kenya! Rudgwick owes thanks to various head teachers over the years that have helped through the worst and best. Rudgwick is a unique school who has taught many children to grow into magnificent people. Rudgwick has one motto and one only, be the best we can…
Past and Present
In the following paragraphs, you will find out about the comparison of the school now and the school in the 1900’s.
STAFF: There are more staff than we used to have in the old school, there were 8 staff back then including the head teacher, but to the present date we have about 35 staff, including TA and mid-day meals.
CLASSROOM: The classrooms have changed in the layout, decoration and brightness. The children now sit in groups but back then they sat in desks of two’s all facing the front.
PE: PE was more to do with ball games and running races but now we have a wider range of activities, like stall ball, cricket, rounder tennis badminton and more, but for these games we received lots of equipment like balls, rackets, hockey sticks and basketball hoops.
PUNISHMENTS: A typical school punishment in the early 1900’s was being caned for things like running across the school masters garden and being disobedient. Today we have golden time and if we are disobedient we miss 5 minutes of playtime or golden time.
SCHOOL GROUNDS: The school grounds are bigger than they were and can house more facilities, like games and shelters. The school once had a swimming pool but it started to crack, due to a small hurricane that swept through Rudgwick, and has now been replaced by an outside area for the youngest children in the school.