The Middy - August 5, 1999

Only illness and cold kept class sizes down.

London Road school was founded in 1850 as a Church of England school and served infant, middle and secondary school children in Burgess Hill for more than a century. The school was demolished in 1988 but nearly a century of life at the school has survived through infant school logbooks.

At the turn-of-the-century Miss Nelly Atkins was headmistress of the infant school, assisted by three teaching staff with about 150 children on role. The school started the 20th century on a high note – HM inspectors report for January 9, 1900, stated: "the school has greatly improved during the past year and is now in commendably good making.”

Children were often absent from the school during periods of bad weather.

In January 1900, Miss Atkins wrote: "the attendance this week is very bad indeed. It has been very cold and the children have such dreadful colds and coughs their parents will not send them through the wet.”

The annual livestock fair outside the school caused considerable concern to parents. Subsequent to this entry on July 4, 1905, children were granted leave every year for the event.

"A days holiday given tomorrow by permission of the management as a sheep and lamb fair is to be held just outside the school premises and the parents think it too dangerous to let their little ones come to school.”

Education was made compulsory in 1880, but children still have to work for parents and relatives.

When the school opened after the summer break in September 1915, the headmistress observed that some children were still away hop picking.

Leave was granted for special occasions by the schools management. On January 27, 1910, the school buildings were required "for the purpose of a polling station." The school was also closed on July 16, 1913, "on the occasion of the annual fancy dress carnival.”

Infections passed around the children had a high rate and there are several instances where the school was closed for several weeks. The headmistress’ report for May 16, 1900, states attendance as "very bad" due to several cases of measles or mumps.

Two days later, the school was closed by the medical officer of health – "measles being prevalent." The school reopened on June 6, 1900, but the observations of the headmistress suggests the situation had deteriorated.

"School open this morning, the numbers are worse than they were before we closed for the measles epidemic. There are only 85 children present out of 140.”

Scarlet fever caused many long closures in the early part of the 20th century. On December 12, 1912, the headmistress wrote:

"the correspondent visited the school this morning and gave instructions for the school to be closed after the afternoon session until after Xmas, as there were several cases of scarlet fever_was going to be disinfected.”

In 1913 and epidemic which closed school during May was still rife after the summer holidays. On reopening the school in September, headmistress is this page feared another outbreak after "fresh" cases of the disease were reported.

One week later, on September 15, 1913, she wrote: "received news that a boy in the first class that has scarlet fever. Dr Stott came in during the morning and examine the children's hands." 

Three days later, the boy was certified as having the condition, characterised by redness and flaking of the skin.

"The desks in the first class where the boy sat, who was peeling from scarlet fever have been disinfected by order of the sanitary authority and any stuff used by him has been destroyed.”

On September 26, 1913, the school was closed for over a month.

Outbreaks continue throughout 1914 and drastic action was taken by the school’s managers on November 19 to contain the spread of the disease."Mrs Bridge wishes me to tell you that the local education authority have practically decided to burn all books at your school before reopening on account of scarlet fever." In December, all stationary at the school was also burned.

Classrooms were cold and cramped. In one entry, the HM inspector praises the school but suggested one infant class, with 64 children on roll, was too big.

An inspector’s report on April 4, 1900 criticised the state of the classrooms.

"The floors are very dirty, the walls in many places, discoloured."

The school lacked basic equipment and there are many entries citing the need for items such as book cupboards, classrooms partitions and new desks. On June 15, 1904, the headmistress wrote:

"The "babies" will not use slates for writing, but will make the letters and figures in sand.”

Central heating was installed in the school on September 12, 1924. Prior to this the school was often shut on account of the cold. On October 31, 1913, Mr Boutflower, an inspector, suggested moving the "babies" from the north to the south classroom because the room was "dark and draughty." The inspector left orders stating "no class shall use it and interruptedly.”

Large class sizes meant discipline was off no problem. Hot weather on July 28, 1905, was blamed for making children "a bit fidgety.”

The headmistress had a frustrating day on December 15, 1905: "the discipline here is weak, consequently, the work of the class suffers.”

A separate punishment book was kept, recalling details of children's misdeeds. The book records a number of reasons for punishment including "dancing in the snow", “filthiness”, "interfering with a mechanical digger" and "filthy talk through ventilator with girls in the school."

Punishment was not restricted to incidents within the school.

In 1929, two boys were "whipped" for: "annoying and old woman in the road and throwing stones at her."

During World War II, two schools were based on the premises. On September 18, 1939, arrangements were made for an evacuated school, Saint Joseph's, Rotherhithe, to share the facilities. Juniors and infants from London Road used their own building in the morning and St John's Institute (Park Centre) in the afternoons alternately with St Joseph's.

Classroom accommodation for infants and juniors was inadequate and other premises, including church halls were used for the three years and four months and Joseph stayed in Burgess Hill.

After the war, a separate secondary school was needed because of increased house building in the town. The secondary school pupils were transferred to the newly built Oakmeeds in 1953 and the school was renamed London Road County Primary School. 

In 1987, a new primary school was built on the Oakmeeds campus. Pupils were asked to vote for a new name for the school with a choice of "Little Oaks", "Homesdale" and "London Meed". In recognition of 136 years at the old site, the name London Meed County Primary School was adopted. Suggestions to preserve the infant school building as a community centre were made but the school was demolished in 1988.