The History of Education in Hadleigh
1820 The first recorded school in Hadleigh was a Sunday school, which was used on Saturdays for six hours of basic instruction in reading and spelling, with five hours being devoted on Sundays to religious instruction. The school was founded with an endowment from Mrs. Martha Lovibond of Hadleigh House (later Victoria House) who left £750 in trust in 1820 for the education and clothing of poor children in the village.
1834 Lady Olivia Sparrow opened a church school in Leigh to which the children of Hadleigh could attend.
1855 The National School was built by the Church of England on land donated by Lady Olivia Sparrow. It cost £450 and was funded by Mrs. Martha Lovibond’s endowment. The first mistress at the school was Miss Anne Houseley.
1870 The Education Act introduced compulsory elementary education.
1891 The Education Act made elementary education free.
1899 The school leaving age was raised to 12.
1902 The Salvation Army Colony School opened, using the citadel and library as temporary accommodation. The headmaster was Major Collins. By 1905 it had approximately 100 pupils, although some 60% of them were villagers’ children.
1910 The Hadleigh Public Elementary Council School opened on 10th October in Church Road with Mr. Samuel Collins as the first headmaster.
1914 The school leaving age was raised to 14.
1924 In April the Church School merged with the Public Elementary Council School.
1949 The senior section of Hadleigh Primary School transferred to the Benfleet Secondary Modern School (later King John School) which opened on 2nd May 1949.
1965 Hadleigh Infant School moved to a new building in Bilton Road
1966 Westwood Infants and Junior Schools opened in Beresford Gardens, with Mr. Moss as headmaster of the juniors and Mrs. Cole headmistress of the infants.
1984 Westwood Infants and Junior Schools merged to become Westwood Primary School.
1986 The new Westwood Primary School building opened.
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I was at infants and juniors from 1966. The teachers I remember were Mrs Brooks (her daughter Angela was also a pupil), Mr Bye, Miss Gunn and Mr Blyth. I still have a photo of us all in Mr Bye’s class!
I was at Westwood 1969-1975. Like others I remember Mrs Cole and Mr Moss – also Mrs Branch (deputy of the infants), Miss Bryant, Mrs Page Mrs Gough (reception and 1st/2nd infants respectively). In Juniors we had Mrs West, Miss Campbell (I believe later Mrs Benjamin), Mrs Brooks, Mrs Moore, Mr Blyth and Mr Rolph. I remember contributor Amma Poku’s sister (Adua? – forgive my spelling.)
The banner picture of Mrs Merril retiring has classmates of mine Michaela Drake (left) and Paul Cole (right)
I went to the Infant school there in 1971, the Juniors in 1973-77. I remember both Mrs Cole and Mr Moss. Other teachers I had were: (Infants) Mrs Grimsdale, Mrs Bryant, Mrs Hewson, Mrs Baxter who blew the whistle in the dining hall. (Juniors) Mrs West, Mrs Brooks, Mrs Sandal (née Gough), and Mr Blyth. There was Mrs Cotton, Mr Rolph, Mrs Sibson (a dinner lady…
I went to Westwood Infants in 1980 and left when the new school was just finished (Mr Moss was still teaching.)
Big ups to Donna, Sarah, Clive, Amanda, Dogie, Kunrun and the rest of Woodburn Close and Queensmere.
Hi Everyone
I was lucky enough to be a pupil here from 1966 – 1968. Remember Mr Moss.
What happened to my friend :-
Janet Stapleton
My family (Tuckey) moved to Reading, Berkshire
Hi there, I went there Feb ’87 till February ’89. what was the building before the old people’s home was put there?
I attended Westwood Infants and Junior School from September 1968 and remember both Mrs Cole and Mr Moss.
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