History of School

History of School

For several years, prior to 1867, a Mrs Jane Wheatley had kept a school at her house. On Sundays she would allow all the Catholic children to meet there after mass. Mr Smallwood, Miss Wheatley and Miss Smallwood taught them. Mr Joseph Rigby would later join the teaching group. At this time, the visiting priest, from St Chad's Cathedral, would also tutor the pupils with catechism instruction. An average attendance would consist of about 35 pupils. Mrs Wheatley's son would eventually become the Very Rev Dean Wheatley.

In the 19th century, schools were not given any money from the Government ‑ all building work and teachers' wages had to be paid by the community or by sponsors.

It is clear that the need for a school within the area had been identified. On the 2^nd April 1865 door to door collections began to raise funds in order that one could be established. By April 14^th 1867 some £115.7s.6p (£115.37 1/2p) had been raised.

At around this time it had been decided that a full time priest should be at St Joseph's. On his arrival in the parish, the newly appointed Father Greaney, was presented with this money, together with a plan for a school that would cost £200.00 to build. Further support from senior diocesan clergy ensured that a school would be built.

The school was built at the side of the Church, with an entrance from Long Acre. The school opened on 7th July 1868 and consisted of two schoolrooms.

Fifty pupils enrolled. The cost of the building, with accommodation for teachers, was £1,000.

The Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle founded and ran many Catholic schools in the Midlands. Their Mother House had been opened at Selly Park in 1864, at the request of Bishop Ullathorne. The Sisters were asked to come to St Joseph's. The mother House still is at Selly Park, Birmingham. It is without doubt a very serene and peaceful place and gives the visitor a feeling of tranquillity.

The Sisters who would be allocated to St Joseph's over the following years, lived in the Convent at 143 Nechells Park Road, Nechells, from 13th July 1868 until it was closed on the 24^th December 1953

In 1870, the school was extended, as there were many more pupils.

In 1877, the school was divided into 3 separate departments ‑ Infants, Girls and Boys, each with its own Head-teacher. The school's needs continued to expand, by 1896, therefore further building work was commissioned. A single storey building was built at the Thimble Mill Lane entrance to the Church. This was originally the Boys' School and remained there until demolished in May 1998

From 1902, Church schools were given financial help and so the Parish Priest was no longer responsible for teachers' salaries. The Headmistress of the Girls' School was Mother Dunstan, who was at the school from 1900 - 1930. Sister Marie was Head of the Infants for a similar period (1903 - 1936). Mr Andrew Kinsella was Headmaster of the Boys' school for 30 years until his untimely death in 1918.
	Photo circa 1900 No other details known.
Mr Meehan became Headmaster of the Boys' School after Mr Kinsella. During this time. Nechells was subject to slum clearance and people were moved away. The numbers of pupils dropped drastically. During the war years, pupils were evacuated out of the city. When Mr. Meehan retired the depleted Boys' and Girls' Schools were amalgamated under Sister Margaret, who had been Headmistress of the Girls' School since 1934. She retired in 1950, by which time there were only 111 pupils on roll. The Boys' School building was used as an annexe for the younger pupils.
Infant Class 1930. Only pupils identified to date. Mary Lyden. 2nd from left.3rd row. Mary Rosalie Morris is the 2nd girl from left on the front row.
The Second World War, 1939 - 1945 When war was declared, St Joseph's parents had already been told of the Evacuation Plans for their children, a rehearsal for which was held on 28th August 1938. On Ist September, only 19 Infants arrived. The party set off to Hartshome village, near Burton-on-Trent, where they stayed with families. Birmingham suffered many air raids. In August 1940, the raids were particularly heavy and attendance at school the next day was not always possible. On 26th August, bombs went off in the cemetery, but the school was not damaged. In October 1940, the raids were very heavy in the district, and so school was closed for 2 weeks Autumn Holidays. School closed again in late November, during the Government Evacuation of children, this time to Wilnecote, near Tamworth. Those remaining were only to attend school for a short time, as there were water shortages, following severe raids. Other children were taught at houses in the district. In January 1941, heavy snowfalls and a shortage of coke for the boiler caused School to be closed again. This occurred again the following January. More raids again threatened the city in July 1942. The school had its own air raid shelter, built in the Infants' playground, for use in daytime raids. Rocky Lane Methodist Chapel was bombed. This was on the corner of Rocky Lane and Cromwell Street, opposite the present St Joseph's School. Despite all of these problems, there were still medical and dental inspections, inoculations given against diphtheria. The school was painted and decorated; Christmas parties and School concerts and sports afternoons were held as usual. The HM Inspectors visited the school in November 1941, January 1943 and April 1944. As one past pupil said of the time "St Joseph's School was always normal and stable whatever turmoil was happening in the outside world". When school reopened in January 1944, attendance was much improved - 91 children were present out of 99 in the Infants. In November 1944, the children who had school lunches provided would go to Charles Arthur Street Canteen together with a teacher, as St Joseph's did not have any facilities. Most of the other children lived close enough to go home for lunch. Finally, peace came to Britain. On 8th and 9th May 1945, School was closed for VE Day Peace celebrations. School was again closed for the visits of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (now the Queen Mother) on 7th November 1945 In 1953 St Joseph's became an aided school. For many years the buildings were in poor condition - the Infants' School had no hot water supply; only an open fire for heating; inadequate lighting; 2 classrooms sub-standard in size; few, very old (outside) toilets shared by all the pupils. There were up to 50 children in a class. The Birmingham Development Plan stated, “ The school is scheduled to be closed, but owing to a large number of children in the area it is possible it will remain open for some time." The HM Inspectors' Report 1955. commented that “there were 167 pupils in 4 classes”. By 1961, there were 9 classrooms. Senior pupils attended St Joseph's until LEA reforms took effect. Thereafter, from 1963 Leigh Road School, Washwood Heath took pupils from the age of 11. The Infants and juniors were amalgamated into one school in 1963. In 1968, under Bishop Emery's direction, a new school was built in Rocky Lane. This was completed and the first pupils moved in on 27th April 1969. The Head-teacher was Mr Peter Whittle and joining the staff were 3 Marist sisters and a sister from the Holy Child Convent. The Blessing and formal opening of the school took place on 9th December 1970 in the presence of the Most Rev George Patrick Dwyer. This modern, airy building, with lots of windows and space was very different to the original building, which was demolished in the 1970s. The school was enlarged in 1992 when a Library and more office space were created at the front of the school. In 1998, St Joseph's passed both the Catholic and the OFSTED Inspections. The School has regularly been inspected and has always passed, even when the environment was very poor. A past pupil says of St Joseph's "The single most enduring influence in my life: my school. We were poor, we were underprivileged, the school was ill-equipped, the classes were large but the teachers worked flat out to give us grounding for life. I developed a love of learning there. Above all, we were a Catholic School, with Catholic values". The following are a few comments taken from the Head-teacher's diary from the period 1925 to 1983. 11.1.32. School re-opened.122 children present out of 156.Whooping cough mainly responsible for absences. 24.5.33. Empire Day celebrated. Longer play allowed in afternoon. Union Jack drawn, cut and mounted and taken home by pupils. National Anthem sung before dismissal. 27.9.39. A few parcels of clothing received from voluntary sources and distributed to needy cases. 19.8.40. Medical Inspection this morning by Doctor Wilson. Only 19 present on account of air raids on Saturday and Sunday. Number of air raids this week 5. Present this afternoon 34 absent 31. 23.1.46. Snowfall. 54 children absent. 55 present. Teachers still absent. Temperature 42 degrees am. 50 degrees dinnertime. 6.11.51. Nurse Dixon carried out routine inspection today. Only two children had to have notes. Standard of cleanliness is very high. 30.3.55. Attendance the last two weeks very low on account of, Measles and Mumps. 13.12.60. Thick fog today has affected school attendance, which dropped to 103. 4.2.74. Driver Higgs British Rail. Anti vandal talk. 2.11.77. Mr Webb's presentation- retiring on Nov. 7th after 34 years service as caretaker- presented with portable TV and licence. Class 5 & Infants performed vocally for him- thirty parents attended. Sister Margaret returned. 19.4.82. School looks in very poor condition. No sign of children's work displayed. No colour in school. A copy of an education report on St Joseph's Infant school. Dated 7.4.38. CITY OF BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION COMMITTEE BIRMINGHAM, ST.JOSEPH'S R.C. SCHOOL, NO 140. Copy of Report of H.M. Inspector, Mr.J.A.Barrow, after visit paid on 9th November, 1937. INFANTS DEPARTMENT Head Mistress Sister A Deurst. 1. Slum clearance in the neighbourhood of this school has caused a fall in numbers from 124 to 78 in little over two years 2. The Head Mistress and her two assistants are whole-heartedly devoted to the welfare of the children, the happy. atmosphere and successful attention to social training, which was the subject of favourable comment in the last report, are still praise-worthy features of this pleasant little school. .The children apply themselves with noteworthy willingness to all their tasks and while the former satisfactory standard in fundamentals is fully maintained 3. It is pleasing to 'report that the emphasis on formal work is less marked and an adequate "balance with the lighter aspects has been established. Not only are the children enjoying increased opportunities of self-expression by means of dramatic work story telling and recitation, but the widening of the scope in Handwork and Art has also helped in this direction. It is suggested that the furnishing of the reception room might be given consideration, Chief Education Office 7.4.38

The original School buildings, in Long Acre was demolished in the 1970s. A very sad time for those many pupils who had attended the school throughout their school life.

Text Box: Reverend Mother Genevieve Dupuis
Foundress of the English Congregation of the Sisters of Charity Of St Paul the Apostle,
Selly Park, Birmingham.

Old Thimble Mill Lane. c1881

School Badge

Where upper school once stood.

View from upper playground looking towards cemetery. Johnny Wright's wall to right.

Lower school classrooms at Thimblemill Lane entrance.

Back of upper school view from playground

Text Box:
A certificate presented to Mary Ann White on the 30th September 1884