SCHOOLING FOR KETTLESTONE CHILDREN

SCHOOLING FOR KETTLESTONE CHILDREN

There was a school in Kettlestone which was situated in the cottages next to the Rectory. It opened in 1865 and was closed when Little Snoring School was opened in 1895.

The 1870 Education Act established a system of 'school boards' to build and manage schools in areas where they were needed. The boards were locally elected bodies which drew their funding from the local rates. Religious teaching in the board schools was to be 'non-denominational'.

Little Snoring Board School opened in 1895, to serve the villages of Little Snoring, Kettlestone and Alethorpe, and was governed by a board of seven members including the Rector of Kettlestone.

School attendance did not become compulsory until 1880 but even then truancy was a major problem due to the fact that parents could not afford to give up income earned by their children.

Fees were also payable until a change in the law in 1891. Further legislation in 1893 extended the age of compulsory attendance to 11, and in 1899 to 12.

THE RECTOR EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT THE WAY KETTLESTONE CHILDREN ARE TREATED AT SCHOOL

15^TH April 1918

The Rector attended a managers’ meeting at Little Snoring school and amongst other things raised the question ‘What is to be done in the matter of arrangements for children from a distance, as from Kettlestone Parish, having their dinner in comfort at school ? REPLY nothing further than the use of the classroom without regular supervision. The Rector promised to go further in the matter. What he wishes is that his children should be able to sit down in order and comfort and that from time to time in bad weather say, they should have a warm drink, tea or cocoa at school at mid- day.