1960-1974

Mrs E.M.K.Cooke

HT Miss Coatsworth married and left the district.
Replaced by Mrs E.M.K.Cooke.

Nurse Smith from the School Clinic inspected children’s heads.
Harvest Festival. Fruit and vegetables collected from school and distributed to old people by WVS.
PTA meetings. (Choir. Keep Fit.)
Alderman Bell brought hot water bottle for use by any child feeling unwell whose mother is out at work.
In November poppies sold in school.
PTA Bring and Buy Sale to finance Xmas Parties.
Architect and joiner in school re maintenance and decoration.
Mobile Theatre, under direction of Carol Jenner, at Springfield School. Story, mime and verse.
December. Twenty shovelfuls of sand and salt delivered for use when playground slippery.
1961
Gas fire in staff room inspected – too antique for repair.
Three staff attended course on ‘Music’ by Miss Wilson of the Durham Institute of Education.
PTA – Cooking demonstration by Northern Gas Board.
In March the Reception class visited Southend Avenue to see the crocuses and South Park to feed the ducks.
PTA – Rev Dan Hunter talked about the Oberammergau Passion Play.
In June Tony Bell won the Boys’ Flat Race at the School Sports.
PTA Open Meeting. Good attendance, including some fathers (!!)
PTA. Mr Strike demonstrated flower arranging.
Visit of Nurse for Heads and Eyes. All heads were clean. (No infestation).
Bring and Buy Sale. £26-1s-6½d raised towards Xmas Party.
Average attendance for term 96%.
PTA. Findus Frozen Foods.
1962
Lead stolen from roof during Xmas Holiday.
PTA. Beetle Drive.
HT attended lecture on Purpose and Use of Record Cards.
September. School reorganised into five classes instead of six.
Weights and Measures checked the scales.
1963
Miss Sproates tested for deafness.
Parents Night. Good attendance. Almost all children represented.
Two staff on Refresher Course at Durham.
Moray House Tests and Number and Reading Tests.
Visit to Art Exhibition at Public Library.
Poor attendance in July – Measles, Mumps and Railway Holidays.
Many DTC students.
Visit to St Thomas Aquinas RC School to see plays by National Theatre.
PE Organiser called to give information on proposed new Swimming Baths and to discuss our new apparatus.
1964
New date fixed for admission of five-year olds. Those who reach five by 1st May to be admitted after the Easter break.
211 on the books.
Educational psychologist called to test certain retarded children.
Nurse gave some children the anti-polio treatment – serum drops on sugar.
June trip to High Force. Observation of hills, valleys, streams, birds, plants, flowers, trees, insects.
In July electricians from Patersons rewired the school.
During the summer the Air Raid Shelters were demolished and the playground was reinstated in concrete except for one area converted into a school garden.
HMIs in school to inspect Number Activities and Creative Activities.
HT attended meeting of the British Committee for Interchange of Teachers with the USA.
1965
Police called to instruct on use of Pedestrian Crossing.
In March received shrubs from Superintendent of Parks for planting in School Garden. Bulbs planted by children already beginning to show.
Class Four visited Danish Company Ltd. In Macmullen Road. Used Corporation Service Bus.
Outing to Croft, East Cowton, Scorton, returning by new Darlington Motorway on private bus.
A new Welmar mini piano delivered to the school.
Mr Pratt, the new Music Adviser, called.
Mr Appleton, the personnel officer, called.
Poor attendance in October due to measles and tonsilitis. Also jaundice and scarlatina.
In December the Chief Inspector of Water Maintenance examined the heating system.
1966
School Roll 190. 5 staff.
Both pianos tuned. (A frequent event).
Visit to park and cemetery to study trees, birds and flowers.
On 31st March the school was used as a Polling Booth for the General Election. (Harold Wilson remained Prime Minister. ** remained Darlington’s MP.)
School Meals Organiser brought new equipment (salt cellars, water jugs etc) for dinner periods. At present about 200 children have school dinners, five of them free.
Nuffield Mathematics Course for some of the staff taking part in the scheme,
Additional Road Crossing Helper appointed at junction of Salters Lane and the Main Road.
Small trampoline acquired for PE.
Three pre-school age children admitted for compassionate reasons.
Class 5 visited the Fire Station in Borough Road.
1967
Scales checked by Averys.
Now three helpers in the kitchen and two supervisory assistants (SA) for the dining room.
Electric cooker delivered for use in Mathematics projects.
Mr Bates, Drama Organiser, called.
Success in Egg and Spoon race at Feethams Sports.
Darlington Borough Centenary Exhibition of ‘Education at Work’.
New PE apparatus in Hall, to be shared with Juniors.
Architects called to discuss new indoor toilet arrangements.
Telephone repaired.
Speech therapist called to help three children.
1968
HT at Managers Meeting at Rise Carr School.
Five classes. Reception Class taken by Miss Blair, newly qualified from the College of Education (renamed DCT?)
Caretaker Mr Ellis ill with back trouble.
In November several children absent with Shingella Sonnet.
Sinks fitted in three rooms, wire shoe racks in porches, some floors sanded.
Contacted police about parking of cars and lorries near the school on Thompson Street West.
Enquired of Borough Surveyor’s Department concerning replacement of barriers removed after damage by vehicles.
1969
Six classes.
In April 236 on roll.
Four staff attended lecture on Team Teaching at Longfield School.
In June Class 5 walked to North Road Station, travelled by train to Bank Top Station, inspected things and places of interest, then returned to school by Corporation Bus.
July meeting of the Governors (Managers) at North Road Primary School.
Class 5 visited the Public Library and saw the facilities and viewed the exhibition of children’s art which included some of their own work.
In July the school was upgraded to Grade Four. It was therefore entitled to a Deputy Head and one Graded Post of Responsibility. The Education Committee appointed Mrs A.Brown Deputy Head and Mrs Laycock was appointed by the Governors to the Post of Responsibility for Music.
A part-time Welfare Officer was appointed.
Pierre the Clown in school with the School Dentist to encourage children to clean their teeth.
HM Inspector of Factories called to check the ‘office’ accommodation. One adult toilet was not considered enough.
Typewriter repaired by Wrights.
Classrooms fitted with portable electric fan heaters.
Rats in playground.
1970
Mr Pennington in school observing new staff.
Measles, mumps and chicken pox affect attendance.
Mobile caravan for dentist’s visit.
Plans to replace new record player when funds allow.
Children’s Theatre performed in school. Other schools visited.
In April 226 on roll.
Additional second hand piano provided.
24th April. Two children nominated to attend opening of new Town Hall.
Class 5 visited Preston Park Museum by GNE bus.
On 18th June the school was closed for the General Election. (The Conservatives defeated Labour and Edward Heath became Prime Minister. Darlington’s MP???)
Class 7 visited Teesside Airport.
12th October. Local Government manual workers on strike. School closed.
In December there was discussion re the redirection of children to other schools in the event of overcrowding (35+).
223 on roll.
1971
HT attended a lecture at the Teachers Centre, North Lodge on ‘Crime Prevention in Schools’.
PWC brought a Panda Car to show the children and told them about its activities.
More Refresher Courses at Durham.
Nurse Smith inspected heads. Four children had nits.
1972
School Choir at Baths Hall for rehearsal for Music Festival.
In March the school roll was much increased. Need to restrict entrants. The official accommodation is 245, 7 teaching spaces, 35 to a space. Davison Road children redirected to North Road, Drinkfield children to Longfield Road, end of Thompson Street West children to Rise Carr.
Mrs Laycock appointed to Scale 3 post in charge of music. Mrs Ferguson appointed to Scale 2 post in Library and Reading Activities.
Preparations for conversion to Natural Gas.
New radiator and washbasin installed in Staff Room.
Mr Boston collected a projector, stereo speakers and tape recorder for servicing.
Class 7 visited the Art Exhibition and Darlington Museum, to inspect the activities of the beehive.
September. 183 on roll.
Nurse from Aycliffe Hospital observing behaviour of normal children. Her work is involved with handicapped and mentally retarded children.
Rediffusion called to check on quality of reception.
School full of college tutors visiting their students.
HMIs present investigating methods and the standard of reading throughout the school.
School closed on 20th November to celebrate Queen’s Silver Wedding anniversary.
1973
Gas strike. Gas pressure reduced. Fewer children stayed for dinner at our request.
Roneo technician called to inspect duplicator damaged by cleaner when dusting.
Primary HTs meeting at Civic Centre.
New caretaker appointed.
Two sixth formers visited as observers.
Mrs Gorringe, Ancillary Helper, left to take up a nursing post with the Health Service. She was soon back helping the doctor with medical inspections.
Mrs Brown attended course on Open Plan schools.
October. HMI gave information on the nature of proposals in the recent White Paper ‘The James Report’. Discussion followed.
14th November. School closed for wedding of Princess Anne.
Some classes visited BBC at Middlesbrough.
1974
DCT lecturer called to discuss school practice with our link teacher, Mrs Brown.
School garden planted with roses by the Parks men.
Two staff attended Maths course at Teachers Centre.
1st April. The school now under the supervision of Durham County. Darlington to be included in Durham County Area No.8. (Mr Wood and Mr Brewer in charge of Area Office.)
Mr H called to check Free Dinner list. He is in charge of the allocation of free meals.
Mrs Meikle joined the staff.
Gas Board checked water heater.
Fire Service rep replaced fire extinguishers.
Infant & Nursery Adviser called to discuss new entrants.
Hygiene Officer from Durham inspected building inside and out.
Colour TV aerial erected.
After the summer DHT Mrs A Brown replaced Mrs Cooke as HT.