Educating Bentley

Cooke Street School 1914

The History Of Education In Bentley

Schools have always been a vital part of any community, not only to educate the young, but as a place to bring families together. Bentley has several schools today, but was that always the case? Here we look at how schools in Bentley started out and the types of education they gave and continue to give to this day.

Contents

• The Early Years Of Education
• Arksey School
• The First Schools In Bentley
• Board Schools
• A Board School For Bentley
• Mr C. F. Cowling
• Cooke Street School Closes
• Cooke Street School Photos
• More Schools For Bentley
• Kirkby Avenue Schools
• Kirkby Avenue School Photos
• Bentley New Village School
• Bentley New Village School Photos
• Into The 1920's
• Bentley Roman Catholic School
• Secondary Education In Bentley
• Bentley High Street School
• High Street Primary/Middle School
• Bentley High Street School Photos

The Early Years Of Education

Education in poor rural communities such as Bentley was non-existent before the Tudor era. Some churches offered religious education, as the priest would be the most learned man in the village. Only the most affluent of parents would have been able to afford these lessons. 

King Edward VI (reigned 1547 - 1553) introduced 'free grammar schools', which allowed children of the poorest backgrounds to attend without having to pay the fees. Even with the offer of free tuition the vast majority of children didn't attend these schools as a child's labour in the fields was more valuable to their parents than any form of education.

Arksey School

The Endowed School, Arksey pictured in 1895

The first purpose built school in the Bentley area was at Arksey. Following a bequest by Bryan Cooke Esq. and his brother Sir George Cooke, a school was built next to the Almshouses, which was also built by the Cookes) in 1683. The endowment also provided £40 a year for the provision of a schoolmaster. 

Education was not entirely free of charge, however the church helped by providing free lessons for some, or for a very small fee.  Scholarships would have been awarded too, and records show that the Rev. Chrochley of Doncaster paid £10 per annum for half the scholarship of a poor boy from Bentley-with-Arksey in the 1700's. 

Children from Bentley able to attend school would have been enrolled at Arksey prior to the early 1800's when Bentley would get a school of its own.


For more on Arksey School go to Educating Arksey.

The First Schools In Bentley

The first two schools in Bentley probably existed at roughly the same time, although it is hard to be certain.

Bridge House at Bridge Foot (latterly Town End or Don Bridge) was used as a school for a short spell. The seventeenth century house was built by the Wilbore family and stood roughly at the bottom end of the present St George's Bridge, a position once occupied by the Don Cinema. 

Once the Wilbore's had departed the house was used as a kind of hostel. Records show that in 1817 Robert Graham was a schoolmaster at the house. It's not clear how long the building was used as a school, but by 1832 it was commandeered for use as a Cholera hospital during a serious outbreak of the disease in the town.

Bridge House

The first school in central Bentley was a National School on High Street. The building, located next to the Druid's Arms public house was first used by the Primitive Wesleyans but by 1820 was in use as a school. The building seen here in the photo (below) isn't the original building, it was re-built in 1892. However, the footprint of the original building can be seen on a map of 1850 (below).

Building used by the National School, photo 1910

Bentley 1850

Enlarged section of 1850 map

National Schools were founded in 1811 as the 'National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church in England and Wales.' The aim was that religion should be the foundation of National Education and that religion should be the first thing taught to the poor.

National schools were basically Church of England schools and were often built near the parish church. In Bentley's case, the National School predated St Peter's Church by about seventy years. The only churches in Bentley at that time were a couple of Methodist Chapels. However, rather than building a new school from scratch, lessons were undertaken in the building vacated by the Primitive Methodists when they moved to other premises by the village green.

National Schools used the monitorial system of Dr Andrew Bell, where the teacher taught a number of older students and they in turn taught the younger children. It was expected that National Schools would be established in every parish in England and Wales.

From 1833 the state began to pay annual grants to Societies for the running of the National Schools. As the grants increased over time the schools were subject to inspections and increasing demands from the state. The rigid monitorial system, while economical, came to be viewed by the inspectors as limited.

When the National School building went out of use as a school it was taken over by the Anglican Church as a Mission Room.

Board Schools

The Education Act of 1870 provided for the establishment of Board Schools to supplement the National Schools. These schools were free from religious doctrine and although they were still not free, school boards were able to pay the fees of the poorest children. 

National Schools were eventually phased out and either closed or handed over to the school boards. Compulsory education for children aged five to ten years was introduced in 1880. In 1899 it was raised to twelve and then again to fourteen a year later. School boards were abolished in 1902.

A Board School For Bentley

A school board was formed in Bentley in January 1875. This led to the building of the first purpose built school in 1877, when a school with a teacher's house was built on the village green bordering Cooke Street. The old National School on High Street was becoming overcrowded and unsuitable for mixed age teaching, but the new school was built to accommodate 174 mixed age children. An infants department was added in 1889 for a further 120 children. A further expansion in 1894 raised the intake level for the mixed department to 246. In 1891 elementary education became free in all board and church schools.

Bentley Board School Infants 1890's.
Photo courtesy of John Goodridge

The first headmaster of the new Board School was Charles Parkinson (1836 - 1903). He and his wife Mary moved into the new school teacher's house with four of their seven children. Previously, Charles, who was born in Blockley, Worcestershire, had worked, taught and lived in Napton, Warwickshire. He and Mary were married in Warwickshire in 1855. 

Teacher's Certificate for Charles Parkinson 1882.
Photo courtesy of Chris Webb.

During his time at Bentley school Mr Parkinson, together with Alderman W. Chadwick. C.C., inaugurated the first savings bank in connection with the school.

Charles Parkinson was headmaster of Bentley Board School for 19 years, and on his retirement he received a watch, inscribed as follows - 

Watch presented to Charles Parkinson.
Photo courtesy of Chris Webb.

'Presented to Charles Parkinson on his resigning the Headmastership of the Bentley Mixed School after 19 years service. By the Parishioners & Friends, as a memento of esteem & regret, October 7th 1896.'

Following his retirement, Charles and his wife moved into 98 Bentley Road. Charles had 98 and 100 Bentley Road (Warwick Villas) built in 1898, naming them after the county he had previously lived and worked in. 

Charles died on the 27th of November 1903 and is buried in Arksey old cemetery.

Memorial to Charles Parkinson,
Arksey old cemetery.

One of Charles and Mary's daughters, Sarah Emily (1862 - 1927) married Henry Woodhouse (1861 - 1949) and together they were headmaster and mistress of Arksey School from 1900 until the 1920's. After which they retired to number 100 Bentley Road, one of the Warwick Villa's Sarah's father had built.

Henry and Sarah Woodhouse (left and right) with pupils outside Arksey School in 1906.

Mr C. F. Cowling

Taking over as headmaster of the Board School in 1896 was Charles Frederick Cowling. Mr Cowling was born in York in 1864, and by the age of seventeen was an elementary teacher. He married Elizabeth Annie Wright in 1888, in York. The couple settled in Leeds, where they had three daughters. They then moved to Bentley, where they had another two daughters. By 1902 Board Schools had been abolished and replaced with local education authorities (LEA's). It is unclear when the school name was changed, but certainly by 1916 it was referred to as 'Bentley Central', probably to distinguish it from other schools recently built in Bentley.

Bentley Board School in 1900, Charles Cowling (headmaster) stands on the right.
Photo courtesy of John A Goodridge.

The Cowlings lived at the school house certainly up until 1914, and maybe up to 1917. After which they moved into number 262 Bentley Road. Mr Cowling would have been in his fifties by that time, and it is unclear if he was still headmaster then. The Cowlings left Doncaster after 1929 for a new life in Ripon, North Yorkshire. Charles Cowling's death is recorded in 1938, in Knaresborough.

Chapel Street, Bentley with Bentley Board School on the left, unknown year.

In 1914, at the outbreak of WWI, thousands of soldiers arrived in Doncaster and many schoolchildren vacated their schoolrooms when the soldiers were billeted there. This happened at Bentley Board School as recorded in the letters of Ernest Goodridge, a local man who was killed on the Somme in 1916.

While the soldiers' arrival in Bentley brought excitement for young men such as Ernest, the same cannot be said for his mother...

Extract from a letter to his brother John in November 1914, by Ernest Goodridge:

'...Fancy the old pillars toddling up to the Schools at night and finding the 'sacred ground' being rioted by the singing of ragtimes, dancing clog-steps, and the smoking of Woodbines - the appearance being far more like a tap-room than a school room, but the soldiers appreciate it and there are some very fine fellows among them...'

Extract from a letter also to John, from his mother Maria Goodridge:

'Dear John, the war does not seem likely to come to an end yet. We are having I cannot tell you how many thousands of soldiers coming to Doncaster. Next week the school children are to be turned out of their schools on account of the soldiers so I cannot say where they will get to...' 

Cooke Street School Closes

A further name change came in the 1920's when 'Bentley Central' became 'Cooke Street Council School', this was later shortened to 'Cooke Street School'.

The decision to close Cooke Street School came in 1976, one year short of its centenary year. The age of the building probably forced the decision, with repairs and upkeep costs becoming unsustainable. 

Children enjoying a commemorative cake at the closure of Cooke Street School in 1976.
From a newspaper cutting sent in by Sheila Faulkner.

The school was eventually turned into flats and given a new lease of life. 

Cooke Street School Photos

Bentley Central 1916

Bentley Central 1918

Bentley Central 1916 or 1918.
Courtesy of Jason Robinson via Mick Dutchak

Cooke Street School 1925.
Courtesy of Alison Southward

Cooke Street School 1953

Cooke Street School 1955.
Courtesy of Susan Page

Cooke Street School 1956.
Courtesy of Lynn Heath

Cooke Street School 1957 or 1958.
Courtesy of Pauline Philip

Cooke Street School 1976.
Courtesy of Sheila Faulkner

Cooke Street School taken before Bentley Library was built.
Courtesy of Adam Butler

More Schools For Bentley

The opening of Bentley Colliery in 1908 changed Bentley forever. Gone were the days of agriculture and rural life. Industrial Bentley brought people, lots and lots of people, and these people needed housing, and schools to educate their children. As extra housing went up all around Bentley, more schools also had to be provided.

Kirkby Avenue Schools 

In 1911 two new council schools were built on Kirkby Avenue, off Bentley Road, to relieve overcrowding at Cooke Street School. There was a mixed school for 360 children and a temporary school for 200 infants.

Kirkby Avenue School

Kirkby Avenue Schools on a map of 1938

It seems the infants department wasn't quite so temporary as this photo from wartime appears to show some very young children at the school, trying out their gas masks.

WWII at Kirkby Avenue School

Following changes to the school system in 1926 the school established a department for juniors - Kirkby Avenue Junior School, and a Secondary Modern - West End County Secondary School. Secondary education was eventually transferred to Don Valley High School in Scawthorpe.

Unfortunately not much else could be found out about Kirkby Avenue School. It eventually closed as a school and became a youth club before being demolished in the early 21st century. Housing now occupies the old school site and a new primary school has been built at the far end of Kirkby Avenue.

Kirkby Avenue School Photos

Kirkby Avenue School, Mr Bluman (headmaster) and Miss Norman (class teacher) c1949.
Photo courtesy of Christine Didcott  

Kirkby Avenue School c1953.
Photo courtesy of Christine Didcott

News cuttings from 1957.
Photo courtesy of Christine Didcott

Kirkby Avenue School, unknown year.
Photo courtesy of Janet Victoria Milnes

Kirkby Avenue School possibly early 1960's.
Photo courtesy of Margaret Goodchild

Kirkby Avenue juniors, unknown year.
Photo courtesy of Margaret Goodchild

Kirkby Avenue School 1972.
Photo courtesy of Trevor Meredith

Kirkby Avenue School early 1970's.
Photo courtesy of Trevor Meredith

1951
Photo courtesy of Jean Coyne

1953
Photo courtesy of Jean Coyne

1956
Photo courtesy of Jean Coyne

School production of the 1950's.
Photo courtesy of Jean Coyne

Bentley New Village School

During the construction of Bentley New Village, which began in 1909, an area between the northern and southern housing developments was set aside for community use, this included a school. 

Site of New Village School

The West Riding County Council bought the site from Messrs. Barber, Walker & Co, the colliery owners. The site, which lay off Asquith Road and Alexandra Street saw building work begin in September 1911. A coal strike delayed the work for some weeks, but New Village School was finally opened by The West Riding County Council on the 2nd of January 1913. The building and site had cost £10,000. The new school would take children who had previously attended the overcrowded Cooke Street School.

Mr W. Hinchliffe, Chairman of the Bentley Education Sub-Committee, presided over the opening ceremony, which was held in one of the large assembly halls in the school.  

Bentley New Village continues to operate as a primary school to this day.

New Village School

Bentley New Village School Photos

1931

Children who lost their fathers in the pit disaster gathered in the playground

New Village School 1953.
Photo courtesy of Roy Alder

New Village School 1958.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Heath

New Village teachers in the 50's.
Photo courtesy of Lynda Pell

New Village School sewing class, unknown year.

New Village Netball Team, 1972 or 73.
Photo courtesy of Wendy Rowe

For more New Village school photos go to Old Photo Gallery.

Into the 1920's

Bentley Roman Catholic School

The 1920's saw the addition of a Roman Catholic school, which was built between Finkle Street and Arksey Lane, and is now called 'Our Lady of Perpetual Help Primary School'. 

Unfortunately nothing else about the school could be found.

Location of Bentley R C School

Bentley R C School.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

Bentley R C School
Photo courtesy of Keith Wilburn

Bentley R C School about 1959
Photo courtesy of Karen Booth

Bentley R C School
Photo courtesy of Michael Rose

Photo courtesy of Michael Rose

Bentley R C School staff 1977
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Leigh

Secondary Education in Bentley

Up until the 1920's children aged five to fourteen years attended the same school for the entirety of their education, unless they moved away from the area. But following the publishing of the Hadlow report - The Education of the Adolescent - in 1926, which proposed a break point at eleven, the establishment of primary and secondary schools saw children attending two schools during their years of education.

Secondary education in Bentley would be provided at Kirkby Avenue school and the new, purpose built secondary school on High Street.

Bentley High Street School

In 1928 work began on the building of a new secondary school on land adjacent to St Peter's Church, just before the Selby Road railway bridge.

Bentley High Street School on a map of 1938

The original plans of the school (below) show that it was built around a central quadrangle with a toilet block to the rear and a school house near to the road (marked with a red 'C' on the plan).

The school was constructed in two halves, a boys section to the right and a girls section to the left, with a playground for each.

Original plan of Bentley High Street School in 1929.

In 1938 the building was extended on both sides. The plan below shows the proposed extension to the boy's side, while a matching building was added to the girl's side, keeping the symmetrical look of the school.

1938 plan of proposed extension.

In a description from Albert Wright, a former pupil in 1929, there were four classrooms on the boys side, plus a woodwork room, metalwork room, and upstairs, a science room. There was also a school hall.

During World War II a number of communal air raid shelters were constructed on the school field. These long, tunnel like constructions survived into the 1950's and can be seen in an aerial photo of 1953 (below).

Air raid shelters on the school field (ringed) in a photo of 1953.
Photo courtesy of Mick Dutchak

In 1944 a new Education Act raised the school leaving age to 15, which meant that schools had to find additional space to accommodate the 168,000 extra pupils. One way of tackling the problem was to provide schools with temporary 'huts' until more permanent structures could be built. 

The scheme was named the 'Hutting Operation for the Raising of the School-Leaving Age', shortened to the acronym HORSA. The huts were made of pre-fabricated concrete and timber, and had asbestos corrugated roofs. They were delivered flat-pack style and constructed on site. The huts were only meant to last ten years, but many survived for much longer than that.

Bentley High Street had one of these HORSA huts. It was built near to the rear entrance of the boy's school and can be seen in the aerial photo above, here is a cropped view of it. 

The HORSA building in 1953

  

More permanent huts were added to the school around 1960. These stand-alone wooden huts were added to the ends of the 1938 extensions and can be seen on this aerial view of 2002.

Wooden huts added in c1960 (ringed).
Image Google Earth

The huts on the girls side (nearest the road) were demolished around 2017 to make way for a new nursery building, but the other huts on the right still remain.

Around 1960 the school purchased a piece of land to the rear of the school site and began a rural studies department complete with planting areas and livestock. One unique resident of the rural studies block was a retired pit pony from Bentley Colliery, called Drummer. He was given to the school around 1967 on the understanding that he wasn't to be ridden. He was housed in a large shed and cared for by the students. The temptation to try sitting on Drummer proved too much for one group of girls though. Recalling the incident, former student Carol Carolson, remembers the day one of her friends mounted the pony's back in his stable only for him to bolt and smash through a partition gate and knock the large stable doors clean off their hinges, before rampaging through a football match taking place on the school field. Needless to say, the students involved were in some quite serious trouble over that.

The area of the rural studies department is now a training centre with garden centre and doesn't belong to the school anymore.

In 1962 the boy's and girl's schools became a joint mixed school, and school uniforms were also introduced that year.

In 1964 moves were being made to raise the school leaving age again, this time to the age of sixteen. The decision met with some delays and it wasn't until the 1st of September 1972 that the new leaving age was enforced. However, Bentley High Street began offering voluntary two year additional courses to fifth formers in 1965, extending a scheme started some years earlier by the then headmaster, Mr J Richardson. A piece was published in the Yorkshire Evening Post about it (below).

Cutting courtesy of Bentley High Street Secondary Modern facebook group,
via Graham Westerman
See the Scrapbook page for a full transcription of this article.

High Street Primary/Middle School

The decision to make Bentley High Street a Primary/Middle School came in 1972 following moves during the previous decade to expand Comprehensive Secondary education in England and Wales. Middle schools offered lower secondary education to students, who would then move on to a Secondary Modern or Grammar School, but by the mid 1970's most of them had amalgamated into large comprehensives. The age intake for middle schools varied in some areas, but most attendees were aged nine to thirteen years. A combined school such as Bentley High Street would take children from the age of five up to thirteen. 

Secondary education was provided by large comprehensives in the area, such as Don Valley High School in Scawthorpe, Adwick School in Woodlands and Ridgewood School in Scawsby. 

This three-tier educational system was short lived, and by the end of the decade Middle Schools were being phased out in favour of Primary and Comprehensive education only, a system that survives to this day. 

The present Bentley High Street School is a Primary school only, with a nursery school attached, educating children from the age of three to eleven.

On July 5th 2019 Bentley High Street School celebrated its 90th birthday with historical displays, a barbecue and party for students past and present.

90th Birthday celebrations.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman.

Bentley High Street School Photos

1930's students.
Photo courtesy of Ian Jackson

Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

Bentley Secondary School c1952.
Photo courtesy of Janet Atkinson

Head boys and prefects c1958.
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

Staff photo from the early 1960's.
Courtesy of Bill Wright

Dinner ladies from 1963.
Photo courtesy of Ian Butterfield

Students from 1967

Staff photo from 1971.
Courtesy of Graham Westerman

For more Bentley High Street School photos go to Old Photo Gallery.

For associated news cuttings go to Scrapbook.

__________

Many thanks to all contributors and members of the Facebook groups - Kirkby Avenue Secondary School and Bentley High Street Secondary Modern Ex Pupils for photos and historical information.


Alison Vainlo 

First written 2019, updated 2020