Education in Cosgrove

Cosgrove School. 1889 or 1890. In the second row from the back are three brothers: second third and fourth from the left, Monty Henson, Fred Henson, Ben Henson. At the time people had to count to ten and not move before the photograph was taken to prevent blurring.	Cosgrove School c.1918 Doris Hill back row second from the right Perhaps the lady teacher in the photograph of children at the new school in 1918 is Miss Keverin – we like to think so……

1818 return under Cosgrove, containing part of Old Stratford. Pop 511. Minister H L Mansel. No endowed school, no other school.

Comment: many of the poor are without the means of education and are desirous of having them.

The earliest recorded schools in Cosgrove were run privately by individuals in their own houses, mainly for the sons of gentlemen. The children of more wealthy families had tutors or governesses at home.

H. P. MALPAS

BEGS to return his grateful Acknowledgements to his Friends at COSGROVE and its Vicinity, for the very kind and liberal Support he has experienced, and respectfully acquaints his Friends and the Public, that it is his Intention after the Midsummer Recess, of OPENING A SCHOOL for the Reception of Youth, at HANSLOPE, where young Gentlemen will be taught the English Language grammatically, together with the first Rudiments of the Latin Grammar, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, History, Navigation, and Merchants' Accounts.

As the Number of Boarders will be limited to Six only, the earliest Applications will respectfully attended to.

Terms —18 Guineas per Annum. —Entrance one Guinea.—Every Attention will paid to the Improvement, Health, Morals, and Deportment of the Pupils.

The SCHOOL will OPEN the 5th of JULY. Cosgrove, June 12th 1818.

TO SCHOOLMASTERS

ANY PERSON wishing to ESTABLISH a SCHOOL will find an excellent opening in the Parish of COSGROVE Northamptonshire.

There is a school Room ready to be entered upon; and also a large Desk and several Forms, which may be taken at a Valuation.

For further Particulars inquire of Mr PAYNE at Cosgrove aforesaid; or W. NIXON, Printer &c. at Stony Stratford Bucks.

1833 Education return, under Cosgrove parish, including part of the hamlet of Old Stratford, pop 624.

Two daily school, one attached to the house of industry (commenced 1830) is free to children of labourers of both sexes; others admitted on small weekly payment. Consists of 27 children and is supported out of parish rates.

Other school is for reading and sewing, in which 18 children of both sexes are instructed at the expense of their parents.

Two Sunday School, one of which the parochial school (commenced 1820) is attended by 25 males and supported from parish rates; the other (held in house of the clergyman and taught by members of his family) are 30 females, taught on Sunday afternoons. Books provided at the expense of the clergyman.

Population 776.  47 boys and 31 girls aged 5 to 12.  Mixed day school.  Schoolroom 7140 cubic feet, 595 sq feet.  Accommodation for 74 (altered from 89).  31 buoys and 26 girls on books.  Average attendance 55.  Two in school aged 12 to 21.  Average age in first class 8.  Government and diocese inspection.  Certificated master and monitor or monitress.  Voluntary contributions £22  7s.  Endowment £5.  Pence £14  9s  6d.

1869-70 report: Holy Scripture and catechism good in higher standards, fair in lower.  Reading, writing and dictation good, arithmetic fair.  Teaching and tone fairly good.  Discipline requires improvement.

Summary: Cosgrove sufficient for space; also efficient, with certificated teacher and government grant.  No additional accommodation needed.

In 1874 Mrs. Selina Richardson was conducting a private school in Cosgrove.

27 March 1877.  Attendants: higher school 30 boys 28 Hales making 58.  Infants 17 boys 13 girls, making 30. Letter from the education department withholding grant because infant still taught on upper floor.  PC has passed that cannot be recognized because mistress still not qualified to supervise.  Arithmetic still very bad.  Present teacher has only had charge for 10 weeks and cannot be held responsible for state of instruction.  Education department insists that qualified assistants be appointed is infants thought upstairs.  Mistress attends to discuss.  Agreed that since main room hold 17 both classes to be taught there and upper room only used as required.  Report to be circulated to subscribers stating that infants’ grants now restored since they had been moved from upstairs room.  Accounts show credit balance of £30.00 in hand.

24 Oct.  Attendance higher school 21 boys 28 girls total 49.  Infants 20 boys 20 girls total 40. Generally favourable diocesan report given difficulties under which RE has been taught for the last year.  Parish now has a resident rector, who takes over as Secretary from R S Mansel.

17 Jan 1878.  Attendance higher boy is 22 girls 27 total 49.  Infants boys 22 girls 23 total 45.  Temple on books and 94.  School library has been turned into a parochial lending library with the small subscription.

12 March.  Miss Rolls resigns as mistress.  Resolve to appoint master with relative to teach sewing etc. To be offered £50.00 plus half grant.  House on green to be rented for master, at present occupied by Col. Carden’s gardener.  Resolved not to raise fees at present.

28 April 1887.  School closed for lengthy period from 7 March because of scarletina outbreak.  Very small attendance.  Accounts for year to 31 October, 1886 shows £10 balance on £114 turnover.  Only one teacher and the monitress now being paid.

31 Oct.  Reports that panelling taking down from church gallery had been installed in schoolroom presented by wardens, which is great improvement.  Discussion as to meeting expenses.  Agreed that if voluntary subscriptions will not cover, then a voluntary rate should be levied; if this not accepted then there will have to be compulsory rate and a school board.

Report to 31 Oct 1886. HMI notes that school has suffered great deal from sickness.  Closed for two months.  Grant much reduced.  List of subscribers shows amounts down to £28 of which £2 from JCM.  £3 from Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson, nothing from Grafton, £5 from Grant-Thorold, two guineas from hon. Mrs. Isted, two guineas from canal company.  Only £1 in hand on turnover of £98.  School Pence down to £16, grant only £36.

COSGROVE

PROPOSED READING ROOM In response to the appeal of a deputation, the Rector Cosgrove (the Rev. H. N. C. Hewson) has been pleased to grant the use of his large room as a reading and village room during the winter for men and. boys over 14 years of age, thus supplying a much felt want.

Form 1 (non-provided schools) completed under 1902 Act.

Cosgrove public elementary day school situated in the main street in the civil parish of Cosgrove, post town Stony Stratford.  Site contains 139 square yards: playground rented separately; about quarter of an acre.

Building opened in 1844, was enlarged in 1875, and now contains two departments.  No government building grant.  Accommodation for 67 older pupils and 74 infants.  Population served by school estimated at 308, excluding Old Stratford.  Within Potterspury school attendance district.  Mixed department is 33 ft 7 in x 16 ft.  Approved for 67. Average attendance 32 and 30 taught by Thomas Seymour and A G Pedley.  Infants department 41 ft by 14 ft 6 in, average attendance 38. Taught by M L Seymour and Elizabeth Noble.  Average attendance for January, 1903 was 70; for last school year 82.  No school fees or charges for books.  School year ends 31 October.

Managers: Rev. Henry Newington Clark Hewson, Cosgrove Rectory (ex officio); Harry Grant-Thorold esquire, Manor Farm Cosgrove; Frances Desvaux Bull esquire, The Cottage, Cosgrove; John Jepson Atkinson esquire, The Priory Cosgrove.  Correspondent is the rector.

Staff Thomas Seymour born 1856, certificated, appointed in July 1888, salary of £50.00 per annum plus half grant, averages £89  9s  6d.  Marian Louise Seymour, born 1863, part qualified, appointed November 1888, salary £25.00, Amelia Grace Banks now Mrs Pedley, born 1876, part qualified appointed January 1898, £25.00.  Elizabeth Mary Noble, born 1888, monitress, appointed June 1902, £3 18s.  Mr Seymour also has a house.

Date of trust deed: 19 April, 1844.  In custody of rector.  Present trustees are Hewson, Bull, Grant-Thorold, by Will of testator.

Building also used for evening continuation classes, Sunday-school and meetings of the parish council.

Annual endowment income £4  11s  8d, Mrs. Graham’s (the late) endowment.  Sum left in consols by Mrs Graham by will to rector and churchwardens in trust for school.  School is a National Schools; rector in charge of religious instruction.  School only serves village of Cosgrove.  Old Stratford children attend schools at stony Stratford.

Signed by Hewson, Thorold and Bull, 16 Feb 1903

Form 2.  Returned 9 Feb 1903 by Hewson.  Extracts from last HMI report.  Reasonable report on mixed school but room for improvement.  Similar for infant department.  Recently appointed monitress in latter department seems to have little aptitude for work.  Some of windows let in water.

Income in year to 31^st October 1902 is £196, of which £33 is from voluntary subscriptions, £4 11s  8d from Mrs. Graham’s benefactions, and the rest in grants.  CR side totals £267 because of deficits compared to £71.  Expenditure deficits brought forward of £85, salaries £140, rent of playground £12 and the rest books and materials, total £267.

School running at a fairly substantial loss of about £70 - 80 per annum.

16 Feb 1903.  Special meeting re G. F. Branson removing boundary fence of school playground.  Letter from him: the ground you had been using as a playground I wish you to give up after today, as people are continually bothering me for building land and it is my intention to carve up the ground for building plots and submit them to public auction.  Reply: land on the Green rented by managers is on a yearly tenancy ending 31 October.  Will require usual notice.  Fencing is our property: please return.

Forms 1 and 2 from NCC returned.

13 June.  Letter from NCC advising that appointed day under part two of 1902 Act will be 1 July, 1903 in Northants.  Also long circular from Voluntary Schools Association re working new Act in voluntary schools.  Especially re keeping voluntary subscriptions separate.

5 Sept.  Agreed to adhere to Diocesan scheme for a common funds under 1902 Act.  Four foundation managers appointed.  NCC architects report read: works required to be done immediately - none.  Work desirable as soon as convenient - fresh air ventilators to both rooms and the exhaust ventilator in infants room.  Lavatory accommodation for girls.  More ventilation to infants cloakroom.  Paving of offices and yards to be relaid.  Internal painting and plastering where defective.

19 Sept.  Contract signed with NCC by managers to run school for £18.00 per annum, paid quarterly, under 1870 and 1902 Acts.  Will supply heat and light for an evening school at 8d an evening.  This is on standard NCC forms to be returned to county.  Also that Head’s salary amounts to £105 per annum plus house worth £12.00 and rates and taxes £1 10s.  Mrs. Seymour and another assistant each paid at £25.00 and monitress two shillings a week.  Total of £173 14s.  Fuel and light not provided in head’s house.  Managers recommend monitress should get 3s a week.

30 Nov.  Agreed to have repairs listed above by NCC carried out.

7 June 1904.  New agreements with Mr. and Mrs. Seymour was signed, but not the other assistant, who had lost her voice and so could not teach at present.

4 Oct.  Agreement with NCC signed by teachers.

PARISH OF COSGROVE

Foundation of Mrs Elizabeth Graham

By an Indenture dated 22^nd March 1862 and made between the Rev John Graham, then Rector of Cosgrove and the then Churchwardens of the one part and Mrs Elizabeth Graham of the other part, after reciting that Mrs Elizabeth Graham had out of her own separate monies purchased the sum of £166 13s 4d. Consolidated 3 per cent annuities and had caused the same to be transferred into the names of the Rector and Churchwardens, it was declared that the said sum of stock should be held by the Rector and Churchwardens on trust to apply the dividends thereof for the maintenance and benefit of the National School in Cosgrove in such manner as they should from time to time think proper, provided always that in case the said National School should at any time thereafter cease to be carried on or should be managed or conducted in any other way or for any other purpose than as a Church of England school for the benefit of the children of the labouring classes in the said parish of Cosgrove, then and in such case the trust fund should be held in trust for the said Elizabeth Graham, her executors, administrators and assigns: and it was agreed that, on the death of the said John Graham, and on the death of his successors, Rectors of Cosgrove, the trust fund should be so transferred that it should stand in the names of the Rector and Churchwardens for the time being, the expense of such transfer being paid out of the dividends of the trust fund and not out of the corpus.

Cosgrove National School is comprised in two deeds, dated respectively 19^th April 1844 and 18^th February 1870, and is now regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, dated 9^th April 1875. The scheme provide (inter alia) that the School shall be at all times open to the Inspection of His Majesty’s Inspector of Schools, and shall be in union with, and conducted according to the principles of the National Society. The School has accommodation for 98 children and an average attendance of 71.

The annual income, amounting to £4 3s 4d, has been applied towards the maintenance of the School. The Stock is standing in the name of Messrs H Grant Thorold and F D Bull.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACT, 1870  Section IX

NOTICE B

COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL DISTRICT OF COSGROVE.

WHEREAS the Education Department, in pursuance of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, have received the Returns in the said Act mentioned, and made such inquiry as they think necessary with respect to the School accommodation the District hereinafter mentioned; Now, therefore, the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education have decided, and

HEREBY GIVE NOTICE AS FOLLOWS:

I.                   The School District is the Parish of COSGROVE.

II.                  The School named in the first Schedule to this Notice is considered to be available for such District.

III.                Additional Public School accommodation of the amount and description mentioned in the second Schedule to this Notice appears to be required for the District.

SCHEDULE I.

No. of Children accommodated 74

SCHEDULE II.

Amount and Description of Accommodation required 26

If the National School is enlarged so as to accommodate about 30 additional children, no further accommodation will be required.

F. R. SANDFORD, Secretary. Education Department, 9th day of April, 1873.

Notice No. 6,304

Union of Potterspury

Submitted following Code of Rules and Regulations as finally settled on basis of draft submitted at last meeting:

Rules and Regulations

1.         These Schools are only intended for children residing in the Parish of Cosgrove and no other child can be admitted without the special sanction of the Committee of Management.

2.         The school shall be opened at 9 am daily, Saturdays and Sundays excepted, and the hours of tuition shall be from 9 am till 12 noon and from 2 pm to 4 pm: such annual holidays being given as may from time to time be sanctioned by the Committee of Management.

3.         No child shall be admitted to the Infant School under 3 or over 7 years of age.

4.         No child shall be admitted to the National School under 7 or over 12 years of age for Boys, or over 14 for Girls.

5.         Every child attending the school must be clean in person and clothing and no child will be admitted having any infectious disorder.

6.         The school shall be commenced each morning, and concluded each afternoon with prayers, according to the form provided for the purpose.

7.         Any child not present at the opening prayers will be considered and noted as absent unless otherwise arranged with the parent.

8.         Any child absent from the school continuously for one month, unless from sickness, to be certified if required by his or her medical attendant, will be deemed to have left the school, and the name taken off the register.

9.         No child whose name shall, from any cause, have been taken off the register, shall be admitted to the school unless by special sanction of the Committee of Management, nor unless by such special authority, shall any child be admitted who may have been dismissed or removed from any other school.

10.        The teaching shall include the Holy Scriptures, the Catechism of the Church of England, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and the elements of Geography. In addition to the above, the Girls to be taught plain Needlework and Knitting.

11.        It shall not be required, as a condition of any child be admitted into or continuing in the school, that he or she shall attend, or abstain from attending any Sunday School or any place of religious worship or that he or she shall attend any religious observance or any instruction on religious subjects in the school or elsewhere, from which observance or instruction, he or she may be withdrawn by the parent, or shall if withdrawn by the parent attend the school on any day exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which the parent belongs.

12.        The time or times during which any religious observance is practised, or instruction in religious subjects is given at any meeting of the school shall be either at the beginning or at the end, or at the beginning and the end, and shall be inserted in a timetable to be approved by the Education Department and to be kept permanently and conspicuously affixed in every Schoolroom; and any student may be withdrawn by the parent from such observance or instruction without forfeiting any of the other benefits of the School.

13.        The School shall be open at all times to the inspection of any of Her Majesty’s Inspectors, so, however, that it shall be no part of the duties of such inspector to inquire into any instruction in religious subjects given at such school or to examine any scholar therein in any religious knowledge or in any religious subject or book.

14.        The School shall be conducted in accordance with any conditions required to be fulfilled by an elementary school in order to obtain an annual parliamentary grant.

15.        Strict obedience is required from each child attending the school, not only to these rules, but to any directions which may from time to time be given by the Master or Mistress; and any breach of such rules and directions will render the offender liable to punishment, confined or otherwise, and may be deemed expedient by the Master or Mistress, acting under the instructions of the Committee of Management.

16.        No direct interference with the management will be permitted on the part of the parent or friends of children attending the school, but any complaints must be made to the Committee and addressed to the Rector (as Chairman), The Rectory, Cosgrove. Any direct interference on the part of parents or friends contrary to this regulation will render the children liable to dismissal.

17.        The charge for each pupil in the school will be Twopence weekly, payable in advance, and no remission of charge will be allowed in case of absence of a pupil, unless from illness or other unavoidable cause, to be certified to the satisfaction of the Committee of Management.

18.        The regular holidays will comprise –

            One week at Easter

            One    do.     Whitsuntide

            Four   do.      Midsummer

            Two    do.      Christmas

            and the days for the commencement and termination of such holidays will be determined from time to time by the Committee of Management; any variation or extension of the times and any holidays other than the above to be subject to their approval.

By order of the Committee                     (signed) Robert Mansell, Secretary.            

                                                                Cosgrove 28^th October 1875                           Resolved

NRO 81P/12

Dated 1844

Mrs Maria Marg^t. Mansel

to
The Rector & Churchwardens
 of the Parish of Cosgrove
Draft
Conveyance

Congreve,  Stony Stratford

I Maria Margaret Mansel of Cosgrove in the County of Northampton Widow under the Authority of an Act of parliament passed in the 5^th year of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria entitled “An Act to afford further facilities for the Conveyance and Endowment of Sites for Schools” Do hereby freely & voluntarily & without valble conson grant & convey unto The Rector and Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor for the time being of the Parish of Cosgrove aforesaid & their Successors All that Freehold Cottage or Tenement with the Outhouses Yard Garden & appurts thereunto adjoining & belonging & situate standing & being in Cosgove aforesaid near to a certain place there called The Green heretofore in the occupation of Richard Pettifer late of James Gostick & now unoccupied lately belonging to the said Parish of Cosgrove & used for  the reception of the Poor thereof Together with all the appurts thereto belonging And all the right title & …. of me the said Maria Margaret Mansel in & to the same Together with all Easements appurts & hadts corpreal & uncorpreal belonging thereunto or connected thereunto & all my Estate right title & Int^t in or to the same unto & to the use of the said Rector as Overseers of the Poor for the time being & their Successors for the purpose of the said Act And upon Trust to permit the said premises & all Buildings thereon erected or to be erected to be for ever hereafter appropriated & used as for a Day and Sunday School for the education of Children & Adults … Children only of the labouring manufacturing & other Poorer Classes in the Parish of Cosgrove aforesaid & as a Residence for the Schoolmaster or Schoolmistress or both and for no other purpose Which said School shall always be in Union with the National Society for promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principals of the Established Church and conducted according to its principals and for the furtherance of its end & designs under the General Management & Control of the said Rector of Cosgrove for the time being, Provided that if & shall be at all times open to the Inspection of the Inspector or Inspectors for the time being approved or to be approved in Conformity with the Order in Council bearing date the 10^th of August 1840.

And I do hereby for myself my heirs executors & administrators cov^t with the said Rector Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor their Successors that notwithstanding any act or default of me or any of my Ancestor I have good right to assure the said premises to the use of the said Rector & Churchwardens & their Successors in manner aforesaid & that the said premises shall at all times hereafter be held & enjoyed upon the Trust & in manner aforesaid without interruption from & free from all incumees by me or my heirs or any person lawfully claiming under or in trust for me or them or any of my Ancestors & that I & my heirs & all persons claiming under or in trust for me or them or any of my Ancestor shall upon every request & at the expence of the said Rector and Churchwardens & their Successors make & prefect all such fur.. Assurances of the said premises as may be req^d  by them for Conveying the same to the use of the said Rector & Churchwardens & their Successors in manner aforesaid.

In witness &