The opening of Dedworth Infants

The opening of Dedworth Infants & Junior Schools

The opening of Dedworth Infants & Junior Schools. This is taken from the actual leaflet published on the day

PHOTOS

DEDWORTH

THE SCHOOLS

PLANNING

DECORATION

COST

ARCHITECT

MAIN CONTRACTORS

SUB-CONTRACTORS

This is a copy of the Programme for the opening ceremony:

A Dedicatory Prayer will be offered by The Reverend G.R.M. Webster, M.A. (Chairman of the Windsor Divisional Executive)

Mrs M. E. South, B.A. (Chairman of the Schools’ Managers) will introduce the Guest of Honour.

The Chairman of the Berkshire Education Committee Alderman S. Freeman address the gathering and declare the schools open.

Mr F. J. Andrew (Headmaster of the Dedworth Green County Junior School) will propose a vote of thanks.

This will be seconded by Miss M. C. Mason (Headmistress of the Dedworth Green County Infant School)

A presentation to Alderman Freeman will be made.

Followed by:

National Anthem.

The Scholl premises will be open for inspection by the Guests after the Ceremony.

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DEDWORTH

As ‘Didore’, Dedworth is mentioned in the Domesday Book--- the “ore” being common to many riverside names, e.g., Hedsor, Clivore, Windsor. The names of Dedworth’s two Middle Ages’ manors are perpetuated in two of its post-war street names, Mansell Close and Loring Road. Eighteen century maps show Dedworth centred around an extensive green, upon which have now been built. Dedworth’s connection with Windsor was for many years ecclesiastical, but, in 1703, it began to pay the parochial rate.

In 1920 Dedworth became part of the Borough of New Windsor.

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THE SCHOOLS

The ultimate aim is to provide three two-form entry schools, which will take children from five years of age to the statutory leaving age,

The Infant and Junior Schools are now complete. Though separate schools they are linked by sharing Medical Inspection facilities. The close proximity of Infants and Juniors is designed to make transition a simple and natural “going up” for the young child.

The Infant School is a single storey building of six classrooms; each planned with a bay off the main space, and with direct access to the garden and grass play area.

The Junior School is a two-storey building of eight classrooms. The first floor classrooms are placed over the cloakroom and lavatory block.

A single kitchen provides meals for both schools, which have separate Dining Halls. A Caretaker’s House is at the East end of the main buildings.

Each School has its own Assembly Hall: large, light, airy and easily accessible spaces, which can be put to a variety of uses. The Entrance Hall of the Junior School has a mural painting depicting the Queen’s beasts.

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PLANNING

Many difficulties had to be overcome before building could be commenced. The acquisition of land was not an easy matter, and was further complicated by the fact that a public footpath crossed the site. Drainage was a difficult problem, no sewer being available at an accessible point. A pumping station was provided to pump all sewage up a new length of pipe in Smith’s Lane.

Though flat and without features of interest the site was fortunate in having fine groups of elms around the perimeter. There was a danger that these might be lost, but, by careful cutting and other treatment, they were preserved, as was a group of trees on the playing fields.

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DECORATION

Colour schemes generally were chosen to provide a bright and cheerful atmosphere. In the case of young children colours should be easily comprehended, e.g., red and blue ; whereas for the Juniors slightly more subtle colours and combinations of colours can be used. In the Junior School the brighter splashes of colour were reserved mainly for circulation areas, for if too many are used in classrooms they form a distraction and are tiring.

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COST

The total cost of the infant School was £57,284 0s 10d., while the Junior School will cost something like £42,000. The difference between these figures is in part accounted for by the fact that caretaker’s house; the kitchen and main drainage costs are included in the price of the Infant School.

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ARCHITECT

CECIL C. HANDISYDE, Esq., A.R.I.B.A., A.A.Dip.,

68, Great Russell Street, W.C. 1.

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MAIN CONTRACTORS

INFANT SCHOOL Messrs. Y. J. Lovell & Sons Ltd., High Street, Marlow.

JUNIOR SCHOOL Prestige & Co, Ltd., Cambridge Wharf, Grosvenor Road, S.W.1.

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SUB-CONTRACTORS

Structural Steelwork.. Messrs/ Carter Horsley Ltd., Walddon, Surrey.

Heating and Hot Water.. Weatherfoil Heating System Ltd., Slough