First Day School - Floodgate Street.
Image: Photograph of First Day class on Floodgate Street.
Joseph Sturge's involvement helped to found the original Quaker Severn Street 'First Day Schools' in 1845. Many more schools and classes spread acorss Birmingham into the twentieth century, to aid the education of the poor and illiterate.
NEWMAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR TEACHi BIRMINGHAM
AND THE BLACK COUNTRY r Birmingham Schools and Their Log-Books - 2 Floodgate
St. Mixed School. (1891-1940)
Floodgate Street Board School was opened by Birmingham
School Board in 1891. It was a combined Mixed and Infants school, (i.e. it was
a mixed all-rage school), and it could accommodate 1,115 children. A bathroom
was provided in 1906. In 1931 it was divided into senior and infant
departments. It was closed in 1940. Almost immediately, however, its empty
buildings were needed as a home for the displaced St. Michael's R.C. Temporary
jjaiejj Modern School. This had begun life as St. Nicholas', in Well Lane, in
1849; had expanded, been renamed as St. Michael's in 1872 and survived several
moves. About 1891 St. Michael's settled in Bordesley Street.; it was bombed out
of it in 1940, and moved to Floodgate Street.
Many readers will know that St. Michael's has now closed,
and its places have been absorbed in the Holy Trinity School, But the Floodgate
Street school building survives, though now in the .sector of F.El The Local
Studies Library possesses Log-Books for both Senior and Infant schools,
November 1891 - June 1940; and admissions Registers for boys and girls,
1891-1939.
The following extracts are taken from the Log-Book for
1891-3.
^ 9.XI.91 Opened Floodgate Street. Mixed School with 356
girls and 344 boys, and the following staff.
C.S. Johnstone - Headmaster.
F. Netherwood - C. 1st Matric. 1st Mathematics, Chemistry.
A.G. Mountford - C. 3rd "Shorthand Intermediate; ,.
Chas. Stevens - C. 2nd Mag* and Eiec. Physiology, 'Phys.
Geo.
Cathleen Mole - C. 2nd Physiology ^/ Lizzie Jones - C. 3rd
Physiography
Helen Allen - C. 2nd Physiograph + Electricity.
,Int,,,JToni,c«
Sarah Taylor - Ex. P.T. Physiography 2nd. El. Tonic 4.9.70.
Florence Selvidge - C.T. 1st Botany 2nd El. Tonic. 19.5.'70
Mary Chatwin - C. 3rd Int. Tonic.^ r flY
Mary Bramidge - C. 3rd. Physiography. El. Tonic. '
13.XI.91 Work going on pretty well - 47 confirmed. TKe great
Difficulty is to move children. :^ ' •L 20.XI.91 Arranged for each teacher to
have the school for drill each morning. 27.XI.91 The drill is very good
considering £v staff names missing?] were not fit for St.£andardJ I to infants.
Made classes"-; down those who are unfit for their standard, , 17.11.91
Registers Correct II. Rudge Birmingham School Board. 4.XII.91 Experimental
time-table working very well. Drill and Order much improved. Gates were up for
first time so I had them locked .at 9.15 and 12.15, ; H
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