Reports from HMI Inspectors - taken from School Log Books - are available for all departments for some of the years between 1882-1954, the earlier ones consisting of only a few sentences, the later ones of whole pages of much more detail.
Examples-
Infants Department
February 1883 Report of H M Inspector -This is not the first new school Mrs Martindale has had charge of under the Stockton School Board and has managed with such marked success. The school is in good order and the children passed an extremely good examination there not being a single failure in the first Standard. M E Thwaites and M Gooding have passed well.
Report 1885 - I have pleasure in again recommending the Excellent Merit Grant but I wish to call attention to the Reading which is not so good as the rest of the work. The children cannot begin too soon to phrase their reading.
Report 1888 -I am glad to see that properly speaking there is now no first standard in this Department. There are a number of backward boys over the age of whole attainment however in writing, spelling and arithmetic are nearly equal to the requirements of the codes for the 1st Standard. As there are 2 Junior schools all children who will be 7 yrs of age before the expiration of the next school year should be transferred at once. Much of the work of the school is of a distinctly creditable character. The collective teaching is vigorous + systematic, great pains have been taken to make the occupations varied + interesting. The Discipline is very good and the higher grant for singing is recommended but there should be improvement in the articulation and voice training. The upper division of the prepatory class passed an excellent examination in the primary subjects. Govt. Grant £155.12.0
Boys Departments
1882 - This is the first inspection since the School has been opened and very credible results have on the whole been obtained in the Elementary work. The points that require attention are the Reading of the fourth Standard in which there was a good many weak cases; the spelling of the second and fourth standards, and the Arithmetic of the the third standard. The Grammar is rather below the average in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth standards, and I am unable to recommend a Grant for Geography in which the third standard did poorly and in which the answers in the upper Standards were of a meagre and inaccurate character. L C Rudd has passed fairly but should attend to Euclid. ( Geometry) A N A Shaw - Composition + Euclid? A ? Clerk to the Board Grant £179.11.3
Report By H M Inspectors on Bowesfield Lane County Primary School, Stockton on Tees, Durham County - P 411/2654/37 Inspected on 23rd and 24th June 1954. The school is still working in the late 19th Century building, commented upon unfavourably in the 1938 report. Additional accommodation is provided in a H.O.R.S.A. hut and in the canteen; the latter is inconvenient in that the necessary preparations for the midday meal cause disruptions of the normal timetable. Some improvements have been carried out in the main building: these include accommodation for the Head Master and staff, the remodelling of the offices, and the provision of hot water to all the wash basins. The building is dirty and dingy and it is hoped that redecoration will take place soon, and that early attention will be given to minor repairs reported some time ago by the Head Master. The standard of caretaking is unsatisfactory: in particular, the urinals need disinfecting more regularly. There are 188 boys between 7 and 15 in attendance. They are organised in 4 junior and 4 senior classes. In the senior half of the school there is specialisation in a number of subjects. Woodwork is provided at a Handicraft centre some distance from the school. The Head Master took up this, his first headship, in January 1953 after considerable and responsible service in a selective secondary school in the Borough. He is a sound teacher with an enthusiastic desire to play a full part in the classroom. This has enabled him to get to know his boys and their problems. He now has a clear idea of the schools strengths and weaknesses and is giving a quietly effective lead to his staff. Already he is putting into use his own schemes of work, and in a number of subjects more enterprising methods of teaching can be seen. Already, too, there is evidence that standards of work are rising. This is no mean achievement in eighteen months. He is assited by a staff of 4 men and 4 women, one of whom is temporary. In general, they are hardworking and have proved themselves ready to accept and act upon advice. There is every hope that with the Head Master's guidance, they will be a more than useful team. The school is situated in one of the poorest parts of the town and a number of boys are coming from homes in which books will be almost unknown. In all classes there are retarded boys who are receiving special and effective attention. It is in the three youngest classes, however, that that the schools greatest weakness is to be found. There the methods in use pay little attention to the junior child's curiosity and liveliness : in short, the boys are not given enough to do. Some progress is made and there have been attempts to widen the scope of written English during the last few months. It is hoped that the teachers will feel able to experiment in other directions as well. In J4, the master concerned has made substantial changes in his approach to his boys during recent months. In a number of subjects they are being allowed to draw and write extensively and with obvious interest. Already their work is improving. English in the senior classes shows some worth-while developments both in the wider reading which is being encouraged and guided, and in the opportunities given for written work of varied types. a number of boys are able to write clearly and fluently: there is still much to do to bring about accuracy in construction, spelling and punctuation. The changes to be expected in the junior classes should help these problems in the future. In Mathematics, algebra and geometry are introduced at the senior stage. It is clear that for some boys they are a burden, and it is suggested that groups of boys should be given this training, while the rest should concentrate upon arithmetic. a fair standard of calculation is reached by S4. The teaching of Geography in S1 and S 3, and of History in all the senior classes is undertaken by a Mistress who joined the staff last October. She is most enterprising in her methods and has interested the boys in both subjects. She makes good use of illustrative material including the film strip. The boys are required to find out a good deal for themselves and in addition to their individual note books, they produce a number of class and group books on a variety of topics. S4 Geography is taught by the Form Master. The boys study a farm, which they visit regularly. Some useful work is being done but it should prove possible to do something else in Geography simultaneously with the farm study. The S 4 master is responsible for the teaching of Science. Although some attempt has been made to give reasonable facilities for teaching, the room is badly planned and is lamentably lacking in appropriate storage space. Nevertheless the boys do a considerable amount of experimental work and write up their own notes. They have a good knowledge and understanding of the work they have done. All the senior Art and Craft teaching takes place in one room and a good supply of materials has been accumulated. A varied training is given and the work is full of promise. Physical Education for all classes is taken under most difficult circumstances. There is no hall and the playground is small, yet some creditable vaulting and agility was seen. The Master responsible for this also takes the senior Music. He is trying to give a varied course in this and a few boys are learning to play recorders. Two points are of general significance. Handwriting and the presentation of work are poor. The Head Master is aware of this and is making changes in the teaching of the youngest boys. The second he probably cannot solve alone. There is a serious lack of books of all kinds and especially of simple reference material which can be used by the boys themselves. Until something is done about this, the Head Master's attempts to liven the teaching and raise the standards of work will be hampered. The School's corporate life, as expressed particularly at Assembly and at the midday meal, is well conducted. as they progress through the School, the boys become better groomed and are obviously developing some sense of responsibility. They talk easily to visitors and are very ready to respond to lively teaching. The new spirit, which is obvious in a number of aspects of the School's work, should encourage the Head Master. Moreover, he is to be congratulated upon what he has achieved in so short a time.
More reports can be viewed on the separate department pages.