THE SCHOOL The National school for Bilney and Pentney, was built in 1833, by Subscription (Whites 1845). Erected for 105 children: average attendance 90 (Kellys) Situated in Paws Lane, at the building now Manor Farm. The National school for 60 girls of Bilney and Pentney was built in 1833 by subscription, and two gifts (amounting to £105) from the National school Society and his Majesty's treasury. (Whites 1835) Erected in 1833 and since enlarged: there is a residence for master attached. The average attendance is about 80. (Whites 1890) Attendance 90 (Kellys 1896) Teachers:- 1836 Mary Gibson 1854 Miss Margaret Dronet 1863 Miss Margaret Robinson (Harrods) 1864 ditto (Kellys) 1868 Miss Godman (Kellys) 1869 Miss Margaret Robinson (Post Office Dir) 1888 Martin Luther Martin master, Miss Jessie Dawson, mistress (Kellys) 1890 Martin Luther Martin, Schoolhouse (White) 1896 Martin Luther Martin, master, Mrs Sarah Martin, mistress, Miss Ellen Burrows (Kellys) 1904 Martin Luther Martin, master, Mrs Sarah Martin, mistress, Miss Margery Dawes, assistant mistress (Kellys) 1908 The children attend a newly built school at Pentney. PENTNEY AND WEST BILNEY SCHOOL (At the foot of this page see a PDF document showing copies of all of the original script pages (18) that we have from the SCHOOL HISTORY SHEET, from which the extracts below have been taken. Clicking on the file will open it - or download it by clicking on the download arrow to the right) SCHOOL HISTORY SHEET  'If the West Bilney and Pentney School is made efficient by appointing a certificated teacher; boarding the floor; providing properly separated offices, and a proper supply of books and apparatus; and if the school is enlarged by the addition of a room accommodating 90 children (the present room being then used for the instruction of infants), no further accommodation will be required.  On June 5th. 1873 a Public Meeting was held to discuss the school. A number of resolutions were passed by the meeting. Subsequently, the vicar of Pentney and West Bilney, Revd. St. John Mitchell, wrote to the Secretary of the Education Department of the Union of Freebridge at Lynn. Below, see a transcription of the text of the letter. (Note that there are some uncertainties in the transcription) In 1875, a letter was sent from 'PENTNEY UNITED DISTRICT - E.A.E. NORFOLK to the Secretary, Education Department, Whitehall, London, explaining that the building work for the combined school had not yet started, but that the builder had promised to begin that week. Below see the transcription of that letter ( note that there are some uncertainties in the transcription) The School was finally closed in 1982 and is now a private residence. (See below to view/download a copy of the original documents in PDF format) Extracts from Norfolk Education Commtttee Managers Minute Book October 10th 1903 First meeting of School Managers. Mr Brasnett proposed that "Masters salary be raised to £10 to cover his rent" It was also proposed by Mr C Royal and Mr Bentley that the school be scrubbed once a month, that desks and forms be washed once a week, lighting of fires and cleaning of houses to be performed by the caretakers, all at a salary of 2/6d per week. 23rd December 1903 Cost of repairs to the school were discussed and it was proposed that a letter should be written to Captain Thackeray to ask him at what price he would sell an acre of land for the purpose of building a school, the same being at the corner of two roads, The High Road and The Low Road leading from the Church and Vicarage to Pentney. Mr Royal and Mr Bentley proposed that a letter be written to the County Education Committee asking for suitable plans for a school building suitable for 80 scholars or more. 29th January 1904 A meeting was called to discuss the state of disrepair to the school. And the poor sanitation 10th February 1904 A report from The Norfolk Education Committee was read, condemnatory of the existing school buildings. It was proposed by Colonel Herring that a letter be written to Norfolk Education Council putting the whole matter in their hands and asking them to provide a School for the Children of West Bilney and Pentney. The proposal was seconded by Mr Aylmer. Mr Coulton spoke in favour of the motion which was put to the meeting and carried, with one dissenter (Mr J Brasnett) who objected to West Bilney being included. 22nd October 1904 It was discussed that the school has a deficit oI £21.5s 10d. It was agreed that the two Parishes fund the deficit. 1/3 West Bilney and 2/3 Pentney. 17th September 1906 Pentney and West Bilney Provided School opened. 80 children attended More recent records have been difficult to locate but there is a report of a meeting on 23rd August 1948 when a letter had been received from the school cleaner applying for an increase in wages to at least £1.00 per week. She was presently receiving £3.1s 10d per month with a bonus of 6/-. She has learnt that other cleaners are getting 1s 5d per hour. It was agreed that she would get £4 per month. It was also agreed that Mr S.Palmer who cleans the lavatories for £1 per quarter should have his wages reviewed. 23rd September 1955 to discuss the installation of new water closets where it was resolved that a letter be sent to the scavenger confirming that his services were no longer required. PUNISHMENT BOOK.  The photograph shows two young ladies sitting on the railway crossing gates at Pentney. As schoolgirls they attended the West Bilney and Pentney School. Both featured in the "Punishment Book". On March 17th 1939, Vera Buckley, then aged 13, was given "two strokes on back" for "Disobedience". On July 27th. 1939, Vera and Netta, along with 7 others, were each given "two strokes"; the offence was "after repeated warnings these girls went down the lane adjoining the school (which had been forbidden) during the dinner hour and stole peas belonging to Mr. Carrington". Netta featured again on March 14th. 1940 when she received "two strokes" on the hand for being "impudent to Miss Edwards" (The photograph above was kindly provided by Linda Nicholls - Netta Taylor's daughter) Mrs R Douglas (nee Kemp), understood to have been the 'dinner lady and general help'. |
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