1870
Jan 10 - Mr John Stephens entered upon his new duties on this day. There were present 19.
Jan 25 - The workmen began to make the playground.
Mar 14 - Owing to some alterations the girls school began to be held in an adjoining house.
Mar 24 - The wall of the yard commenced.
Apr 07 - Pupil teacher mentioned.
March - Average attendance for past year: 15. "Evening school" in addition to day school (average attendance for past year evening school: 30).
May 04 - The new school-room began.
Jun 20 - Rev. F. Warre paid a short visit to the room in which the school will be held until the new one is completed.
Jun 24 - Two of the charity boys referred to.
Jul 07 - Boys from Bloxworth appear to have attended this school.
Sep 26 - Opened school after vacation in the new room. Boy from Kingston referred to.
Oct 07 - Holiday given in order that the workmen may be enabled to work in the school. Rev D. Jenkins (curate?) seems to have taught scripture on some occasions, as well as the vicar.
Dec 08 - 41 present for an exam.
1871
Mar 13 - It seems that the previous master had not been "certificated".
Mar 20 - The Pupil-Teacher is William H. House, in 1st year.
April - Potato planting causes absenteeism. Average attendance 29, evening school 48.
May 22 - Robert Torreville mentioned as a pupil.
Jul 21 - Pea-picking causes absenteeism.
Jul 26 - "Choir treat" referred to.
Aug 11 - Harvesting causes absenteeism. (Summer holiday called "harvest holidays")
Oct 02 - Potato picking causes absenteeism.
1872
Feb 29 - Year ending exam report. Seems to be 43 presented (including 4 infants) and 38 presented for evening school.
Jun 21 - Haymaking causes absenteeism.
Sep 30 - "Commenced duties as Master. Henry Webb."
Oct 18 - 48 present.
Nov 08 - Appears to be 59 on the register.
1873
Mar 07 - 60 boys present.
Mar 28 - Henry House, Pupil-Teacher, in 4th year.
Apr 04 - Seems to be 61 on roll.
Jul 11 - Holiday on Tuesday in consequence of the re-opening of Kingston Church.
Oct 03 - Rev E.M. Clements seems to be replacing Rev D. Jenkins.
Oct 24 - There was a holiday on Tuesday afternoon, it being the day appointed for the Consecration of the additional burying ground.
1874
Feb 27 - Boys only appear to have attended evening classes which were limited to winter months - Sept to end of Feb/early March.
Mar 27 - 57 boys were in attendance (for school inspector).
Apr 17 - Pupil-teacher is named as William House.
Jul 03 - Picking pears causes absenteeism.
Jul 16 - 50 boys present in the afternoon.
Sept - The School was closed for a week in consequence of Woodbury Hill Fair.
Sep 30 - Holiday in the afternoon - a bazaar being held in Aid of the Heath School building Fund.
Oct 30 - (for past week) 58 were present in all.
Nov 06 - Scarlet fever in village.
1875
Jan 22 - William H. House, pupil-teacher, left, having completed his term of engagement.
Feb 05 - Scarlet fever broken out again.
Mar 05 - 54 boys present for an exam.
Apr 06 - From report - no pupil-teacher mentioned.
Apr 16 - No. on the books = 67.
May 14 - H.P. Tozer commenced as monitor on Thursday. No on register 69.
Jul 02 - Resigned charge of the School, Henry Webb, July 2nd 1875.
Jul 05 - William Bland Taylor took charge of the school; he is certificated, First Year, second Division.
Jul 09 - No. on register 71.
Jul 23 - No. on register 73.
Sep 17 - No. on register 72.
Oct 08 - Rev R.M. Hobson appears to be replacing Rev E.M. Clements.
Nov 19 - Acorn & potato picking causes absenteeism.
1876
Jan 14 - No. on register 66.
Mar 17 - Only 27 present on Thursady - owing to the foxhounds meeting in Bere Regis.
Jun 01 - George Wellstead began as Monitor.
Jun 19 - (report of Feb 29) Pitt Tozer and George Wellstead quoted as monitors.
Jun 30 - Haymaking causes absenteeism.
Jul 07 - R. Torreville left school to work. No on register 61
Aug 04 - Rev J.F. Langford (vicar) occurs & Rev W.O.B. Allen seems to be the new curate.
Sep 29 - No on register 58.
Oct 13 - Re-admitted Robert Torreville.
Oct 20 - Number on register 66.
Nov 10 - 14 boys away with measles.
Dec 08 - School closed on Monday afternoon, Dec 4th, on account of part of ceiling falling down.
1877
Jan 12 - Number on register 67. Admitted Walter Sheppard from Butt Lane school.
Feb 09 - Admitted John Battrick.
Mar 23 - Admitted G. Langdown from Butt Lane school.
Apr 20 - A. Moore began as monitor this week.
Apr 27 - (from report) G. Wellstead and Arthur Moore referred to as monitors.
May 25 - Robert Torreville seems to have left.
Sep 24 - Holiday in the afternoon on account of the burial of Police Constable who was killed.
Oct 05 - Nutting and potato picking causes absenteeism. 56 on register.
Dec 20 - 66 on register.
1878
Jan 11 - Rev A Thorndyke appears to be new curate. On register; 65.
Mar 29 - 69 on register.
Feb 28 - (report) G. Wellstead & Arthur Moore Pupil-Teachers.
May 03 - 72 on register.
Aug 02 - "I have resigned charge of School"; W.B. Taylor.
Sep 09 - "Commenced duties as Master"; George House, Winchester D.T. College.
Sep 13 - 62 on register. Harvest causes absenteeism.
Nov 22 - Half holiday on Friday on account of Purchase's collection of wax-work visiting the village.
1879
Mar 28 - Children very excited on account of a fire on Black Hill.
Feb 28 - (report) Pupil-Teachers as for last year.
Aug 22 - 48 on the register.
Sep 29 - Only 24 present - harvest not yet complete.
Oct 24 - Many boys still engaged in the fields.
Nov 14 - The Foxhounds having met in the village and the greater number of the boys being absent the Rev Langford gave a holiday to the whole school.
Nov 17 - Foxhounds met again - school finished early.
1880
Jan 23 - Rev W.P. Schuster appears to be the new curate.
Mar 12 - 40 boys present for an exam.
Mar 25 - Many boys working in gardens and fields.
Feb 29 - (report) William House will shortly receive certification.
Apr 20 - Arthur Moore, Pupil-Teacher in his 3rd year.
Apr 27 - 51 boys were present on Tuesday morning.
Jul 02 - Many boys engaged in hayfields.
Aug 13 - Harvesting causes absenteeism.
Oct 29 - Wombwell's menagerie in the village.
1881
Jan 03 - Walter House left, having gone as Pupil-Teacher at the Melksham Boys' School.
Apr 01 - Boys engaged in gardens and fields, potato planting
Apr 06 - (report) Arthur Moore is Pupil-Teacher.
Apr 29 - Rev W. Doyle appears to be new curate.
Jul 08 - Rev P.B. Talbot appears to be new curate.
Sep - Woodbury Hill fair appears to occupy a week.
Sep 26 - (and 27th) Four boys admitted from Butt Lane school.
Sep 30 - Revs P.B. Talbot & P. Schuster referred to.
Dec 09 - Revs Talbot and Schuster referred to.
1882
Jan 20 - Revs Talbot and Schuster referred to.
Jan 27 - Revs Talbot & Schuster referred to.
Feb 01 - School closed on account of the Consecration of the Burial Ground.
Feb 24 - Revs Schuster & Talbot referred to (Rev W.P. Schuster appears to be deputising for the vicar).
Apr 15 - (report) A.G. Moore, Pupil-Teacher on 5th year.
May 01 - In the afternoon the school was closed on account of the funeral of Miss White mistress of the Girls School who died of diabetes after four days illness.
May 05 - Admitted Fred & Harvey Lockyer from Butt Lane British School.
Jun 05 - Vicar, Rev J.F.L. appears to have returned. (Several more boys admitted from Butt Lane school at various times).
Nov 13 - Purchase's wax-works exhibition again in the village.
Dec 05 - 48 boys present for an exam.
1883
Mar 12 - 50 boys present at school.
Apr 02 - (report) A.G. Moore passed exam and is now referred to as assistant.
May 25 - A.G. Moore having completed apprenticeship has left to become assistant master at Penshurst, Kent. Walter House from Melksham Boys School has taken his place.
May 28 - Three boys sent home for not bringing fee.
Jul 13 - Rev R. Wing appears to be new curate. "Resigned charge of School"; Geo House, July 13th 1883.
Jul 16 - "Took charge of School today"; William Dalton.
Nov 09 - Master (W. Dalton) taken seriously ill.
Nov 23 - (week ending) No school due to master's illness.
Nov 27 - "Took charge of the School yesterday (Monday Nov 26th); Charles Hiscock.
Dec 31 - Mr William Dalton owing to continued ill health resigned Dec 21. Temporary appointment of Chas Hiscock made permanent.
1884
Jan 25 - Dimensions of schoolroom & classroom:-
Schoolroom: Length: 35.75 feet, Breadth: 16.75 feet, Height: 13 feet.
Classroom: Length: 15 feet, Breadth: 14 feet, Height: 10.5 feet.
May 26 - (at a school committee meeting) Agreed:- (1) that the old fees paid at the Boys School should be enforced, viz 2d for the first child, 1d for second child (of labourers) 3d for the first child, 2d for second (of tradesmen & diarymen - but not journeymen). 6d for the first child & 3d for the second child (of Farmers & others with a rental of £50 gross). (2) that the extra fee of 1d a week is to be paid by the two elder children of all classes attending school, which extra fee will be returned with a bonus of 1/- to those present at the Examination if they have attended three fourths of the number of times which the School has been opened.
Jul 18 - 48 boys on the register.
Jul 22 - (report) Walter House, Pupil-Teacher on 4th year.
Oct 14 - Sent Harry Brown home in the morning for additional penny of School Fee as he only brought 2d instead of 3d.
Oct 31 - Pupil-Teacher given lessons from master 4.15 - 5.15pm each day instead of 7.00 - 8.00am as in summer months.
1885
Jan 09 - 45 boys on the books.
May 15 - Pupil-Teacher Walter House left school as he had finished his apprenticeship. Went as assistant master to Melksham Boys' School.
Jun 01 - Two older boys to act as monitors in place of Pupil-Teacher.
Jun 24 - Rev R.P. Wing visited.
Oct 02 - School fee reduced to 2d per week for all children except in families of three or more where eldest two pay 2d, remainder 1d per week. Half 2d fee returned for those with 75% or more attendance.
Oct 30 - 51 on register (more than for 2 years past).
Nov 13 - Beating the covers for the hunt causes absenteeism.
1886
Jan 04 - 51 on the register but only 30 present.
May 07 - 48 on the register
May 28 - 54 boys on the register.
Sep 27 - 57 on the register, but only 40 present.
Dec 03 - Rev Farrer visited.
1887
Jan 21 - 51 boys on register
Aug 05 - Average 32 present, with 46 on the books. The Charity Boys this year are: T. Lane, W. Hewitt, W. Brown, H. Chapman, A. Langdown and G. Cobb.
Sep 26 - 46 on the register, but only 34 present.
1888
Feb 17 - There are 44 on the register.
Sep 24 - Holiday on Friday for Woodbury Hill Fair.
Sep 28 - 47 boys on the register.
1889
Feb 11 - Thomas Lane returned to the School to act as a Paid Monitor.
Mar 01 - 48 boys on the register.
Jun 05 - 60 boys on register.
Jun 29 - 62 on the register
Jul 05 - 63 boys on the register
Aug 09 - "Resigned charge of this School Aug 9th 1889"; Charles Hiscock.
Sep 16 - "Commenced duties as Master"; Job Bugby
Sep 23 - One day holiday for Woodbury Hill Fair.
Dec 02 - School closed due to diptheria epidemic.
Dec 30 - School re-opened.
1890
Jan 03 - 59 on register.
Feb 10 - Mention of Miss Wear, the girls school mistress. Between 10th Feb and 10th March, the school was closed again due to diphtheria.
Jul 11 - Diphtheria still in evidence.
Sep 19 - 50 on register, but average for week of only 25.2 present.
Sep 22 - (and 23rd Sept) No school owing to Woodbury Hill Fair.
1891
Jan 09 - 50 boys on the register.
Feb 13 - Monitor mentioned.
Apr - Potato planting and helping in garden causes absenteeism.
Jun 05 - John Crofts commenced duties as Pupil-Teacher.
Jun 19 - 55 boys on the register.
Sep - Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd: School closed due to Woodbury Hill Fair.
1892
Jan 08 - 54 boys on the register.
1893
Jan 13 - 49 boys on the register.
Feb 03 - 52 on the register.
Sep 08 - 56 boys on the register.
Sep - Thurs 23rd & Fri 24th: School closed due to Woodbury Hill Fair.
Oct 13 - Picking up acorns and nuts caused absenteeism.
1894
Jan 12 - 56 boys on the register.
Jun 01 - 63 on the register.
Jun - (report) Pupil-Teacher must not serve more than 25 hours per week.
1895
Jan 11 - 58 boys on the register.
Sep 13 - 66 on the register.
1896
Jan 10 - 67 boys on the register.
Feb 07 - Pupil-Teacher (John Crofts) terminated his engagement. The temporary monitor is Tom Marsh.
Apr 10 - Miss Florence Barnes commenced as assistant.
Apr 30 - Log Book ends on April 30th 1896), new book commences W.E. May 8.
Second Log Book (1896 - 1909)
1896
May 08 - "Monitress" referred to (presumably Miss Barnes).
Jun 12 - Charles Torreville left school.
Sep 11 - 66 boys on the register. Charles George and Bertie Eaton left to attend a Secondary school.
Sep 04 - (report) Miss Florence Barnes referred to as assistant.
Sep 25 - Two-day fair with school closed.
1897
Apr 16 - Assistant appears to have left.
May 14 - Monitor referred to.
Apr 30 - Ernest Marsh monitor.
Jul 30 - Charles Toreville admitted whilst on visit for a few days.
Sep 06 - 57 present at school.
Sep 04 - 70 boys on the register.
1898
Jan 21 - 68 boys on the register.
Mar 11 - Picking primroses causes absenteeism.
Jun 17 - 72 boys on the register. The parent of two of the boys attending the worst was summoned: result: case dismissed.
Sep 09 - 74 boys on the register.
Sep 23 - Fair on Wed & Thur 21st & 22nd.
1899
Apr 30 - (report) Ernest Marsh, Pupil-Teacher on first year.
Jul 28 - 72 boys on the register.
Sep 15 - Picking blackberries causes absenteeism.
Sep - Woodbury Hill Fair on Thur 21st & Fri 22nd.
Nov 17 - Beating for shooting party causes absenteeism.
1900
Feb 23 - 68 boys on register.
Apr 30 - (report) Ernest James Marsh is Pupil-Teacher. It would be very desireable, in order that the existing classroom may be utilized, that the stone floor should be replaced by a wooden one.
Sep 07 - School renovated including new block floor in classroom.
1901
Jan 11 - 59 boys on the register.
Apr 19 - (week-ending) Average attendance 31 out of 59. In higher standards Wed p.m. only 5 out of 22 "Picking Flowers" seems to have been cause.
Sep 06 - 63 boys on the register.
Sep 27 - (week-ending) Woodbury Hill Fair on Monday (no school)
Oct 04 - Attendance bad. If weather is bad little ones stay away, if weather is good, big boys go out working.
1902
Jan 10 - 54 boys on register.
Apr 18 - Picking primroses causes absenteeism.
Apr 30 - (report) Attendance unsatisfactory - daily average quarter of number on register away. Pupil-Teacher (3rd year) is Ernest James Marsh.
Jul 04 - Whooping cough causes absenteeism.
Jul 11 - Haymaking causes absenteeism.
Jul 25 - Hoeing roots causes absenteeism.
Sep 12 - After harvest-holidays - many boys away.
Sep 19 - Boys still away helping with the harvest.
Sep 26 - (week-ending) No school Mon & Tues owing to Woodbury Hill Fair.
Oct 17 - Picking potatoes causes absenteeism.
1903
Jan 09 - 55 boys on register.
Jan 16 - Beating for the Hunt causes absenteeism.
Apr 30 - (report) Pupil-Teacher (3rd year) is Ernest James Marsh.
Sep 25 - (week-ending) No school Mon & Tues owing to Woodbury Hill Fair.
1904
Jan 08 - 50 boys on the register.
May 06 - Pupil-Teacher to leave at end of month having failed exam. Authorities unwilling to authorise stipend.
Jun 10 - The County Education Committee: sanctioned the engagement of pupil-teacher at salary of 35£ per annum.
Jul 29 - Engagement of Ernest Marsh terminates at end of July.
Sep 09 - Ernest Marsh still assisting.
Sep 23 - (week-ending) School closed Wed & Thurs on account of Woodbury Hill Fair. Rev F. Ball appears to be curate (has been for some time).
Sep 30 - 100% attendance on Friday morning.
1905
Jan 13 - 57 boys on register.
Jun 09 - Assistant leaving at end of month.
Jun 30 - Ernest Marsh's engagement terminated today. Mrs T. Sheppard to assist during July.
Jul 07 - Rev W. Newman appears to be curate.
Jul 28 - Dorset County Council Education Committee have agreed to engagement of Mrs T. Sheppard as assistant.
Sep 22 - (week-ending) No school Thurs & Fri owing to Woodbury Hill Fair.
1906
Jan 12 - 60 boys on register.
Sep 21 - (week-ending) School closed Friday for Woodbury Hill Fair.
1907
Jan 11 - 56 boys on the register.
Sep 20 - (week-ending) Attendance not so good owing to the fair.
Sep 27 - (week-ending) No school Mon & Tues owing to Woodbury Hill Fair.
1908
Jan 10 - 53 boys on the register.
Sep 25 - (week-ending) No school Mon & Tues owing to Woodbury Hill Fair.
1909
Jan 15 - 61 boys on the register.
Jul 16 - Edward Amey is still away having attended 13 times in 8 weeks. He is at work (brick making).
Jul 30 - (week-ending) 59 boys on register. Log-Book ends.
Third Log Book (1809 - 1929)
The first ten years of this log-book show that absenteeism amongst the boys was rife. Reasons include bad weather, snow, flooding etc., gardening in spring, haymaking, beating for the Hunt, potato harvesting, blackberry picking, picking up acorns, and mangold pulling, besides "working illegally".
1909
Aug 06 - Commencement of new log book.
Sep - 65 boys on the register.
1910
Sep - 69 boys on the register.
1911
Sep - 72 boys on the register.
1912
Sep - 65 boys on the register.
1913
Sep - 57 boys on the register.
1914
Sep - 53 boys on the register.
1915
Sep - 49 boys on the register.
Oct - Percie Hewitt left the school as a pupil aged 14 years
Nov - Assistant master left to enlist having just passed his teaching exams.
1916
Jan - Percie Hewitt commenced as monitor.
Feb 01 - Bertie Boyt started as a pupil-teacher.
Apr 30 - Assistant Master, having returned to school as he was not accepted for the Army, left for another teaching post.
Jun - Percie Hewitt passed his pupil-teacher exam.
Aug 01 - Percie Hewitt started as pupil-teacher.
Sep - 47 boys on the register.
1917
Sep - 37 boys on the register.
1918
Sep - 40 boys on the register.
1919
May 12 - The photographer came to photograph the boys.
Jun 26 - Received the photos of the boys.
Sep - 40 boys on the register.
1920
Feb 03 - Workmen commenced repair of buildings. (work seems to have been of a minor nature).
Jun - Pupil-Teacher's exams: Percie Hewitt passed, Bertie Boyt failed.
Jul 16 - The scholars were photographed.
Jul 23 - The Pupil-Teacher (Percie Hewitt) brought his work to a conclusion having been appointed as an assistant in Swanage Council School.
Sep 01 - Bertie House started as Pupil-Teacher. 34 boys on the register.
Nov 08 - Mr Thomas, an uncertificated supply teacher arrived as assistant.
1921
Apr 18 - School today visited by Rev W. Dalton who was the master here in 1883.
Jun 17 - The scholars were photographed.
Jul 27 - Mr Thomas, the assistant, left the school.
Sep - 40 boys on the register.
Sep 19 - Miss Yarde commenced duties.
Oct 17 - No water for the school or school-house as the well was dry. (The summer of 1921 had been exceptionally dry).
Note: There was a pupil-teacher in addition to assistant from 1920.
Note: Attendance seems to have been much better since the war - reasons for absence not mentioned in this period.
1922
Sep - 46 boys on the register.
1923
Feb 13 - Heard that H.V. Lucas would be recognized as a pupil-teacher.
Apr 10 - Victor Lucas commenced his duties as a pupil-teacher
Aug 31 - Bertie House finished his work as a pupil-teacher
Sep - 45 boys on the register.
1924
Jul 21 - Heard that Robert Lockyer had won a scholarship.
Sep - 43 boys on the register.
Oct 24 - The boys were photographed today.
1925
Feb 11 - Teachers (plural) referred to.
Apr 06 - The Assistant (Miss Yarde) referred to.
Sep - 53 boys on the register.
Oct 02 - The boys were photographed today.
1926
Mar 31 - The Pupil-Teacher (V. Lucas) terminated his apprenticeship today, having taken the Prelim Cert Exam one year in advance and passing with Distinction in Arithmatic, Music and Geography.
Mar 29 - School inspected. The report said that of the 51 boys who attend the school, the Headmaster teaches 33 in 5 age groups. Owing to the classroom being dull and draughty, the remaining class is taught in the same room by an Assistant.
Jun 17 - Classroom (ie small room) appears to have been used as a tool room for gardening.
Sep - 51 boys on the register.
1927
May 03 - The Assistant (Miss Yarde) referred to.
Sep - 53 boys on the register.
Dec 31 - "Resigned charge of school"; Job Bugby.
1928
Jan 09 - "Mr H.C. Whiteside commences duties as Head Master".
Apr 24 - Miss Yarde mentioned.
Sep - 60 boys on register.
Dec 03 - Mr Henry Harvey commenced duties as Uncertificated Teacher.
1929
Jul 30 - School closed (finally) at mid-day before the summer holidays.
There were 59 boys on the register.
At the closure of the school in 1929 Mr. Whiteside became headmaster of the new county school at Rye Hill.