Genealogy Chat

Hi MadMeg, Gwyn and Maggie,

Appologies for not replying earlier, I had to log off to work on granddaughter's birthday cake, and I was still decorating it on Thursday (her birthday). Fortunately we were having her 3rd birthdayparty on the Friday, so hence the delay in replying as I needed time to recover from all the fun.

Thanks very much for the wonderful info you have given me and the tip on when's the best time to make contact with the school.

It certainly appears to be worthwhile in trying to find the records, so hopefully I can start that next week.

Thanks again for your help, it's much appreciated.

Regards, Lou

Gran's school had her and her 8 siblings at school all slowly going down with chickenpox. I felt sorry for g grandma!

I also found in a newspaper, that my g g grandfather was fined for keeping his children away from school. He was a market gardener and it was probably harvest time.

If you have to ask a school to look at the records - timing is of necessity!
Leading up to Christmas is no good. SATS time is useless, Easter a 'no-go. October or January is possibly a good time!!

I have had great results direct from a primary school in Wales and another in Herefordshire, but when we tried to find father-in-law's record locally, we were told that the records are closed until 75 years after the last entry in that book.

It does seem to vary greatly, but you might find some wonderful snippets.

A fellow researcher found this about someone in her tree......

"A worse boy I suppose there is not in the school. He has never got on with any of the teachers and is a rough and careless fellow. He was one of those who I had to make mention of after the inspection. He has good parents I should say for he is punctual, regular and tidy but is utterly untrustworthy himself." School Log Book, 27 April 1888

Gwyn

Lou, there is great variation in what records are still held and where they are held. I tried to find school records for a family member from the early 1900s and all the schools I tried said they had probably got them, but they didn't have the time to search them.

Hi Maggie,

That's brilliant, thanks so much. I have been wondering whether it's worth looking for them as I just thought they'd just contain absences and attendences. How wrong was I! Now I can't wait to start searching.

You must be really chuffed with what you found, as it sounds as if you get a better insight into their character and life.

Thanks again Maggie, it's much appreciated.

Regards, Lou

Hi Lou,
I've managed to look at two sets of school records.
One was still held by the Primary school I worked in. On the school's centenary, the earliest books were brought out, for privacy reasons the most recent books were kept locked up!
The second records were of my grandmother's primary school, held in the Local Studies area of the local library - in this case, Southampton.
Both were fascinating.
They gave the address of the children, absences - and the reason for the absence ie illness, truancy, even harvesting, and sadly, deaths.
Both schools also held a punishment book which showed the punishment inflicted, and why.
Your first port of call for records would be the Local Studies section of the local library. If they don't hold the records, you'll have to try the school.

I should imagine the records would go back as far as the school did - education became compulsory with the Education Act of 1870 - but there were schools before this.

maggie

Can anyone tell me what info school records hold, how far back can I search for them and how easy is it to find them?

Much appreciate any advice or help.

Regards, Lou