Gilbert Inglefield School Leighton Buzzard
Gilbert Inglefield Middle School June 2008
Gilbert Inglefield was built in the 1960s as a County Secondary Modern for pupils from 11 to 16 years. It was named after a former Lord Mayor of London. At age eleven pupils took an examination (the Eleven Plus) which determined which secondary school they attended. The top 25% attended a grammar school, The Cedars, where they were taught an academic curriculum designed to enable them to go on to university. The rest attended Secondary Modern Schools (Beaudesert for boys and Mary Bassett for girls until 1959 when both sexes attended Brooklands or, later Gilbert Inglefield) and were taught a more skills based curriculum intended to fit them for work.
In 1968 the Secretary of State approved a comprehensive reorganisation of schools by the Local Education Authority, Bedfordshire County Council. This did away with selection, all pupils attending similar schools, teaching the same curriculum, based solely on age. Children aged 5 to 9 attended lower schools, those aged 9 to 13 went to a middle school and those aged 13 to 18 attended an upper school. The council affirmed its support for the scheme in 1969 and again in 1970 and in 1974 the reorganisation reached the Leighton Buzzard area. The first nine year olds were admitted in 1976 and last sixteen year olds were taught at the school in 1977, the school becoming a fully-fledged middle school in 1978.
On 1st April 2009 Bedfordshire was abolished. The new Local Education Authority for Leighton Buzzard and area is Central Bedfordshire Council, a unitary council discharging both county and district functions.
The rear of Gilbert Inglefield Middle School June 2008
Sources
Note that some sources may not be available in order to protect personal details
- CA2/306: building file: 1962-1973;
- PY/PH58/1-23: exterior and interior photographs of Gilbert Inglefield and Vandyke: 1966-1972;
- CA2/326: building file regarding conversion to a middle school: 1970-1973;
- CA2/467: building file regarding conversion to a middle school: 1972-1977;
- CA8/795: building maintenance file: 1976-1982;
- E/YM3/1/1: use of school grounds for Youth Service outdoor archery competitions: 1979-1980;
- E/TE3/1: return of teaching staff: 1980;
- CA10/126: fire damage file: 1982;
- E/TE3/6: return of teaching staff: 1986;
- CC/HS3/3/1: safety of gas taps: 1986;
- E/MS3/2/6: kitchen and other details: c.1987;
- E/TE2/2/M19: details on school: 1989