Westoning National School and School House August 2009

In July 1841 Westoning National School Rules were published [X254/70], they are as below:

1. THE NATIONAL DAILY SCHOOL for the Parishes of Westoning, Harlington, Tingrith and Flitwick, shall be under the general management and control of the Trustees of the said school.

2. The Trustees shall be:

• HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.
• JOHN THOMAS BROOKS, ESQ., Flitwick House.
• GEORGE PEARSE, ESQ., Harlington.
• THE REV. J. W. C. CAMPION M. A., Lord of the Manor of Westoning.
• THE RURAL DEAN OF THE DISTRICT.
• THE VICAR OF WESTONING.
• THE VICAR OF HARLINGTON.
• THE RECTOR OF TINGRITH.
• THE VICAR OF FLITWICK.

3. The daily school shall be under the more immediate superintendence of the Vicar of Westoning, assisted (as far as may be) by the resident ministers of Harlington, Tingrith and Flitwick, as co-managers.

4. The Westoning Sunday School shall remain under the sole management of the Vicar of Westoning.

5. The master and mistress of the National daily school for the four parishes, who shall also be the master and mistress of the Westoning Sunday school, shall be appointed by the Trustees, subject to the approval of the Vicar of Westoning: - and they shall hold their situations during good behaviour and the faithful discharge of their duties.

6. There shall be a quarterly meeting of the resident ministers of the four parishes for the better management of the daily school.

7. There shall be an annual meeting of the Trustees and the principal promoters of the school in the month of [blank] in every year: when the school shall be inspected; the accounts of the school for the past year audited; and the scholars examined, to the most deserving of whom rewards shall be given.

8. The instruction in the daily school shall be allowed to the children of farmers, Tradesmen, and other inhabitants of the four parishes who can afford it, for 6d. each, per week: to the children of daily-labourers and others of the poorer classes, for 3d. each per week [see the 1834 and 1837 wages for labourers in Westoning - often little more than £1 per annum].

9. The hours of attendance shall be from 9 o'clock to 12 in the forenoon; and in the afternoon from 2 o'clock to 5, from the 25th of March to the 29th September, from half-past 1 o'clock to 4, from the 29th September to the 25th of March, except on Saturday afternoon.

There shall be a vacation of four weeks during harvest, and of one week at Christmas.

10. The master shall be allowed to receive male scholars (but not under the age of 10 years) in the Evening, between the hours of 7 and 9 during the summer half-year, and between the hours of 6 and 8 in the winter.

11. Any contributor of 10s. per annum shall be allowed to send one poor child to the school free, or three poor children for 2d. per week each; or two poor children for 1½ d. each. Any contributor of £1 per annum shall be allowed to send two poor children free; or six poor children for 2d. each; or four poor children for 1½ d. each. Any contributor to a larger amount shall be allowed to send a greater number of poor children free, or at a reduced charge per week in the same proportion.

12. In the daily school the children shall be instructed in the fundamental principles of the Christian religion, in reading, writing, and arithmetic, by a competent master: and such a course of instruction shall be carried on in the first class of the school, as may be adapted for the children of farmers, tradesmen, and mechanics: - the female scholars  shall also be taught plain needlework by a competent mistress.

13. The children shall be required to present themselves in their respective school rooms punctually at the appointed school hours, clean, properly washed and combed, an decently clothed; and not to absent themselves without sufficient reason.

14. The children must be respectful and obedient to the managers, and to the master and mistress of the school; they must conform to the rules approved and agreed upon by the Trustees for the better management of the school; and must submit to the discipline authorized by them.

If children, after admonition and correction, obstinately refuse to amend, they shall be excluded from the school. - Only the managers shall have the power to expel a scholar.

Parents neglecting duly to inforce strict obedience to the rules of the school shall be liable to have their children who are already in the school excluded therefrom, and not be allowed to send any other children to the school.

15. The school shall be daily opened and closed with prayer.

* (The following rules and regulations of the National Society were adopted by the managers previous to the union of the school with the National Society).

16. The children are to be instructed in the holy scriptures, and in the Liturgy and Catechism of the Established Church.

With respect to such instruction, the schools are to be subject to the superintendence of the Parochial clergyman.

17. The children are to be regularly assembled for the purpose of attending divine service in the parish church, unless such reason can be assigned for their non-attendance as is satisfactory to the managers of the school.

18. The master and mistress are to be members of the Church of England.

19. A report on the state and progress of the schools is to be made at Christmas in every year to the Diocesan Board, the District Society, or the National Society; and the scholars are, with the consent of the managers, to be periodically inspected by persons appointed either by the Bishop of the Diocese, the National Society, or the Diocesan Board of Education.

20. In the case any difference should arise between the Parochial Clergy and the Managers of the schools with reference to the preceding rules respecting the religious instruction of the scholars or any regulation connected therewith, an appeal is to be made to the Bishop of the Diocese, whose decision is to be final.

The above Rules having been read at a general meeting of the Trustees held July 14th, 1841, were approved and agreed upon

(SIGNED) 

EDWARD TANQUERAY, LL. B. rector of Tingrith.
CHARLES WARD, A. M. Rector of Maulden, Rural Dean.
J. W. C. CAMPION, A. M. Lord of the Manor of Westoning.
GEORGE PEARSE, Harlington.
THOMAS PEARSE, M. A. Vicar of Westoning and of Harlington.