The Bourtons - Bourton School
Our Villages > Down Memory Lane > Bourton SchoolBourton Infant School opened in what we now know as the Old School House (School Lane, Great Bourton) in 1867. It was conveyed to the vicar and wardens in 1904. Attendance remained at an average of around 21 children until 1928, but had declined to only 10 by 1938. In 1962 there were 23 children at the school.
The school at Cropredy had been established in 1854. The vicar, A W Noel brought about this National School, and intended it to serve both Cropredy and Bourton. However the residents of Bourton were not in favour and refused to send their children there. See more of the history here.
Great Bourton C.E Controlled School closed at the end of the summer term in 1964. The children were expected to attend the school in Cropredy. As parents refused to allow their children to walk to school, the Education Authority agreed to pick them up with existing transport from outlying villages:
The Old School is now a family home.
These photos of the school and schoolchildren are from the photo archives collated by George Ennis and Veronica Fisher. Our thanks to them, and those who generously donated these photographs.
School lunch
- Thanks to Angela Glover for this photo which was taken in 1953/1954. Angela remembers that this photo shows the total number of pupils at the school, and they were taught all subjects by Mrs Bliss who kept the Bell Inn at the time. In the foreground (partly), is Mrs Smith, the dinner lady, who lived in what they called the old council houses in The Close, Great Bourton. At the time Angela lived at 10 The Close, Great Bourton, those six houses, numbers 7-12, were what they called the new council houses. They were the first residents to occupy that house, and moved in when the house was brand new in 1951.
First Day at School!
