Preparations for opening the school

At the meeting on April 5th 1878 it was agreed that the clerk would write to the clerk to the Bishop Beveridge Charity asking if they were prepared to let them have half an acre of land either in the Hall Orchard or in Shooting Close.

Meanwhile a census would be taken of all the children in the village between the ages of 3 and 13. The results of the census were published in the Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury on February 22nd 1873. There were places in the national school for 180 and places were needed for another 173 children.

The reply to the request to the Trustees of the Bishop Beveridge Charity, reported at the meeting on July 5th 1878, was a refusal. So the Board decided to advertise for land in the Leicester Journal and the Loughborough Monitor. They got offers of land from W. Sutton and W. Jackson, on behalf of W. Lewin. The clerk was asked to prepare a contract for the purchase of 1940 square yards from W. Lewin, the cost not to exceed £275. W. Lewin refused to sell at less than £335.  At the meeting on Sept 6th this was accepted.

On Feb 14th 1879 architects were asked to send plans and estimates by March 14th. 

The school was to be a mixed school for 130 children over 7 on the scale of 10ft per child. The main room was to be for 80 and the classroom for 50. It was to be built of Mountsorrel random with white brick dressings. The outer walls were to be lined with brick and the roof to have projecting eaves and gables. There was to be no unnecessary ornament. The estimate was to include the cost of boundary walls and division walls where required and to provide drainage and gravelling to the playground. The plans in all respects were to conform to the regulation of the Education Department.

On March 21st 1879 the plans of Messers Goodacre and Hewes were accepted and they were appointed architects to the Board

On May 16th 1879 ten tenders had been received. Mr Henry Black was accepted.

The costs were: Buildings £1080, Gasphalting £48 Stones £56

It was decided not to gasphalt the playground as this would have taken them over the budget allowed by the Education Department

The building was not complete by the agreed date so a penalty was incurred.

Final Arrangements for opening the School 

In January 1880 it was agreed to advertise in the Schoolmaster for a certificated teacher for a new school about the beginning of April. In February it was reported that 147 applications had been received. Mr Crellan and Mr Soar were invited to attend at the grammar school on 13th Feb and bring testimonials etc. The Board would pay third class rail fare.Mr. Soar was appointed from April 12th. 

Mrs Russell applied for the position of sewing mistress.

Work on the building continued. The boundary wall between Mr Whitmore’s garden and the school was raised and a wall of Mountsorrel granite was placed in front of the office to screen this from the road and Mr Whitmore’s property. It was resolved that school would   be lighted with gas and the clerk was asked to obtain tenders from Mr Robinson, Mr Coulson, and Messers Messenger and Perkins for supplying and putting in the gas fittings. Mr Robinson‘s tender of £9.10.6 was accepted. A committee was set up to procure furniture and fittings

The clerk was asked to enquire about the fees in other local schools. At the meeting in April 1880, it was agreed to charge 3d for each scholar. The school was to open on April 19th; Mr Soar should come to Barrow on April 12th

The clerk was to prepare, and have printed, 500 copies of a handout about the opening. This was to be delivered to every household along with a copy of the bye laws informing parents of the requirement for their children to attend school. 

Arrangements were made for the school to be clean and warm. In May 1880 Mary Atkins was appointed to clean the school for 2/6 a week when the school was open, she had also to obtain firewood and keep the closets clean 

Miss Anne Miranda Shaw was appointed to teach sewing for three months at £25 per year.

The master asked to be allowed to teach drill, permission was given.