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Heads, Vicars & Inspectors: Tilton School 1844-1973 Work in Progress. Paul Herrington Tilton & District History Group. Overview. Context Sources and methods Unclear beginnings Chippindall: an autocracy at work Inspection, inspection, inspection
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Heads, Vicars & Inspectors: Tilton School 1844-1973Work in Progress Paul Herrington Tilton & District History Group
Overview • Context • Sources and methods • Unclear beginnings • Chippindall: an autocracy at work • Inspection, inspection, inspection • What can this project generate?
Context • Population, distance, topography, weather • Agriculture, incomes & wealth: work versus schooling • A cash-poor environment • The development of Government education policy, at both central and local levels
Sources & Methods • School deeds • C of E Record Centre • Directories & BL digitised newspapers • Kew: censuses; various ED files • Genealogical websites • Log books, admission registers • County Record Office • Oral history resources
Unclear Beginnings (1844-1877) • Two Neviles: the Lord of the Manor of Halstead (Henry) & the Vicar of Tilton (Gerard) • A National school? ………probably not • ‘Family’ staff appointments: husband/mother/wife/child?
The Chippindall Years (1877-1913) • An early ABC of scandal: Assault, Burial and the Churchwardens (the provincial press, 1878-82) • Theories and evidence about Heads’ tenure (1875-92) • DiY on the church roof (1890-95) • A two-family enterprise: the Chippindalls & the Urens (1892-1905) • Decline and fall: WmC takes on everyone (1903-12)
Inspection, Inspection, Inspection • HMIs - discipline/teaching efficiency/pupil proficiency - little evidence found covering 1860-95 (the ‘payment by results’ period) - mixed reports over 1891-1912, but increasingly adverse over 1922-37 • Leics. Director of Education - a frequent ‘surprise’ visitor • Diocesan: a different kettle of fish
What Can This Project Generate? • Simply a chronological history of one elementary/ primary school in rural Leicestershire? • Recording the unique contribution of ‘detailed micro evidence’ relating to some important issues?, e.g. - effect of weather and infection on the school year and therefore on student achievement (log books) - interactions between Heads, managers, the Vicar and central and local govt (new evidence) • or Tilton Hall: a Hilary-Mantel-type treatment for the anti-hero of our story, the Rev. William Chippindall?