West Byfleet Secondary school: log book for 1953
7^th January 1953	The school reopened today. Mrs. July Gerard on supply vice Mr. Guppy. The timetable was revamped with Mr. Payne, doing most of the art and Mrs. July Gerard English with 2B and 1Y plus some art etc. Mrs. Bromley commenced duty as Science Mistress. The deputy C.E.O. visited the school.
8^th January 1953	Mr. Higgins, assistant County Inspector visited the school to discuss arrangements for next term.
23^rd January 1953	Mr. Higgins called to see Mrs. Bryan.
2^nd February 1953	Mr. Drawneck absent marking Common Entrance Examination papers. Mr. Higgins, assistant County Commissioner, spent the afternoon session with Mrs. Bryson and Remove.
6^th February 1953	Mr. Drawneck resumed.
13^th February 1953	The school closed for two days for mid-term.
18^th February 1953	School reopened. Mrs. McGrath resumed. Miss Aitcheson absent with fractured rib. Miss Pope called to discuss the Girls P.E. with the Headmaster.
26^th February 1953	Dr. Ross examined Geoffrey Ball as an education Excluded pupil.
4^th March 1953	Mr. Penn absent today attending a gardening course.
6^th March 1953	Mr. lark absent today attending an appointments interview.
9^th March 1953	Mr. Higgins visited the school to see Mrs. Bromely.
26^th March 1953	Mrs. Bryson resumed and during the afternoon visited Stepgates C. Primary School to see the Retained classes there. By arrangement with the Education Authority Mrs. Offenback gave a lecture on “Cattle and sheep Stations of Australia” to the senior half of the school during the last hour of the afternoon.
30^th March 1953	During the last hour of the afternoon over 100 parents of children to be admitted next term visited the school were addressed by the Headmaster and made a general tour of inspection.
31/3/1953	During the past season the school 1^st XI football team won the Woking and District Schools Challenge cup, the Inter District Dangerfield Cup and the Woking Schools league shield – the later being presented to the captain by Mr. R. Beloe, Chief Education Officer at the final of the Hood Shield in which three boys from the school played representing Woking. The school junior side lost in the final of the challenge sup but won their League cup tying with another school.
1^st April 1953	The school closed today until 20^th April.
20^th April 1953	The school reopened. Mr. Guppy and Miss Aitcheson are still absent, Mrs. July Gerard is not returning on supply. Mrs. Jenkins is on supply taking Mr. Guppy’s timetable. 84 new children and a further 66 are due on 11^th May after their second attempt at the Common Entrance Examination. Four first year forms of these children have been form, I, IA, IB and IF. The later class will be housed in Fullbrook C. Secondary School when staffing permits but until 11^th May 1A and F are combined doing 1A’s timetable. Mr. Crouch becomes full time groundsman here from today instead of part-time.
21^st April 53	Mr. Wheeler absent as juryman at Quarter Sessions.
23^rd April 53	Mrs. Keast commenced supply duty vice Miss Aitcheson.
27^th April 53	Mr. Barnes of Shoreditch Training College commenced three weeks teaching practice.
4^th May 1953	Mrs. M. McGrath absent today attending Common Entrance Orals at Woking Girls Grammar School.
5^th May 1953	Mrs. McGrath resumed at 2.45pm.
11^th May 1953	Mrs. Alexander commenced on supply vice Miss Aitcheson. Mrs. Keast commenced as form mistress of form 1F which today transferred to Fullbrook C. Secondary School. They will take all lessons there except Tuesdays and Wednesday afternoons when they will be here for Science, handicraft and Domestic Science.
20^th May 1953	Woking and District School Sports 1953 The Woking and District Athletic Sports were held at Kingfield. The trophies were presented by Mr. H. Edmunds, Association president. The school scored 5 firsts, 6 seconds and 5 thirds..
	Junior girls under 15 yrs	1^st Goldsworth (30), 2^nd Knaphill (23), 3^rd West Byfleet (16)
	Senior Girls 15-17 yrs	1^st Goldsworth
	Boys under 15 yrs	1^st West Byfleet (34½), 2^nd Mayford (18), 3^rd Monument Hill (15½)
	Senior boys 15-17 yrs	1^st Mayford (41)
	100 yards – boys under 12 yrs			1^st R. Norris 2^nd Harding
	100 yards – girls under 12 yrs			3^rd D. West
	100 yards – boys under 14 yrs			2^nd L. Street
	100 yards – girls under 14 yrs			3^rd Robinson
	100 yards – girls under 15 yrs			3^rd Hatchwell
	220 yards – boys under 15 yrs			2^nd Potts, 3^rd Green
	440 yards – boys under 15 yrs			1^st J. Kinmond
	880 yards – boys under 15 yrs			3^rd J. White
	Relay – 440 yards – girls under 15 yrs			2^nd
	Relay – 440 yards – boys under 15 yrs			2^nd =
	Hurdles – 75 yards - girls under 15 yrs			1^st S. Burton
	High Jump – girls under 15 yrs			2^nd A. Breeze (=)
	Long Jump – boys under 15 yrs			1^st L. Rice
	Shot – boys under 15 yrs			1^st P. Robinson
22^nd May 1953	Prior to the end of the afternoon session all classes assembled in their classrooms where in the presence of certain of the Governors and local councillors each child was presented with a souvenir mug to commemorate the Coronation of H.M. Elizabeth II on 2^nd June 1953. Afterwards the school closed until 3^rd June for Whit and Coronation holiday.
27^th May 1953	During the afternoon session all Byfleet, West Byfleet and Pyrford children accompanied by an appropriate number of members of staff went to their respective recreation grounds for sports and Coronation Festivities. New Haw children remained in school with a member of staff.
3^rd June 1953	The school reopened in the morning. Mrs. Bryson absent having been in hospital to undergo an operation.
10^th June 1953	Mr. Penn attending a county gardening course.
11^th June 1953	Mr. Penn resumed.
18^th June 1953	Mr. Curtis absent taking an exam.
19^th June 1953	During the afternoon session the third and fourth year girls were given a demonstration on “good grooming” by a representative of Messrs. Yardley’s. Mrs. Keast ceased duty yesterday having had to move house too far away to continue. There being no alternative the form at Fullbrook school has been recalled here and is divided up between other junior forms until some one is obtained to take them.
23^rd June 1963	Governor’s Meeting.
29^th June 1953	Mr. P.A. Warland commenced duty on supply to take form at Fullbrook.
30^th June 1953	Miss J.T. Evans commenced duty on supply vice Mrs. Jenkins who is going on holiday.
1^st and 2^nd July 1953	Headmaster absent on 13+ appeals panel.
6^th July 1953	Headmaster again during the afternoon on appeals panel. Mr. Brown absent due to dental treatment.
7^th July 1953	Mr. Brown resumed.
13^th July 1953	Parents of children to be admitted next term attended the school and after a talk by the headmaster were allowed to look over the school.
17^th July 1953	During the afternoon the Annual athletic Sports were held on the school field. Many parents and friends were present and Mr. Costin, one of the governors, presented the trophy to McClure, the winning House.
20^th July 1953	Though the school did not close a skeleton team of girls competed in the Woking and District Schools’ Swimming Gala and came third. Mr. M. H. Edmunds presented the trophies.
	Girls trophy; 1^st Girls’ Grammar (50), 2nd Goldsworth (33), 3^rd West Byfleet (11)
	Relay 30 yards – boys		3^rd
	Relay 30 yards – girls		3^rd
	Freestyle 30 yards – girls 13-15 yrs		3^rd I. Henderson
	Freestyle 90 yards – girls		2^nd I. Henderson
22^nd July 1953	The school closed today for parish Day which this year was held at Byfleet. Displays of wood and metalwork, art, needlework, homecraft and gardening were exhibited.
24^th July 1953	The school closed today after afternoon school until 1^st September. Mr. Elvidge and Miss Stewart and Mr. Lark were presented with Wedding gifts from their colleagues.
1^st September 1953	The school reassembled with 747 children on roll. Mr. Guppy and Miss Aitcheson are still absent. Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Alexander are on supply in their places. Mrs. R. Luck commenced as a temporary member of staff to take the first year form in Fullbrook C.S. School.
9^th September 1953	During the afternoon session the whole school assembled ion the playground for a concert by the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst under its Director, Capt. F. Trimble.
5^th October 1953	Mrs. Bryson absent attending a course on E.S.N. Chu.
7^th October 1953	Mr. Brown absent with a poisoned arm.
13^th October 1953	Mr. Drawneck absent for morning session only attending appointments interview.
14^th October 1953	Mr. Wheeler absent attending a Geography course.
15^th October 1953	During the evening or night of 14^th October three bunches of keys were removed from the staff keyboard. With one set a drawer in the domestic science room was opened, approximately £2-10-0 and two girl’s wrist watches were taken. Nothing was missing from the other two rooms. None of the bunches of keys has been recovered. The police have been informed and have taken all the necessary steps to investigate the matter.
20^th October 1953	Mrs. M. McGrath absent attending a Needlework class.
23^rd October 1953	The school closed for mid-term holiday until 2^nd November.
2^nd November 1953	The school reopened with a full staff. As from today Mrs. Bryson with remove are to be found in Fullbrook C. Secondary school instead of the British Legion Hut. This shed which is deemed unsuitable. They will have practical instruction during the afternoons of Thursdays and Wednesdays here.
9^th November 1953	Miss Stone and Miss Lewis H.M.I.s spent most of the day in the school, the former on housecraft subjects, the latter on general subjects.
25^th November 1953	Mr. Higgins called to discuss staff etc.
26^th November 1953	Mr. Blanshard with 4B boys visited Lord Iveagh’s estate.
10^th December 1953	Governor’s meeting held at Fullbrook C. School.
14^th December 1953	Children in first year forms were taken to the Ritz Cinema, Woking, to see the Everest film during the morning session. During the evening the school choir gave a service of nine lesions and carols at the Methodist Church, Byfleet.
15^th December 1953	Children in 4 year form were taken to see the Everest Film. Mr. Byrson was absent during the morning session. During the evening the school choir gave a service of nine lessons and carols in St. John’s Church, West Byfleet to a crowded congregation.
16^th December 1953	Children in 3^rd year forms were taken to see the Everest film. An exhibition of iced Christmas cakes was open to parents and fiends of 3^rd and 4^th year girls from 3.30pm.
17^th December 1953	Children in 2^nd year forms were taken to see the Everest film.
18^th December 1853	The school closed today until 6^th January next term.