A Brief resume of Maidstone Schools and Colleges

A government inquiry in the early 19th Century revealed that there were thirteen schools in the town of which most were very poor quality.

Of all the schools in all the world why?

St. Francis School

Well for me there was only one choice. My Grandfather being Italian and a staunch Catholic, it was inevitable that all the off-spring of his off-spring would start if not finish their education in Catholic surroundings. St Francis was his choice

There were many schools in and around Maidstone many grandly called secondary schools (I think a phrase from the beginnings of political correctness).

The lucky few in my estimation would pass the 11 plus and go on to either Maidstone Grammar School or the Technical School. I think most schools of this time were single sex, although St. Francis was both boys and girls.

Maidstone Technical College

The second part of my education was at the Maidstone Technical College The College included courses in business studies, engineering, building and also the all round education of police and fire cadets (I think this is a thing of the past). These cadets were always immaculately dressed in the uniform of their calling and I remember them wearing white cotton gloves, very smart.

Maidstone Grammar School

Maidstone Grammar opened in 1549; some of its well known students include James Burke the presenter (who I attended judo with) and Lord Beeching who closed many of the smaller railway stations.

St Paul's

Shirley

Maidstone I remember it well: I started school on 5th April 1947 at St.Paul's Infants School. It was a grey stone Victorian building next to St. Paul's Church, in Fisher Street. The main hall was divided into three by curtains, and three classes were taught in it at once. There was an ancient green stove at the end of each section (by the teacher's desk!!) but I don't remember any more heating than that. When you started you were known as the "Babies" class, and much derided by the pupils of the loftier ages of 6 plus!! We learned our letters by writing them on sand trays, then shaking the sand to make a clean surface for the next letter. (No-one believes me when I tell them this, but it's true!!) The toilets defied description, and the staff toilet was at the end of the row of pupil's toilets. so the staff must have suffered as well!! Friday was Toy Day, when you could take one of your own toys to school, or play with the very motley collection the school had. There was a maypole in the hall in a corner, but it was never used when I was there. We were sometimes given a sweet for good answers, which during sweet rationing was a real treat. Bad behaviour in the Babies class was rewarded by being "Put to bed" on a camp bed in front of the whole class, a shaming experience! I left there at 6 to go to North Borough, which was much more modern, and the work harder. Victorian conditions seemed to affect the atmosphere, but I am glad I had such a good grounding in how to behave at school.

West Borough

Jean

Maidstone I remember it well: Maidstone I remember it well! Went to West Borough secondary school, left at 15 and went to work as a shop-assistant at Featherstones Department Store in Earl Street. Tried but failed to learn to swim in Maidstone swimming baths. Went roller skating in the Corn Exchange and to the pictures in the cinema at the bottom of Gabrials Hill- I think it was called the Ritz. Happy memories!

jean

Maidstone I remember it well: I started at Westborough Secondary school in 1953 having spent my junior years at Nettlestead Church of England school. It was a bit of a shock after being in such a small school but remember it as a very happy time. Mr Diamond was head master and although a strict disciplinarian he was a very nice man. Half of our lessons were taken at Oakwood House which we thought was great as it meant a nice walk from the main school, in all weathers I might add! If our last lesson of the day was at Oakwood we would walk down the drive to the main road to catch our bus home. Where we waited for the bus there was a bakery and the wonderful smell of freshly bake bread was a torture when you were starving hungry and ready for your tea. I can still smell that bread now! Are there any photographs of Westborough Secondary School before it was destroyed, it was a truly wonderful school.

John G

Maidstone I remember it well: I went to Westborough Secondary School from 1964 to 1968 when I left to join Hammond Rentals a TV rental shop at 3 Mill Street Maidstone (later to become Southern Rentals. I was an apprentice engineer spending one day a week at Maidstone College of Technology in the Tonbridge Road. My Dad worked at the Gas works in St Peter Street where he was the maintenance fitter until it closed down when North Sea gas arrived. As the apprentice I was sent out every morning by Bill Pool my boss for sausage sarnies from the cafe at the end of Mill St (still a cafe today). The trolley bus was still around running from Barming Bull to Shepway and Ringleston. 1968 saw the floods show on this site and one evening I was on the last buss to get over the bridge (only one bridge in those days). When at Westborough School Mr Diamond was headmaster and Mr Sherman deputy, Mr Sherman was more frightening. Yes there was discipline in school then. Cinemas were the ABC in King St 9now the entrance to the Chequers centre) and the Granada in Stone Street.

quin

Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: i went to west borough primary and junior from 1955, i remember it WELL> mrs Flauve? pronounced floyf. mrs cross mr jolly miss drayton mr smith mr diamond. we had 4 teams in sport boxley (red) detling (yellow) charing (green and Wrotham Blue.

we went by bus to swim in the pool next to the fremlins brewery. i used to get sandwiched at the shop for the teachers at lunch (they didnt like school diners and there was a fruit machine in it. we had enormous playing fields for soccer and cricket and we played ?stool ball. i pushed valerie drury in the pond in the the nature walk area and i remember the day we watched oakwood hospital tower burn down.

quin

Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: we had two resident bands at the maidstone grammar school the ventures and i think the jaguars ...once they did a joint performance and 6 guitars let rip loosening the stain glass war memorial windows and upsetting the head master whose name i will remember later

quin

Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: mgs headmaster was Mr Claydon,.deputy Mr Rylands ,lower school Mr Newcombe

phillip wood

Maidstone I remember it well: I remember my school days at st francis vividly 1946/1956 Miss Stroud in the first year Miss Cokley 2nd year last i heard she is still alive in her late 90`s still does her shopping at Sainsbury`s maidstone very strict would rap your knuckles with the sharp side of the ruler.Mr Mc partland not sure about the spelling was the headmaster many times i got cane from him bits of the cane would fly everwhere,i most remember Harry O`Donnell he was not a very big person in size but i have never forgotten him he died just over a year ago.

Yes I remember them all very well and Miss Lenten and Mrs Nolan. PC

phillip Wood

Maidstone I remember it well: back to st francis school again and harry o donnell one day we came nose to nose in the playground can`t remember what i had done and he said if i thought i was big enough we could go round to the pit and sort it out man to boy respect eas instantly given to him.he was my godfather at my confirmation i was the only boy who was dressed all in white my mother did it specially for me.

phillip Wood

Maidstone I remember it well: I remember german prisoners of war knocking the air raid shelters down in st francis playground and one gave me an eagle carved in wood which i liked very much i couldn`t grasp school work i was hopeless but harry would give me other work stoking the boiler when mr skinner was off sick health and safety ? i also made the cabinet that displayed the cups and shields on the top floor.

You could hear Mr. Skinner coming a mile off his chest rattled so badly in my time. PC

phillip Wood

Maidstone I remember it well: st francis the boys used to walk huntsman lane to the horsa( spelling ) huts for woodwork and the girls went for cookery we also went to some fields at buckland hill for football and sports days register in the morning your name was called you said here sir one day i said here harry wallop!!!!!

I can remember walking from St. Francis to the Buckland Hill sports field over the bridge, it always scared the day-lights out of me. PC

anonymous

Maidstone I remember it well: Great site! Brings a smile through dim memories of old people, places & times. I attended Vinters Boys` Secondary School 63-68 & my lasting memory was of the Head, Alf Read, was punched by a pupil & soon after tiny pieces of his broken spectacles were being sold amongst the pupils (a long-term investment?) I remember the Wesley youthclub where I learnt of a new phenomenon called a `French`kiss....yeeuk. Arthur Brown played there & did his crazy "Fire"- spectacular!...especially with the drummer spraying lighter fuel on his symbols & igniting it. Arthur Brown is still going, not quite so ablaze now...I saw him recently & he stops his gig halfway through, saying he needs a little lie down.

Rene Newman

Country: New Zealand Maidstone I remember it well: I learned from Philip the name of the teacher who enjoyed wielding the ruler edge across my fingers 79 years ago. I took action by running away several times, Mr Naylor a kind neigbour gave me a penny to get home, he worked in a bicyle shop. Halfords? nearby. I soon found myself learning at Tovil infants where kindly Miss Brittain? was the head. Enjoyed it there before I went to South Borough with mostly great teachers for the times. At least I have some good memories of it. Cheers.