6 January
Received the following certificate for Clara Coward.
I hereby certify that Clare Coward is in a fit state of health to undertake the duties of "a Pupil Teacher."
Thomas Percival M.R.C.S.A. L.S.A.

8 January.
Mr. Dewes inspected the standard subjects.

10 February.
Holiday in the afternoon being Shrove Tuesday.

13 February.
Friday's attendance is generally low and considerably decreases the week's average.

16 February.

The following is the H. M. Inspector's Report for the year ending November 31 1879 and received
February 11 1880.

I am glad to see that the percentage of passes still keeps up.
This year there has been a falling off in Reading but it is compensated by the improvement in Writing and Arithmetic. The writing is too small on the slates. The infants are well looked after. They need more practice in mental addition but in other respects are making good progress.
The Grants under Article 19 (C) are well earned.
Some pictures of animals should be hung up in the infants' room.

Your attention is requested to Article 32 (C). The staff should be immediately strengthened by the appointment of an Assistant Teacher (Article 79) or a Pupil Teacher transferred from some other school.

My Lords have upon this occasion allowed for scholars presented under Article 20 (A1) in standards below that prescribed by the bye laws for partial exemption from school attendance.
Henceforth, however, payments under this Article will be made in accordance with the enclosed memorandum.
H. Copley has passed fairly but should attend to Grammar.
A. Dawson's name has been removed from the register of Pupil Teachers serving in this school.
C. Coward, failure.

Henry E. Storey Second Class Certified Teacher.
Maria E. Wright Assistant (Article 32 C 3) and Sewing Mistress.
Hannah Copley Second Year Pupil Teacher.

Percentage of passes
Reading 85.2
Writing 91.5
Arithmetic 88.4

Grant earned - ninety-six pounds eight shillings.

15 March.
Funeral at Kellington caused the absence of several children in the afternoon.

12 April.
Received one pound five shillings and three pence from Guardians.

7 May.
Clara Coward has resigned her situation as Candidate for Pupil Teachership and left the school today.

17 May.
Miss Arnold, Assistant Teacher under Article 79 commenced duties this morning.

25 June.
Kellington Sunday School Treat in the afternoon and scarcely any Kellington children present.

1 July.
Birkin children absent today because of Sunday School Treat.

4 August.
Half holiday, fashionable wedding in the village.

16 August.
A funeral at Kellington cases the absence of several children.

4 November.
Pontefract Statutes caused the absence of many children, about 70 present.

22 November.
Mr. Hirst, Chairman of the School Board, was buried today, the Kellington children were all absent.

26 November.
The attendance during the last quarter has been very low and irregular, a funeral or wedding, a village feast, or a statute hiring in the neighbourhood has emptied the school. There seems to be little or no desire on part of many parents that their children should make good progress. This want of interest is our great difficulty. By it the children are encouraged in disobedience.
To the very day, and sometimes before it, the children leave school at 13. When for their attendance the fee would remain the same, their parents choose rather that they should run about the roads and streets.
The floods have, of course, during the last quarter interfered with the attendance of Birkin children.
At the beginning of the year scarlet fever caused the absence of many children.

3 December.
The village feast at Kellington caused the absence of many children.

7 December.
Mr. Dewes inspected the standard work

15 December.
81 children absent this morning. A wedding at Kellington is the principal cause of absence.

20 December.
Inspection by Mr. J. Wilson.

23 December.
Left this afternoon for Christmas holiday.

Number on Books 1880.

February 13 --------------------155.
March 12 ------------------------160.
March 19 ------------------------159.
May 21 ---------------------------160.
June 11 --------------------------155.
July 9 -----------------------------164.
August 2 -------------------------164.
August 20 -----------------------165.
September 24 ------------------160.
October 8 ------------------------160.
October 29 ----------------------160.
November 19 -------------------155.
December 23 -------------------151.

1881 1881 1881 1881 1881

14 January.
Attending at Pontefract County Court today with the Clerk against some parents in arrears with their School Fees.

1 February.
The following is a copy of H. M. Inspector's Report for the year ending 30 November 1880 and received January 22 1881.

"With the exception of Reading, the standard work is very satisfactory. Class answering has fallen off in the upper standards and discipline is not so good. An improvement will be expected in these points. The infants are nicely taught by Mrs. Wright. The Board has not made any adequate provision for lighting the rooms on a dark afternoon.

The Grant under Article 19 (a) 3 has been allowed with some hesitation.

H. Copley has passed fairly but should attend to map drawing.
Henry E. Storey Certificated Teacher Second Class.
Maria E. Wright Assistant (Article 32 C 3) and Sewing Mistress.
Hannah Copley Third Year Pupil Teacher.

Percentage of Passes.
Reading 81.1
Writing 83.3
Arithmetic 81.4.

Grant earned ninety-one pounds eleven shillings.

11 March.
The whole neighbourhood is under water, children unable to get out of the house.

16 June.
Sunday School treat at Kellington caused the absence of many children.

23 June.
Birkin Missionary Meeting and very few children present.

1 July.
Board meeting, Tom Jaques has been appointed a candidate.

18 July.
Opened school after fortnight's holiday.
Tom Jaques absent with leave.

3 August.
56 children absent today, some have gone for a trip to Byram Hall.

17 October.
Holiday this afternoon, village feast.

18 October.
Holiday this afternoon, village feast.

26 October.
Wedding at Birkin caused the absence of all the Birkin children, 46 absent.

3 November.
Pomfret Statutes and few children present.

8 November.
Several children absent at Selby Stautes.
25 November.
End of school year.
(1) Many children have left the district during the year, on account, no doubt, of the trade depression and so the number of admissions is 17 less than thee number who have left.
(2) We can keep few children after they have reached 13 years of age, for still the parents in many cases are anxious to have them at home. It seems a pity that children who are just beginning to take a personal interest in their work should be forced away from it, even on the middle of a school year.
(3) It is agreeable to notice that sickness has not prevailed to any extent during the year.
(4) Taking 155 as the average number on the books, the actual attendance is but 74 per cent of the possible.

28 November.
Kellington Feast and few children present.

5 December.
Examination, W. Dewse for G. Gardiner, H.M.I.

6 December.
Inspection, G Gardiner.

23 December.
The sewing room is too small for all the girls and some of them are allowed to sew with the Infants on Monday and Friday afternoons instead of sewing with the upper classes according to the time table. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons the same girls are engaged with the boys in other work.

Number on Books 1881.

February 25 ------------------154.
April 29 ------------------------158.
November 28 ----------------138.
December 23 ----------------144.

1882 1882 1882 1882 1882

3 January.
Received the H.M.I.'s Report from the clerk of which this is a copy

With exception of reading in the lower standards which is wanting in intelligence and expression, the elementary work is in a very satisfactory state. Writing is particularly good, both on slates and paper. The first and second classes also answered well in Grammar and Geography. Discipline is somewhat improved but is still the weak point of school. The habit of random answering is to a certain extent subversive of good order. Singing deserves a word of praise. Mrs. Wright continues to render valuable help in teaching the infants and sewing.

H. Copley has passed fairly.
T. Jaques, handwriting.

School Staff.
Henry E. Storey, Certificated Teacher, Second Class.
Maria E. Wright, Assistant (Article 32 C 3).
Hannah Copley, Fourth year Pupil Teacher.
Tom Jaques, First Year Pupil Teacher.

Percentage of Passes.
Reading 95.8
Writing 94.9
Arithmetic 85.4
Grant earned one hundred and one pounds seventeen shillings. This amounts to seventeen shillings and eight pence halfpenny on the total average.

24 January.
Many children absent because of a sale at Kellington.

27 January.
Gave half-holiday to prepare room for school concert.

27 February.
Sent back Mary J. Baxter and George Baxter for school money. Mrs. Baxter came to the school afterwards in a great passion. The Board have already summoned this woman for arrears of fees. They have excused her one shilling and eight pence and I acted under their orders in sending the children back. They have not returned today.

28 February.
Baxter's children returned this morning.

8 March.
George Gillion and Lizzie Gillion have left the school. Parents complained that they were not allowed to attend school while their sister was suffering from an infectious disorder. Asked their mother to keep them away till she was cured and offence was taken and the children are not coming again.

22 March.
65 children absent this morning, wedding at Birkin.

6 April.
School closed for the Easter Holiday till April 17.
(No mention was written in the Log Book by Mr. Storey that he was being replaced by a new Schoolmaster at the commencement of the Easter Term.)

17 April.
I, James A Ferrier, took charge of the school today. The day being fine the attendance was good and 135 children were present both morning and afternoon.
Elizabeth Gillion re-admitted.

19 April.
Work proceeded quietly today, had to cane several boys for disobedience.

20 April.
Discipline of school much improved.

18 May.
Nearly all the Kellington children absent this afternoon attending a funeral of a young child at Kellington.

24 May.
Sent for new "infant readers" and sixth standard geographies.

29 May.
Wedding at Beal today and very poor attendance.

12 June.
Received new globe.

13 June.
Ringworms seem to be rather prevalent amongst the children.

30 June.
Knottingley Feast this afternoon, took away about half of the children. A feast, an anniversary, a marriage or a funeral even at a distance of 2 or 3 miles seems to be enough to rob the school of half the children.

7 August.
Very fine day, poor attendance, children haymaking.

14 August.
Punished John Copley for playing truant.

14 September.
Only 93 children in school this afternoon, he remainder had gone to a sale at Kellington.

18 September.
The school bell is out of repair and very many of the children came late to school today.

16 October.
Beal Feast, half-holiday this afternoon.

17 October.
Continuation of Feast, half-holiday this afternoon.

23 October.
Examined upper standards in arithmetic, passed 82 per cent. Have adopted a new plan for the discipline of infants which is very poor, shall give it a month's trial.

2 November.
Very poor attendance in consequence of Pontefract Fair.

8 November.
I gave the pupil teachers a written examination last Saturday with the result that Miss Copley obtained 51 marks out of a possible 90 and Jaques 76 out of a possible 110.

14 November.
Many children away through whooping cough.

28 November.
Kellington Feast today and yesterday, attendance very poor.

5 December.
The Lees returned to school this morning after an absence of nearly a year. They did not bring their school money and, as instructed, I sent them home to get it. They have not returned.

20 December.
Inspection, J. W. Wilson.

21 December.
Examination, W. Dewes for H. M. Inspector.

22 December.
Closed school this morning for Christmas Holidays.

Number on Books 1882.

January 6 --------------------------145.
February 24 -----------------------143.
October 13 ------------------------149.

1883 1883 1883 1883 1883

1 January.
Re-opened school today

19 January.
Received Inspector's Report today of which the following is a copy.

There is a serious falling off in the quality of the work except in the first standard, Reading and Writing being the worst subjects. The grant for Geography is earned but not Grammar. T. Jaques and H. Copley have passed fairly, Copley should be informed that she is now qualified under Article 79 but she can only qualify herself under Article 60 by passing satisfactory the examination specified under Article 91.
L. Coward - Geography.

School Staff
James A. Ferrier, Certificated Teacher, Second Class.
Maria E. Wright, Assistant Teacher and Sewing.
T. Jaques, Second Year Pupil Teacher.
L .Coward, First Year Pupil Teacher.

22 January.
Commenced this week to teach music by note.

23 January.
James Hutchinson today threw a stone which accidentally struck Florence Moore on the forehead inflicting a severe wound but no serious results are anticipated.

20 February.
Whooping cough has now disappeared after raging for four months.

5 March.
Kellington children away this afternoon attending a funeral.
Punished J. Lee for playing truant.

11 April.
Poor attendance this afternoon, a funeral at Birkin has lowered the number to 92.

25 April.
Have taken charge of the first standard this week as they are very backward in arithmetic.

13 May.
Fine, warm day but very poor attendance on account of the Whit-Monday festivities going on all around.
Examined Infants this afternoon, found notation good, numeration very bad and reading and writing fair.

14 May.
Wretched attendance today, only 82 children present this afternoon, most of them have gone to Haddlesey with the Red Ribbon Army.

23 May.
Punished J. Copley, disobedience.

28 May.
Poor attendance today on account of Whitley Feast.

18 June.
First class children began "Historical Readers" today.

22 June.
Frank Bell struck George Eckershall today during the dinner hour and has seriously injured him.

2 July
Bad attendance this afternoon on account of an anniversary in the village.

9 August.
Classes making progress with poetry.

15 August.
Bad attendance today, pea pulling at Haddlesey has taken away about 30 children.

20 August.
Attendance poor both morning and afternoon, harvesting operations beginning all over the country.

22 August.
Bad attendance all this week, only about 60 in school this afternoon, work at a standstill.

23 August.
Broke up for three weeks holiday.

28 September.
Sent after absentees and found that W. Lee, R. and J. Copley were truanting.

23 October.
Allowed children to go home earlier to attend a children's service at Birkin.

14 November.
Many children away from school today attending the funeral of Mrs Poskitt of Beal.

22 November.
Mrs. Wright, Infant Mistress, absent the last two days through illness.

26 November.
Mrs. Wright still away from severe attack of erisipelas.
Kellington Feast so gave half-holiday in afternoon.

4 December.
Mrs. Wright still away, Miss Mann took sewing this afternoon.

10 December.
Mrs. Wright still away, a great deal of inconvenience arises from this fact.

17 December.
Gave lesson today before H.M.I.s.

19 December
Mrs. Wright has now been absent a month.

20 December.
School inspected by Messrs. Anstead and Dewse.
Dismissed children for week's holiday in afternoon.

Number on Books 1883.

February 23 -------------------134.
March 2 -------------------------130.
March 30 -----------------------127.
April 13 --------------------------134.
April 20 --------------------------135.
May 18 ---------------------------138.
June 8 ---------------------------134.
August 10 -----------------------139.
October 12 ----------------------130.
November 2 --------------------139.
November 16 ------------------144.

1884 1884 1884 1884 1884

1 January.
Poor attendance this morning and I gave half-holiday in afternoon.

14 January.
The bell being broken many of the children were late for school this morning.
Mrs. Wright has returned to school after an absence of two months.

20 January.
The following are the passages selected for next exam's recitation - from Poetry for Standards.

St 1 "All things Bright and Beautiful"
St 2 "The Violet" "The Harper"
St 3 "The Miller of the Dee" "Past and Present"
St 4 "Canadian Boat Song" "Graves of a Household"
"Excelsior"
St 5 "The Rainbow" "Monarch of all I survey"
St 6 Lochiel's Warning" "The Ride to Ghent"

25 February.
Received Report today.
The school is most successfully taught. Elementary subjects are sound throughout. The class subjects are marked good but the Poetry must be recited with more expression and the Geography improve in general intelligence to earn this mark next year. The boys' offices were in a most filthy condition and should be attended to immediately. The infant's class is in good order and the instruction in elementary subjects satisfactory. Object lessons are weak and little or no provision has been made to give the younger ones any varied occupation according to Article 106 (b).The singing from notes is not good enough to earn an extra Grant.
T. Jaques has passed well and L. Coward fairly But Coward should attend to Grammar and Geography.
Mr. Ferrier will shortly receive his certificate.
School Staff
James A. Ferrier, Cert. Teacher, Second Class.
Maria E. Wright, Assistant and Sewing.
T. Jaques, Third Year Pupil Teacher.
L. Coward, Second Year Pupil Teacher.

25 March.
I have taken Standard 3 in Arithmetic for the last few days as they are very backward.

April 7
The date of H. Lee's birth ought to be September 11 1878 instead of September 23 1877 as formerly given.

30 April.
I am working Infant class under a provisional timetable as an experiment.

27 May.
The following is a list of object lessons for infants.

Elephant Ostrich Tin
Tiger Spider Coal
Bear Silkworm Salt
Wolf Beehives Lead
Beaver Coffee Tree Needle
Reindeer Rice Candle
Horse Potato Cotton Plant
Fox Gold Sugar Cane
Camel Iron Lion
Whale Silver Tea

13 June.
The feasts to which are now going on in the surrounding villages greatly interfere with the attendance.

19 June.
Birkin Feast and Missionary Meeting, many children absent.

17 July.
Many children away today on account of Sunday School trip at Kellington.

23 July.
Attendance only fair. Many children away pulling fruit, diarrhoea rather prevalent.

28 July.
Knottingley Feast week and attendance very low.

5 August.
Election yesterday and school closed.

9 September.
Weather very fine but attendance poor in upper classes, many of the children away blackberrying.

15 September.
Very poor attendance this morning, had to send many home for fees who have not returned.

18 September.
Attendance this week has been very unsatisfactory, many of the children have been away gathering berries and a few are absent from illness.

13 October.
Beal Feast, 88 present this morning, gave holiday in afternoon.

17 October.
Average for week greatly interfered with by Beal Feast, 94.1, many children away all week and little work possible.

26 November.
Gave whole school an examination today in Writing and Arithmetic.

23 December.
School examination today. Messrs. Dewes and Colson, Inspectors.

Number on Books 1884.

January 11 -------------------------135.
January 25 -------------------------134.
March 14 ----------------------------135.
March 28 ----------------------------137.
April 18 ------------------------------134.
May 2 --------------------------------136.
September 5 -----------------------136.