Farnborough Branch

Farnborough Branch

Farnborough Branch of the National Children's Home

We have just received the report of Mr. Ricks, the London School Board's Inspector, upon our Farnborough Branch. We have now fairly got through the difficulties involved in the transfer of the Boys from Gravesend to Farnborough, and the adoption of the family system in place of the Barrack School. Naturally these Boys are below the average of education and intelligence, as all of them have been at peculiar disadvantage through their parentage and surroundings. It is, therefore, the more satisfactory that we are able to show such excellent results.

Mr. Ricks says:-

SCHOOL
The general level of efficiency lies between good and very good.

HEALTH
Very good indeed. The domestic and sanitary arrangements are all excellent

FOOD
Ample, good, sufficiently varied and well served.

CLOTHING
Ample and Good

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING
Well attended to. Shoemaking and tailoring are the chief occupations. The band is now quite excellent.

PHYSICAL TRAINING
This part of the work receives adequate attention and the Boys are well set up

RECREATION
Ample provision is made. Cricket in Summer and football in winter are played on an adjacent common. Entertainments, reading, Games etc enliven the winter evenings

CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE
Excellent; only three cases of corporal punishment during the year

DISPOSAL OF THE CHILDREN
The "Old Boys" are well looked after

GENERAL REMARKS
The "hall mark" of this School is its home like character.

Source: Highways and Hedges p.46

Extract submitted from Highways and Hedges The Childrens Advocate by ALECHOST at www.alechost.co.uk who provides this edition on CD rom.

Page updated Tuesday March 11, 2008