When our pupils were taught in the school corridors

The infant and junior schools in Margaret Road, Headington, Oxford, were so overcrowded some pupils had to be taught in corridors.

And that wasn’t the only problem. Some children had to have their lunch in their classrooms, outside lavatories had no washbasins, classrooms and the main hall were too small and play space was inadequate.

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The school’s parent-teacher association invited the city’s MP, Monty Woodhouse, education officials and the Oxford Mail to see for themselves the difficulties the schools worked under in 1973.

Association members were concerned that the problems would get worse when comprehensive education was introduced.

They wanted to see a new school built on a three-acre site owned by the city council in nearby Windmill Road.

However, the Government had given priority in its improvement programme to schools built before 1904 and the Headington buildings dated from 1907.

And Headington wasn’t first in the queue in the city for work – that doubtful accolade belonged to South Oxford School.

Pupils eat lunch in a classroom (Image: Oxford Mail)

After his 75-minute inspection, Mr Woodhouse said: “The school has very serious problems of congestion and inconvenience and in my judgement, has a very good case for a renewal, which can only take the form of rebuilding.

“We have discussed how best to present the case and I have said I will give the best support and advice I can.”

He said the Department for Education would not consider Headington’s case until it had made a decision on South Oxford’s bid for money.

But he added he would do all he could do to highlight Headington’s problems, including making a direct approach to the Education Secretary in writing or, if necessary, by a deputation.

Parents who met Mr Woodhouse said they had no quarrel with the education given at the school or the principle of the proposed comprehensive schooling, but they were worried about the space problem.

Among those who joined the MP on the tour of the school were the city’s chief education officer, John Garne, his deputy, Mr J F Thorne, and the chairman of the school managers, Alderman Dora Carr.

Improvements were eventually carried out, much to the relief of pupils, staff and parents – and life became much happier for pupils and staff at the school.

Conservative Mr Woodhouse was MP for Oxford from 1959 to 1966, and again from 1970 to 1974.

He was also a visiting Fellow at Nuffield College from 1956 to 1964.

John Garne Way, off Marston Road, is named in honour of John Garne.

His major achievement was to supervise the amalgamation of the city and county’s education services in 1974. He died in 2004.