Ray Norman took over as headteacher in Autumn 1991 with 75 children on roll in three classes.
Immediately discussions began with regard to extending the school but a visit from the Chief Education Officer was disheartening. Mr Norman logged, “Sympathetic words but no money available to extend the space in the school. We are ‘no worse off than similar size schools’. He doesn’t have to work here!” However, in early 1993 it became evident that something had to be done when the hut at the front of the school had to be closed due to problems with its supports, and work on a substantial extension started in July 1993. The hut from the rear of the school was removed and the children’s education transferred to a double decker bus loaned by Telford Travel, to everyone’s great delight. There followed an article about it on the front page of the Evening Advertiser, swiftly followed by an appearance on Central TV on the last day of term. Work on the new buildings took place during the summer break. The log book entry on 6 September 1993 records “the results are superb – we have three new rooms, a proper cloakroom and a staff room! We are all very pleased with the results.”
Courtesy of South Marston C of E Primary School
Local Management of Schools (LMS) was introduced in 1990, allowing boards of governors and school principals the autonomy to make decisions on resource allocation and priorities. South Marston School gained this in April 1993 and it was greeted with a cautious welcome, albeit knowing it would entail more work in-house.
The children began participating in regular tree planting sessions at Nightingale Farm, later to be renamed Nightingale Woods, from 1994. These were to continue for a number of years, with the school having its own area to plant for the future.
The log book registers the school’s first Ofsted inspection in June 1998, just three days after an RE inspection. The inspectors were on-site for three days, in the midst of the school’s 125th anniversary. Festivities had to be deferred to the end of term when the school celebrated by having an old-time music hall concert and a barbecue.
By 1999, there were 99 children on roll in three classes and space had once more become a pressing issue. The log book noted the school was “more than crowded” but the LEA would not grant another classroom. This escalated beyond anyone’s imagination in the summer when a tent was loaned by the South Marston Recreation Committee to provide shaded outside activities. The Evening Advertiser ran an article which was soon picked up by the national newspapers and Central TV. The story became exaggerated, suggesting the tent was being used as a classroom, and finally led to even being mentioned in Parliament by the then Spokesperson for Education, Theresa May. Mr Norman had been away for a few weeks whilst this was happening and lamented that he’d missed all the fun! The school finally became a four-class school in September 1999 but, without room elsewhere, the hall had to become a classroom once again.
Ray Norman and pupils. Courtesy of South Marston C of E Primary School
Ray Norman penned his last entry in the log book in July 2000, as he left to become headteacher at Lethbridge Primary School:
“So this is my last entry, over nine years South Marston has possibly had its greatest period of change. The school has grown to around 100. There are now 4 classes, the school runs its own budget. It was always a good school but I feel I leave the school in better shape than I found it. By a number of indicators, it is a very good school: Ofsted, Basic Skills Chartermark, the best SATs results in the area, superb staff (everyone), a tremendous governing body, supportive parents, super children. Time to leave. I wish my successor Gill all the very best. I have every confidence that she will continue the good work – in her own way. I am very proud of South Marston, the future begins now…”
Gill Lewellyn became Acting Head in Autumn Term 2000, the position becoming permanent at Easter 2001.
As mentioned above, space was an ongoing issue and a planning application to build on the mound area in the school grounds was deferred in November 2000 due to residents’ objections. The mound was subjected to archaeological investigation at school expense and was found to have no historical significance. Despite this, an alternative site had to be found and planning permission was finally granted in early 2001 for a building behind the mound, necessitating the filling of the school pond. The new building was officially opened in September 2001 and housed Class 1, Pre-School and an ICT suite.
Mrs Llewellyn (3rd from right) and staff on Red Nose Day 2001. Courtesy of South Marston C of E Primary School
Other improvements during this period included a new headteacher’s office. The head’s office was the small room off the school office (now reconfigured as the reception area) but a new, larger space was provided in 2003, and was much appreciated by Mrs Llewellyn. It remained the Head’s office until about 2018 when, after a further extension provided extra space, it became an additional learning room.
A new pond was opened in 2004 beside the mound, being maintained by Year 6 children under the expert guidance of village resident, MC. It remained in place until 2021, finally being filled in due to the cost of maintaining it.
In 2007, the whole school was involved with the GW Forestry Commission funded Woodland Art Sculpture Project for the newly planted Oxleaze Wood. The children worked with artist Andy Frost to create numerous small artworks and totem poles plus a wonderful, imposing sculpture of a ‘Carecrow’, several feet high, at the entrance of the wood. Everyone was immensely proud of the work and a picnic was held at the foot of the sculpture just before the end of Summer Term 2007. It was with great sadness to the whole school and village community that the sculpture was destroyed by fire in 2008 leaving only photographs of the original work to remember it by.
The Carecrow. Courtesy of Mary Faulkner
On 20th July 2007, the village was flooded following days of rain. The school term had not yet ended and it became clear by early afternoon that the children needed to go home due to another severe rainstorm. Village roads soon became impassable and several village homes were flooded. Water flooded into school, affecting the office, reception corridor and the kitchen off the hall. Staff worked until late into the evening, throughout the weekend and into the following Monday to minimise the damage and to make the school accessible for pupils to return on the 24th. The children returned for their last day of the academic year on a positive note, performing the end-of-term Abba concert that had been planned for the day before. And, as Mrs Llewellyn noted, the sun shone!
During her tenure, the school achieved and retained numerous awards, adding Basic Skills Quality Marks 2 and 3, Investors in People, an Excellence Award from DfE which included a cash award shared amongst staff, and Healthy School Awards. A further Ofsted inspection in January 2004 resulted in another good rating for the school.
Mrs Llewellyn upon a return visit to the village in 2018 with her retirement gift from the children. Courtesy of Hilary Brooks
Mrs Llewellyn retired in December 2007 having been at the school for 14 years, seven of them as headteacher. Her last entry in the log book mentioned the great team she worked with, and how she would miss the people – parents, governors, children, as well as staff. She added “I feel [the school] has developed and progressed, I am very proud of the achievement of the pupils, and of the ethos of care and mutual support.”