“Schooldays are the happiest days of your life”. Seriously? I was not unhappy at school but my happiest days definitely came after, when with my own children and grand children. One of the first BIG events on the UK school calendar is the transition to Secondary School. Back in my day we had the so-called “scholarship exam” which then became the 11+. When my Father took the exam it really was a scholarship exam and by passing it he obtained a place at the then fee paying Wyggeston Boys Grammar school. 
By the time I sat the exam Grammar Schools were free. As I recall, the entire class sat the exam in the Spring Term and just before we broke up for the Easter holidays, we were given the results. At that time Leicester had several Grammar Schools and there were nine of us girls moving on to the Wyggeston Girls.
The uniform requirements covered a couple of pages,, one for winter and one for summer , with details right down to “three pairs of navy blue bloomers” for winter and “three pairs of light blue bloomers” for summer. The main garment was a box pleated navy wool serge gym slip with a woven sash. I cannot think of a more unsuitable, unfriendly garment. The sash was always twisted and the tunic itself was best suited to flat-chested figures since curves distorted the way the hem hung. My Mother taught me how to press the pleats back in and steam out the “shine” that would develop on the back skirt. Looking back I now realise that the outlay for my uniform must have represented a considerable expenditure for my Mother who, until then, had always made every single item of clothing that my sister and I wore.
Much has changed since then and much has stayed the same. Those tiresome rules about “single file”, “keeping left”, “no talking”, “no overtaking on the stairs” and such like are all about Crowd Control and essential to the safe movement of nearly a thousand pupils through the corridors every time a lesson period ended. Am not so convinced why it was necessary to impose a rule of silence in the dining room every time the teacher deemed noise levels too high. The weirdest rule was about the pond. Pupils were only allowed to walk around the pond in threes. So if one fell in, one could stay to assist and one run for help. Back then I was able to store text books in a designated desk in my classroom and my PE shoes hung in a bag on my peg while my hockey boots resided in a wire mesh storage unit below the peg. Our exercise books all had to be covered with brown parcel paper or wrapping paper. Did the covers preserve the life of the exercise books? I have no idea!
That first term of secondary school was exciting. My first science lesson was on the subject of “does air have weight” and our teacher heated a tin can over a Bunsen Burner to drive out all the air, causing the can to collapse. In biology we were introduced to the single cell “Spirogyra” and “chlamydomonas”. I can still draw freehand maps of the main continents courtesy of our Geography teacher, Miss Richardson. Our French teacher, Mme Burgess spoke French from the moment she entered the classroom, “Bonjour mes élèves. Asseyez-vous’. Oh yes, that reminds me. When a teacher entered the room we stood up. For “Domestic Science” we had to wear a white lab coat. The first term we learnt how to wash our socks, iron our blouses, clean our hairbrushes but I was happier when we moved on to the needlework term and we sewed a blouse. Since pupils were expected to provide the fabric and dress pattern my ever-practical Mother bought two lengths of fabric to march a dirndl skirt that i had sewed at Junior School the previous year. One blouse I made at school and the other at home. Yes, I finished and wore both – with quite a bit of support from my Mother. Our needlework teacher, Miss Durnford was also Deputy Head and as I recall, she would disappear during lessons and leave us to our own devices. The two subjects that I hated were PE and Music – the latter I absolutely loathed. I simply did not understand what the music teacher wanted – especially when she picked a note out on the piano and asked one of us to “sing a note higher”. Or when she marched up and down the lines of girls claiming, “someone is singing flat”. To this day I only sing for myself while doing chores/ taking a shower. I cannot sing in company.
As I sit here reminiscing more memories float into my mind. It is 70 years since the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Our dance teacher, Miss Selby put her heart and soul into choreographing a dance event involving every girl, masses of red, white and blue crêpe paper flowers and the singing of “Land of Hope and Glory”. My path down Memory Lane was triggered by comments on the Wyggeston Girls. Grammar School Facebook Page. I recognised three of the names and well remembered the girls. So long ago . . .
Follow
When were you at Wyggy I was there from 1960 to 1965
I remember then tunics and a hat for winter and a Panama hat for the summer.
Do you remember the Dancing demonstrations that were held at the De Montfort Hall.
Miss Pedley was the Head Mistress when I was a pupil.
Yes, I do remember those elaborate dancing demonstrations in the De Montfort Hall.I was at Wyggeston from 1952 until 1955 when my family emigrated. Miss Pedley was Headmistress and she reminded me of an eagle when she strode on stage in her academic gown.
Yes I remember one dancing competition at the De Montfort Hall where we were poinsettias and had to have a big one on our head made out of crepe paper. I felt so silly.
Great memories, I remember quite clearly my first day at grammar school in London. It was the first, last and only time my dad took me to school. It was, of course a wet day, and I had to travel on two trolley buses, from Turnpike Lane changing at Tally Ho Corner. Strangely my most intense memory is that of the smell of new uniform ( slightly damp), and sitting next to my then best friend David. I can’t remember what our first lesson was though, but I do remember having to cover our books in brown paper, this was in fact our first ever homework task. Many thanks Jane for giving my memory a bit of a prod.
Wonderful blog. I started at Wyggeston in 1969 and much of this is very familiar but I had forgotten the strange rules about the pond. Not the happiest days of my life.
I hated needlework- rather linked to Miss Hopkins. However the real problem was the unremitting difficulty of managing the school’s requirements, when your own family had no money. There was something about being made to stand at the front of the class to receive tickets for free school meals I have never recovered from. I’m now 65..
Sue Hammond (nee Brown)
Awful for you. How horrible to stigmatise being poor when it’s no one’s fault, and especially not the child’s.
Hope all goes well with your knitting.
I was also there from 1968 and remember Miss Hopkins who was a force of nature. Miss Pedley was the head and Miss Staples deputy head I believe. She saw us walking home eating sweets one day and stopped her car to tell us off for eating while wearing school uniform. I have to say I hated the place although there were some nice teachers -Mr Owen for history. One unpleasant memory was when Miss Pedley told off a classmate for being upset about her parents divorce!
I recall thinking that Miss Pedley looked like an eagle when she wore her academic gown! And I was scared of her.
Does any know the name of the teacher of English 1954-1959
I recall having an English teacher called Miss Edge 1953/4
Miss Adams was my favourite English teacher. 1962-1969.
I remember having a Miss Edge for English. I left in 1955 so my teachers may have left before your time.I can recall some teachers’ names – especially those I disliked! Namely Miss Durnford who was very scary.
I was there from 1960-1965.
I remember Miss Edge but I think she taught me Latin not English.
Was it Miss Orr who taught Sport & Biology? Miss Selby was Dance
teacher.
Our Music teacher was a man & his daughter was, if I remember
correctly, in my class at one stage.
My pet hate was hockey on a freezing winter’s day when you couldn’t
see one end of the pitch from the other.
I remember running down the drive one day & copping a detention
for it.
As I lived near Groby road it was a long day, having to catch 2 busses
& a fair walk at the school end.
I still have my postcard with my “O” Level results & also my Battersea
College of Technology cook book, price 2/6.
Looking back I realise how lucky I was to have received such a good
education.
Can’t believe that Miss Selby was still there five years after I left. She was a veritable tour -de-force! And I totally agree with you about the horrors of shivering on the hockey field.