EDUCATION – Coatham Grammar School – 1st Year of Prize giving
Accreditation The Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 17/06/1870
THE COATHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL
DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES
On Monday afternoon last (13/06), an entertaining event took place in the central Hall, Redcar, viz. the distribution of prizes in connection with the first annual examination of pupils of this school, the result of which has been most gratifying to both master and scholars. The parents and friends is of the scholars mustered in large numbers, and seemed to take great interest in the proceedings. On the platform were the Revs. J. Davey, headmaster; P. Rudd, vicar of Billingham; W. Milburne, vicar of Redcar; T. Robson, vicar of Marske; T. Bell, Esq., J. Head, Esq., W. Williams, Esq., and the chairman, Joseph Dodds. Esq., M.P.
Opening the proceedings the Chairman, said he had been requested by the trustees to preside at this gathering in the regretted absence of Mr. A. H. T. Newcomen, who would have been the most fitting person to have occupied the position of chairman. He then gave a brief sketch of the past history of the school, from its foundation by Sir William Turner, to its removal to Coatham, by order of the Court of Chancery. In speaking of the present position of the school he said:-with reference to the tuition the scheme drawn up by the Court of Chancery provided for the appointment of a headmaster, a second master, and such other masters as were necessary. At first they had to assistant masters, but they found the school so successful that they had appointed a third master, and he trusted the time was not far distant when they should add others. Mr. Davey, the head master, was not elected for his good social qualities -although he possessed these in an eminent degree -or to fill a sinecure office, but entirely for his special qualifications for the office. When they advertised the appointment, 120 applications were received. The trustees went very carefully through the testimonials, and Mr. Davey was an entire stranger to those connected with the school, and in his selection the trustees had displayed great wisdom. Mr. Davey being inducted into his office, about 20 scholars were found ready to receive instruction, and now he was glad to say the number had increased to 60, which was almost as many as the school would accommodate and already the expediency of extending the accommodation for Borders and other scholars was felt. Mr. Dodds concluded by reading letters of apology from the Venerable Archdeacon Churton, Rev. A. E. Clementi Smith, Coatham, Rev. T. Jones, Stockton, Rev. J. Postlethwaite, Mr. Bolckow, M. P., Mr Samuelson, M. P., Capt Swan, Mr Commissioner Ayrton, Capt Hay, R. N., Rev A. C. Smith, Middlesbro’, &c, &c.
The Rev. P. Rudd then read the following report on the examination.
“Coatham Grammar School.
” Examined, June, 1870.
“Report.
The Coatham Grammar School, of which I have just completed the examination, has not been opened quite a year -a short time only for the Master to become acquainted with the attainments and dispositions of his boys; and for the boys to settle down into good working order. For my own part, I confess I did not expect any very marked result from the time. I have however been greatly surprised. The result is far surpassed my expectations. The work, comprising the usual subjects taught at grammar schools, has on the whole being well done; evincing great care on the part of the masters, and attention and (in a large number of cases) great ability on the part of the scholars. I could name 10 of 12 boys on the several forms, who, according to their ages, would be a credit to any Grammar School. If in some instances boys, who had done fairly in some subjects, were not so good in others which were new to them. If you’ve months ago, that was only reasonable to expect. But as a whole the boys have shown great proficiency in most of their subjects. And I will say that the Coatham Grammar School so recently opened, but already beginning to outgrow its present accommodation, will (if it continues as it has become) some win for itself a good place on the old grammar schools of the North.
“PHILLIP RUDD, M.A.,
“Redcar of Billingham Hall, Fellow of
University College, Durham..”
The Chairman next proceeded to distribute the prizes to the boys, prefacing the presentations with a few appropriate remarks.
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