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Waterloo Primary School is located on a busy cross roads known locally as 'Spen Corner' and takes it's name from the road which passes in front of the school buildings, Waterloo Road. Work on the original school buildings began in 1906, with first intake of children starting in 1907. The school initially had two Head teachers. Mrs E.A. Walton was the headmistress of the infants (1907 - 1913) and Mr G.R. Mills was the headmaster of the seniors (1907 - 1921), now known as the juniors.
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1904 - 1909
When Waterloo School was opened in a small tin building on the 11th April 1904, there were a total number of 88 children on roll. These children were of mixed age and ability, working in very cramped conditions, especially when, by the end of the month, there were 191 children on roll. It took several weeks before the infant children had desks to work on or even the materials to work with. Unfortunately, in December, the school was closed for a total of 5 weeks due to the measles epidemic.
1906 brought the laying of the cornerstone of the new school (the present Waterloo School)
School was closed on October 6th 1906, for all the children to walk down to the Promenade to watch some motor racing. The new school was finally opened on May 27th 1907, with 237 children in the senior school and 126 infants in a separate department.
Like many schools, Waterloo was often affected by epidemics of whooping cough, measles, chicken pox and flu. One such case was when an epidemic of scarlet fever lasted at the school for 4 months.
Unusual weather conditions ranged from heavy snows and rain falls, which often led to large absences, to temperatures of 81 degrees inside the school building.
1910 - 1919
Many changes took place during 1910, including the alteration of the school academic year. This was changed from April 1st to August 1st. Children under the age of 5 were not allowed to go to school (and this was checked) unless a birth certificate was shown, as this was required for registration to the school.
On June 20th 1911 the school closed for the Coronation. The following year a Royal visit to Blackpool closed the school for 3 days. In 1913, all school children were presented with commemorative medals of the Kings visit, by the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool.
Miss Hoyle became the Headmistress of the infant department on September 1st 1913. The infants moved into their new building (with the school) during April 1915.
A typical timetable of this era, included raffia work, cutting and pasting, object making, drill, paper modelling, reading, writing, number, story and dramatisation. Class numbers had risen steadily over the years, to where there were 65 children in a single infant class. These numbers were a common occurance throughout the whole school,especially as the leaving age was raised to 14 years.
A flu epidemic in 1918, closed the school from November 6th until January 6th, the following year.
1920 - 1929
On May 20th the Memorial Window was revealed. This contained the names of past pupils who had died during the First World War. Children at the school had the opportunity to watch the eclipse on April 8th 1921.
This year also brought the Prince of Wales to Blackpool - Standard I were taken to the middle walk to see him.
Tests were regularly taken, and an example of the questions included - I have just smashed 17 eggs and have 43 left. How many dozen eggs did I have to start with? (Age 8 test) 953 x 4 (Age 7 test)
At Christmas, a breaking up concert, cards, Father Christmas and presents (sweets and oranges) were a welcome break after taking the intelligence tests.
By 1924, money was being raised for the War and National Savings. This year alone £5000 was raised throughout the whole school.
The school children were usually rewardied for good attendance or collecting monies with either a half day or full days holiday.
During the summer of 1925, the structure of the school was again changed. From September, the infant department would not include a Standard 1 class, and the 11+ children would leave school in the Midsummer.
Children were presented with boxes of chocolates, gifts off Alderman Bickerstaffe, Mayor of Blackpool, on the 21st January 1926, due to the Jubilee of the Incorporation of the Borough of Blackpool.
Throughout this decade the numbers of pupils on roll meant that most classes had up to 60 children on their attendance register.
1930 - 1939
By the 1930 there were 684 children on the registers for the junior school (accommodation for 480), and 300 infants divided at this time between 6 classes. Fortunately, the girls' department opened on February 28th of this year. They opened with 358 girls divided into 7 classes. This meant that on average, a class size was of arouund 50! ( By September, this had risen to 55 ).
December 10th 1934, a wireless receiving set was given to the school.
1935 brought about mixed fortunes for the school, as it was decided that the school was oversubscribed, and a new catchment area was set up. The girls' department were already teaching 80 of their children at Holy Cross.
Milk was supplied to pupils for the first time, at a cost of half penny per bottle. During May, children were presented with medals, brooches and tins of sweets in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee.
Unusually, May also brought a heavy snowstorm that prevented the majority of children from coming to school.
December, took the children to the Opera House to listen to the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as participating in their first fire drill. ARP inspection and evacuation rehearsals, as well as the fitting of gas masks commenced during 1938.
By 1939, and the outbreak of war, children from nearby Manchester were evacuated to Blackpool. Waterloo School shared their accommodation with lily lane Infants (Manchester) and Simms Cross (Widnes). The use of Holy Cross was by this time a necessity, in order to accommodate over 1000 children now registered at the school.
1940 - 1949
By May 1940, 5 Anderson Shelters had been constructed. This had been increased to 21 by November of this year - 7 in the Junior Boys' playground and 14 in the park, Junior Girls and Infant playgrounds. Air raid practices were a regular part of school life, and therefore school was expected to be emptied and inside the shelters within 3 minutes of the sirens being sounded, which would often last up to an hour.
Due to large numbers of children, the classes continued to be divided between the school, holy Cross and the Wesleyan Mission Sunday School. This caused many problems, including lack of stock and quite often teachers.
However morale was still high, as Blackpool "Wings for Victory" wekk opened on April 3rd 1943. Each department had set itself a target. The infants - £350 and the boys - £600. The whole school managed to raise £4677, and Blackpool school children raised £119,364. This was a magnificent total for one week. As a reward all children were given an extra days' holiday.
Normality of school life, was on the whole continued, as the children from all departments were able to make educational visits to Lancaster Castle, Fleetwood Docks and the Tower Zoo. Locally the children were able to visit the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, ballets and Peter Pan.
During the decade, Special Church Services took place each month.
Evacuated children began to return home in the months following the end of the war. The American Red Cross supplied 1lb of milk chocolate powder to the children.
The Royal Wedding and the birth of Prince Charles closed the school for further celebrations.
1950 - 1959
The 1950's began to bring about many changes to the school, as well as to Britain. In 1951, it was decided that new entrants to the infants department would be admitted the month following their 5th birthday. February 1952, the King died. This was followed in 1953 with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, 41 girls and 3 teachers were fortunate to visit London to see the Coronation route and other chief places of interest. All school children were presented with souvenirs of the Coronation.
In November of this year, Holy Cross ceased to be used for school dinners. Instead, the children were able to eat their dinners in the school hall.
Princess Margaret visited Blackpool on July 5th 1954. Waterloo children walked down to the promenade where they watched the Royal visit in their allotted places.
On May 2nd 1957, Waterloo School celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the present school. The daughter of the mayor, who laid the original corner stone presented the school with the silver trowel and gavel used at the 1906 ceremony. A joint service of the three depertments took place, including hymns, prayers and readings. May 3rd was given as a holiday to mark the celebrations.
By the end of the Fifties, the school was accommodating a large number of children from the armed services.
1960 - 1969
September 1st 1960 saw yet another change to the structure of Waterloo School, when the boys, girls and infants departments amalgamated.
The Headteacher of this 'new' school was Mr Kenneth Fillingham, who had taken over as Head of the boys school in 1951. There were 162 infants and 304 juniors.
New lighting, boiler, display boards, wireless set, re-painting of the school, re-laying of the hall floor, and new blackboards fitted all took place during the 1960's.
Children made several visits to Chester during this time to visit the walls, cathedral, zoo and museum.
1970 - 1979
July 1970 brought changes to the boiler, as work began on converting from coke to oil. This work was finally compleated in October.
During the early part of the Seventies, the school suffered regularly with power cuts, due to strikes.
On March 29th 1974, Blackpool Education Authority ceased to exist, and Waterloo School bacame part of Lancashire Education Authority.
At 9:50am on May 3rd 1974, the school was evacuated due to a bomb scare. This had been a general scare to all Blackpool schools. Fortunately, all the children were able to return to the school after an hour.
On the 10th July 1974, 2 children along with Mr Fillingham took the silver trowel and gavel to the Town Hall. These items had been presented tothe school in 1956 as part of the 50th Anniversary of the school.
1977 brought about many celebrations including the Queen's Silver Jubilee, where the children were presented with souvenir spoons. This year also saw the SERF unit admitting their first 4 pupils, all of infant age.
1980 - 1989
The school began the decade with a new Head (Mr Pilkington). as Mr Fillingham retired following 29 years service.
The Summer Fayre of that year was opened by Cannon & Ball. They were followed in the coming years by The Krankies, Russ Abbot, Lenny Henry, Les Dennis, Anne Nolan, and Paul Stewart (footballer).
School visits have always been a very important part of education, and the Eighties were no exception, as the children throughout the school were able to visit Blackpool Zoo, Townley Hall, Brockhole National Park, Anfield Football Ground, Liverpool Museun, Cathedral & Planetarium, Leighton Hall, Heron Corn Mill, Glasson Dock & Marineland (Morecambe), Malham, Martin Mere Wildfoul Trust and Rufford Old Hall.
This era in school was a mixture of celebratory, as well as very sad times. A huge amount of work was carried out, including decorating, relaying the roof and floors, and refurbishing classrooms, as well as creating two classrooms from the Infant Back Hall
Enough money was raised to buy a mini-bus, the children competed in the Inter School Sports and many school productions too place. The Eighties however, were also a time of disruption, as many staff were caught up in strike action.
In April 1989, Mr Huggins was appointed as Deputy Head of the school.
However perhaps the saddest part of school life, was first of all the death of Mr Fillingham in 1982. This was followed by the Abbeystead disaster, in which the Deputy Head died (1984). Finally in 1989, Mr Pilkington died aged only 46.
1990 - 1999
During the transition time leading to Mr Rawcliffe's appointment at Waterloo School, Mr Parkin took over as Acting Head. Mr Rawcliffe took up his appointment as Head of Waerloo School on January 8th 1990.
In 1990, the school was visited by Glenys Kinnock, as well as Mr Costin, a war veteran.
The Nineties like all the other decades have seen many changes to the school. Teachers have come and gone like many pupils, but the atmosphere has never changed. The children have always tried their uttermost to please, and succeed. This has been seen through the children participating in many external events - Joseph & His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat ( Winter Gardens), football and netball matches, competitions for sport, poetry & story writing, designing posters, and musical activities.
The school has been extended over the last 10 years, to include 2 new Reception classrooms, a new library, Nursery and SERF unit. However, not all the changes have been external, as the school is equipped with a computer suite that will cater for a class of 32 pupils, as well as every classroom being fitted with ineractive White Boards.
When we look at these changes, and remember how fortunate we are, we should try to remember what it would have been like 100 years ago arriving at school on that first day with very little equipment and furniture to work with. According to OFSTED;"Waterloo is a very good school".
All the staff, pupils and parents of the school would agree with this, which is why 100 years later, Waterloo School is a thriving, well respected school in Blackpool.
Please click on any of the pictures below, this will open the picture for you to view at full size. If you move the mouse towards the top left or top right of the picture you can select the next picture to view... Enjoy our Old Photographs
Hello from New Zealand, the two photos I recognise are numbers 11, the girl on the boys right in Welsh Costume is my wife, she is also in photo 12 the girl dressed in the Welsh Costume.
The year is obviouslsy the 1953 Coronation.She was then Gloria JONES aged 8 and was living in Hemmingway Road, Blackpool. In 1964 she married in Waterloo Road Methodist Church and then emigrated to Australia, living Sydney,Perth and Melbourne.In 1966 we went to New Zealand and now live in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty.I have attached an original photo of the same event, is yo have access to any more photos of her we we would be grateful for any as we are currently doing the family tree.
John McCOY
Tauranga Bay of Plenty New Zealand
Hi There
Just had a look at the site and I see you have another photo with my wife
she is the little Welsh girl at the right end.She was then Gloria Jones, picture again taken in 1953
Just has a thought about the photos on history page, the photos of children in regional costumes could have been celebrating the Festival of Britain.This was held in 1951 and was a celebration of Britains recovery after world war 2 and of her science and Industry.
John and Gloria McCOY
Tauranga New Zealand
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Congratulations on the glowing report! 
Waterloo Win Animation Award! 
