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William Cowper Street School

I went to Cowper St school, both infants and junior...what was the entrance age for infant school? I finished juniors in '51 and I believe there were 4 forms. So...5,6 or 7 years of age?

Just curious.

Dave A
 
Hi My two brother and myself attended William Cowper whilst living in Farm Street. I attach a photo of the cricket team 1960-61 with both Mr Powell ( Headmaster ) and Mr Jones ( Year 1) Teacher and Cricket coach. We trained and played on the playground - tarmac so the ball lifted quickly. I hope someone might a have a football team photograph from the same period or other photos. Mrs Burton ( Ast Head) was also a great inspiration ( music, dance, handy-crafts and art )
Pupils in the photo include: Arthur Bent , John Shakespear, Jonny Vincent, Brian Ford, Paul Cornfield etc.
Ps will attach photo later....
 
hi cowperkid...a new school william cowper county community primary was built on the site of the old william cowper school in fact the old school bell is on display in the new build...my dad was the school crossing man in the 90s

lyn
 
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Astoness said:
hi cowperkid...a new school william cowper county community primary was built on the site of the old william cowper school in fact the old school bell is on display in the new build...my dad was the school crossing man in the 90s

lyn
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Hi Lyn thanks for the info I did not know that , I apologize to Mark my mistake hope I didn't offend anyone .
 
thats ok cowperkid no offence at all...unless you still lived in the area you would not have known...all the best

lyn
 
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John Young said:
mikejee thanks for the wonderful nostalgic photo of a proud and well loved building that had served it's generations of local people so well Gina I agree that there is now a faceless modern edifice in place but that is more befitting the urban(e) sprawl and I would hope that the present children of "our" old School (I left 1960) enjoy (except for cane,,ouch) and learn as well as we did through the dedication of good teachers in a well known area (Between Summer Lane & Newtown Row) Well, emerging from "the ragged school"here is one Ragged Trousered Philanthropist who still thanks William Cowper(poet)for as his Idiom said, God moves in a mysterious way/his wonders to perform; but I prefer his none religious quote pertaining to us children of "his" School,,were; The light shining out of Darkness; oky dokey John
Click to expand...
 
Hi, my mom and auntie went to this school their names are Susan and Ann Scott , they lived on Summer Lane along with their other siblings Steven, Ian , Gail and Micheal and their parents Joan and Donald Scott. Does anyone remember them?.
 
Brayford50 said:
Hi My two brother and myself attended William Cowper whilst living in Farm Street. I attach a photo of the cricket team 1960-61 with both Mr Powell ( Headmaster ) and Mr Jones ( Year 1) Teacher and Cricket coach. We trained and played on the playground - tarmac so the ball lifted quickly. I hope someone might a have a football team photograph from the same period or other photos. Mrs Burton ( Ast Head) was also a great inspiration ( music, dance, handy-crafts and art )
Pupils in the photo include: Arthur Bent , John Shakespear, Jonny Vincent, Brian Ford, Paul Cornfield etc.
Ps will attach photo later....
Click to expand...
Hi..we lived opposite the school in the early 60s.. I attended the school until 1965.. I can remember Mr Webb who also ran the chess club a great teacher.... Moved out to kingstanding like a lot of summer landers....
 
Tony B said:
Hi..we lived opposite the school in the early 60s.. I attended the school until 1965.. I can remember Mr Webb who also ran the chess club a great teacher.... Moved out to kingstanding like a lot of summer landers....
Click to expand...
Tony B said:
Hi..we lived opposite the school in the early 60s.. I attended the school until 1965.. I can remember Mr Webb who also ran the chess club a great teacher.... Moved out to kingstanding like a lot of summer landers....
Click to expand...
Hi Tony b i would love to see your photo , i was at the school about the same time ,the name john Shakespeare is very familiar to me i think we might have been friends i lived the other end of Cowper street
 
Hi I went to this school until 1963.
Great school loved it was captain of skittleball team in1963.
We were champions in 1962. I remember some of those names think they might have been a year ahead of me.
 
The attachment referenced in this thread (7916) appears to be broken. Can anyone tell me if the photo is still on here please? I did a search but did not have much success but then again I am a newbie to this site. My late mother attended Cowper street I am assuming between 1935-1944 so would love to find any photos or memories from that time period. Her sister s were both likely to have attended there too. Their names were Doris, Joyce & Connie Fenton. Doris, my mum was the eldest & connie the youngest. Thank you
 
hi chjajona the photo you mention was lost when the forum was hacked some years backand the poster is no longer with us so if anyone happened to save the photo that was posted on post 11 would you kindly repost it for us please...many thanks

lyn
 
adap2it said:
I went to Cowper St school, both infants and junior...what was the entrance age for infant school? I finished juniors in '51 and I believe there were 4 forms. So...5,6 or 7 years of age?

Just curious.

Dave A
Click to expand...
Hi Dave , first start of term after age 5 I believe.
Albert
 
Brayford50 said:
Hi My two brother and myself attended William Cowper whilst living in Farm Street. I attach a photo of the cricket team 1960-61 with both Mr Powell ( Headmaster ) and Mr Jones ( Year 1) Teacher and Cricket coach. We trained and played on the playground - tarmac so the ball lifted quickly. I hope someone might a have a football team photograph from the same period or other photos. Mrs Burton ( Ast Head) was also a great inspiration ( music, dance, handy-crafts and art )
Pupils in the photo include: Arthur Bent , John Shakespear, Jonny Vincent, Brian Ford, Paul Cornfield etc.
Ps will attach photo later....
Click to expand...
Hi everyone
I to went to William Cowper School back in the mid 60s along with my brother John and sister Margaret
Mr Sims was the head I remember Mrs Burton , Mr Webb and Mr Jones
We lived in Farm St just opposite Hospital Street
Love to see some photos of my brother John Shakespeare he was a good footballer in his time
 
Pedrocut said:
The school before 1971 appears in Birmingham buildings; the architectural story of a Midland city
by Little, Bryan D. G

View attachment 169995
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Wow ! Brings back many fond memories, especially those kids in the playground....
Wow ! Where did those high rise flats appear from ?
We lived opposite the school at number 58 and left in 1966...
So the person taken the photo would be standing on site of the flattened houses....
I bet the school was next on the agenda......
 
Pedrocut said:
The school before 1971 appears in Birmingham buildings; the architectural story of a Midland city
by Little, Bryan D. G

View attachment 169995
Click to expand...
One of the best pictures of Cowper st school i have seen, always remember going there in the dark winter mornings and seeing the classrooms lights big round globe light shades , its funny the little things that stick in your mind
 
John Young said:
Adding my Thanks to Jane1960,

As an ex-Cowper Street School pupil ( a little later in the 1960,s) I will be delighted to see these photos,
I know there are some 1950,s era ex Pupils on this site (Alf,s one for sure) who will also enjoy them.
Jane ,,,Loving respect to your Mom,,& thanks again for your thoughtfulness on her behalf,,,, John
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I was at William Cowper school 1956-1962 and remember mr powell and all the other teachers. Does anyone remember the Welsh influence- we learned the song Men of Harlech and sang at least one verse in Welsh. Also remember singing at the town hall with other schools when we learned a spanish song! Can recall the tune but not the words. My best friend was Shirley Parker and also geoffrey warren and irene Gillam who had the biggest family on Summer Lane (18 children approx).
These were poor and rough days but this school was a beacon of learning and 11+ exam passes were well above what might have been expected. When I left for king Edward grammar 3 of us got scholarships that year. I owe a lasting debt to those hard working teachers.
 
cowperkid said:
Cowper st school was demolished in 1972
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Hi Mark my name is Jacqueline Williams my self and my older brother Granville attended william Cowper the old building just before it was bulldozed. I remember Mr Sims tall slim man. I also remember Mrs Burton and Mr Webb & Mrs Green. I spent most of the time in the new built school. The old Cowper school as I remember a large hall with classrooms off and a balcony which went round the entire hall with classrooms off the balcony. My mum worked at the school for a bit as a dinner lady.
 
Maragh said:
Hi Mark my name is Jacqueline Williams my self and my older brother Granville attended william Cowper the old building just before it was bulldozed. I remember Mr Sims tall slim man. I also remember Mrs Burton and Mr Webb & Mrs Green. I spent most of the time in the new built school. The old Cowper school as I remember a large hall with classrooms off and a balcony which went round the entire hall with classrooms off the balcony. My mum worked at the school for a bit as a dinner lady.
Click to expand...
Hi. Jacqueline...
Welcome to the forum.. yes , you described the school well... myself was a pupil there probably about the same time. I can recall all the teachers you mentioned and especially the classrooms off the balcony even has a child I thought they were dangerous....
I lived over the road at 58 Cowper Street and we left in 1966 and rehoused in Kingstanding .
Some where on this forum there is pictures of William Cowper School and of those classrooms....
 
Di Mills said:
Hi I went to this school until 1963.
Great school loved it was captain of skittleball team in1963.
We were champions in 1962. I remember some of those names think they might have been a year ahead of me.
Click to expand...
I was vice captain of skittleball team 1961 with lesley bow as captain. Sadly lost my medal and the team photo I had. I don’t think the game is played now. I remember the itchy short sleeved knitted wool shirts we wore !
 
Tony B said:
Hi. Jacqueline...
Welcome to the forum.. yes , you described the school well... myself was a pupil there probably about the same time. I can recall all the teachers you mentioned and especially the classrooms off the balcony even has a child I thought they were dangerous....
I lived over the road at 58 Cowper Street and we left in 1966 and rehoused in Kingstanding .
Some where on this forum there is pictures of William Cowper School and of those classrooms....
Click to expand...
Hi Jacqueline yes i too was afrade of that belcony i even had nightmars of the belcony , i remember one day a kid tried to slide down the balcony spiral hand rail but fell down the insid and hit the rail at the bottom wich sent him slideing across the hall and a dinner lady came to his rescue it could have been your mom . i loved the school dinners especialy the pudings concreat and custard was my faverite lol . i lived the other end of cowper street number 7.
 
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