Holy Rood looks back on 40 years

1:43pm Tuesday 8th January 2008

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ITS pupils used to be scattered all over Swindon, but Holy Rood Junior School is today celebrating 40 years at its Upham Road base.

The Catholic school first opened in 1899 on Groundwell Road as Holy Rood Primary, but was found to be too small.

As a result, youngsters were taught in rooms at Dominic Winters auction house in Maxwell Street and Gilberts Hill School before the new school opened its doors on January 8, 1948.

And current headteacher Sally Inskip said a lot had changed in 40 years.

"The curriculum is much narrower now, more rigid," she said.

"Teachers are under more pressure than they were before. But when I first started teaching there were no teaching assistants. It was a question of sink or swim."

Mrs Inskip feels that the curriculum allowed staff to give more time to children whereas now it is more about achieving standards that have been set.

Classes are more diverse, with a wide mix of children from all over the world.

To reflect that, the school has teaching assistants who are Goan, Italian and Polish and also has six Polish students and 85 Goan students.

The strong community feeling present in the school is reflected in its staff, some of whom are ex-pupils. Marie Sefton, Melanie Roberts and Marie Ouldridge are all former pupils who became teachers and decided to go back to their alma mater to work.

All of the teachers have fond memories of their time in school. They agree that because they loved their time at Holy Rood, it made them come back and work there, to give something back to the place that shaped who they were.

One aspect of teaching in their old school which they all found strange initially was having to address their old teachers as their colleagues.

"It was very strange, calling Mrs Inskip Sally," said assistant headteacher Marie.

"She had been my headteacher and now she's my colleague."

Despite the many changes, the one constant thing has been the traditional uniform.

Speaking of its importance, Mrs Inskip says, "Doing small things well is terribly important. We tuck our shirts in, do the top button and wear our ties well."

The school will be celebrating its 40th year with a variety of events today including a mass, free dinner for the children and a buffet party for the adults in the evening.