School days

A typical day at a primary school including assembly with prayers, milk and cod liver oil, an afternoon nap, and games in the playground.

A broad and practical curriculum at this Essex secondary school in 1949 includes childcare, cookery and woodwork for both boys and girls. In 1952 the film maker, Lew Broom, made an ambitious film of H.G. Wells’ ‘The War of the Worlds’ with the local community at Clacton.

A silent film of activities throughout the day at the East Anglian School for Deaf and Blind Children.

A silent film of a big day for staff and pupils as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh inspect the new secondary school, the first to be built at Harlow new town.

Cooking carrots and custard – this film about preparing and serving school dinners also provides a view of child nutrition and work for women with families.

A professionally made film directed by John Krish for the National Union of Teachers presenting Beechwood County Primary Junior School, Luton.

Children empty their pockets and display their most precious belongings in this television magazine film.

A sound film looking at some teaching techniques and the career prospects for pupils with a range of hearing problems.

Mathematics is everywhere! Pupils of Cottenham Village College look at examples of shape, number and measurement around the school and the local community.