GREETINGS

Head Teacher’s message.The centenary is upon us and it is great to see that the pupils have entered into the spirit of this important occasion. We are all very proud to be associated with such a great place of learning. To realise that children have been coming and going for a hundred years is a very special thought.

The bomb shelter has now become a reservoir so that we can water the plants in dry periods it serves as a reminder of less peaceful times.

The weather vane, in perfect working order, shows the school has withstood the vagaries of the English climate. The old building stands firm and will, no doubt, last long into the future.

In the meantime, we celebrate the changes and look to the future with confidence and optimism. It is our hope that you will love exploring the history of the local area and its school through this website. North Ealing School always will be at the heart of the Pitshanger community.

Robert FletcherHead Teacher

From the Web Centenary Team……It has been an immense pleasure to receive all of your inputs and add them to our website. While it has been our endeavour to display all the entries received, due to limited time and limited space, it is possible that some of your photos are not seen on these web pages.

But do be assured that if you have sent us your precious memories, we have stored them safely in our computer vaults and they will always be treasured.....

We hope that you enjoy browsing through these pages and let us know what you think via our Centenary Guestbook.

The pupils and staff of North Ealing Primary School would like to say a huge thank you to all the people who have helped us discover the fascinating history of our school, from its opening in 1911 to the present 2011.

Enjoy!!

THE Story of North Ealing Primary School..

1911-1991The birth of North Ealing Primary School, as we know it today, took place way back in 1911, when Pitshanger Village really was a village and the catchment area was easy to define. 

In those days, the old school housed less than half the pupils it does today, with a single class intake and seven classrooms accommodating pupils aged 4 to 11 years. 

The Reception block was added some 20 years later, in 1930. 

Class sizes in those days were also considerably smaller, never approaching the 30 plus classes until life changed forever in those heady days of the 50’s and 60’s – the “baby boom” years.

1992-1994In 1992 the Local Education Authority conducted a survey of the school.  

It found that the main hall had not been decorated since 1977; none of the classrooms had been decorated for at least 7-10 years; the boiler house had not been touched for over 20 years (the central heating system was quite appalling); the roofs leaked; the windows were draughty, and the hut walls were rotting. 

The total cost for repairs would be over £100,000, but the amount of funds available were nothing to speak of.

1995By 1995 the situation had become serious. 

The school had reached a phase of ‘fire-fighting’, with less than £5,000 to hold the fabric together.  Teachers and parents had had enough. 

The summer of 1995 witnessed the beginnings of a long campaign to rid the school of the huts and replace them with a purpose-built school.  Parent power was harnessed: local MP’s, the LEA and the Department of Education were inundated with letters of complaint.

1996In 1996 The Governors vowed not to spend any more money repairing the huts. 

Later that year, the Health and Safety Executive produced a highly critical report on the state of the buildings, but still nothing was done. 

As a result the Buildings Committee, together with a parent who was an architect, drew up plans for a new, integrated, brick-built school (costed at around £2.5m).

The plans were ‘offered’ to the LEA to kick-start a consultation process.  It seemed to work.  The LEA was very supportive and enthusiastic, but completely devoid of funding.  However, the talking had begun. 

Later that year North Ealing had its first OFSTED inspection which said, “exceptional teaching standards….appalling accommodation”!

1997-1998In 1997 the LEA drew up its own plans, but still no funding – and they did do another audit! 

The LEA did try to get funding.  It even tried the National Lottery, and something called ‘the Single Regeneration Budget’. In 1998 the tide started to turn.  Central Government announced the ‘New Deals for Schools’ initiative, where large sums of money would be made available to refurbish and/or replace dilapidated school premises.

Well, the first phase came and went.  The LEA was allocated £3.4m to cover 14 high priority schemes, and less than £2m to cover a further 21 medium priority schemes within the borough. 

Despite a total funding of £7.5m, it was not possible to earmark enough money to complete the proposed rebuilding of NES.

But then......

...the good news finally came.  Phase III of the scheme finally provided enough funding for North Ealing School to start the rebuilding programme.  The rest is now history!

Building Evolution

Pitshanger Lane Gates

Top Gate

Building 2002..

Our School, 2002

School Tower

School Building

Working and Playing Together – still!

We had this pond then..

Our classrooms

And how it grew..

Building 2011…

Oops! Shed gone!

New Building, 2011

And the view from the Top..

Awesome!