Our History

Saffron Green School

1954 to present day

Nicoll Way Boreham Wood

Opened as Saffron Green County Primary School on May 3rd 1954.  The staff were : Mr G N Goodban - headmaster to 1968, teachers : Mr Lewis, Mr Duke, Mr Mealing, Mr Morris, Mr Edmonds, Mr Jones, Mrs Furniss, Mrs Gilbert, Mrs Cook, Mrs Lord, Miss Blandford.  The cleaner was Mrs Chacksfield, the caretaker Mr Percival to 1962 and the clerical assistant Mrs Myers.  The cook was Mrs Davies until 1970.

From the start the school was overcrowded as only Kenilworth and Furzehill Junior Mixed Infant schools were serving a rapidly increasing community.  There were 390 children on the roll which included 161 infants.  Most infants were transferred from Furzehill School and the Sunday School behind All Saints Church.  The juniors were transferred from High Canons at Ridge and there were another fifty who were new to the area and due to start. The log recorded :

"The school had seven classrooms, with a normal accommodation of 280 and it was necessary to arrange one class of Top Infants in the dining hall and two classes of Lower Juniors (71 in all) in outside accommodation at Manor Hall, Manor Way.  These latter were able to come to Saffron Green for certain classes and for dinner.  Thus the school was overcrowded from the start although fourth year Juniors due for transfer to Secondary Schools had remained at High Cannons".

Furthermore the school was not fully completed and the grounds were a mess.  The area that was intended to be the infants playground had become the site for two extra classrooms so they had to share the juniors' play area.

The school served dinners to 120 children.  A telephone was not installed until 28th May.  The first manager’s meeting was held on 3rd June at Furzehill School where subsequent meetings were held for several years after.

In September 1954 thirty-two five year olds were admitted and there were twenty waiting admission.  The roll was 421 and the main hall had to be used as a classroom.  The grounds were turfed and seeded.

In January 1955 the two new classes had been installed although not fully fitted.  There were now 488 on the roll and in April only ten out of twenty-four infants were admitted.  In July, three international students visited : one from Egypt and two from Finland.  The first open evening for parents took place on 21st and there were exhibitions of work from all the classes.  Infants showed number and written work and reading scheme.  The juniors showed models, craftwork, and gave demonstrations of Country Dancing and PE.  There were also songs by the choir and verse speaking. 

In July 1956 the juniors had Schonell Tests for vocabulary, arithmetic, silent reading, and composition.  After the 11+ exam fourteen pupils went on to grammar schools : Queen Elizabeth Girl’s and the Boy’s schools in Barnet and Boreham Wood Grammar School.  The remainder went mainly to Hillside Secondary School.  However the school was still overcrowded.  The log 10th January 1957 :

"32 five year olds on the waiting list cannot be admitted - offered a place at High Cannons, until Monksmead Infant School opens.  Number on roll 490".

In February thirty-three infants were transferred to Monksmead.  In April there was an epidemic of whooping cough and mumps among the infants.  Ten of these left that term for the new Catholic School, St Theresa’s in the village, but despite this seventeen new children had to go to Monksmead because there was no room.  Mrs Simmons was appointed from High Cannons.

In autumn 1957 there were outings to Whipsnade Zoo and Canvey Island with a trip up the River Thames, area sports with other schools and a dancing display for Civic Week.  Teachers at this time were : Miss Blandford, Miss Willey, Miss Macdonald who became Mrs Divall the next summer, Mrs Ross - music, Mrs Eggle - art, Mr Rees, Miss Tallet - infants, Mr Simmonds, Mr Grey, Mrs Risley, Miss Driscoll, Mrs Franks, Mr Sherman, Mrs Tandy - needlework who was superseded by Mrs Wells.  The secretary was Mrs Fitzgibbon to 1958 then Mrs Wells then Mrs Wadsworth.  A flu and cold epidemic left classes at Manor Hall with just 50% attendance.  In July the lease at the Hall ceased.

In the autumn of 1958 there were 380 on the roll and the continuous overcrowding meant that classes were held in the main hall, the dining hall and the staff room. 

1959 Mrs Eggle left to work part-time at Campions Secondary Modern School.  The school was used as a polling booth which gave a day’s closure and lettings were tried but were found unsuccessful due to misuse.  In July eighty-one children left for senior schools: fifteen to Grammar schools, 13 to Hillside Secondary Modern School and 53 to Holmshill School, newly built, but thirty of the latter were to go to Hillside when a new extension was ready.

A day’s holiday was given for the marriage of Princess Margaret to Tony Snowdon on 6th May 1960.  In that year there were inter schools music festivals and swimming lessons at Aldenham Lodge in Aldenham.  In March 1961 the London Theatre Company presented Pinnochio at the school with Dame Peggy Ashcroft in attendance.  In January 1962 the school achieved its nominal roll of 287 children.  The new secretary was Miss Critchley until 1964.  There was a visit to the A1 dairies Bottling Factory at Whetstone and farm at Brookman’s Park.

Nativity Play - 1980s
 

In 1963 eight under fives were admitted for the first time and in April thirteen out of a waiting list of fifteen entered.  Mrs Castle left and went to Woodlands Infant School.  In February 1964 Mrs Jones became the secretary until 1965 and the ‘Colour Factor’ was introduced into the maths curriculum.

In 1965 there were 226 on the roll.  Swimming was now taken at Bushey Pool in Bushey but the following year it was taken at the Thatched Barn Motel on the A1 By-pass.  The caretaker was Mr Farmer.  In December 1966 the log recorded :

"A chicken pox epidemic has lasted for six or seven weeks.  During the last three weeks attendance was down to 50 to 60% in some classes.  Plays to parents had to be cancelled because of absence due to chicken pox".

Miss Joyce Pilon started teaching at the school in September 1967.  January 1968 it snowed heavily for a week.  There was a 60% attendance and staff were delayed or did not manage the journey to school.  School started later and ended earlier.  In May swimming was cancelled for three weeks because of the cold weather.  Mr Chant was the new headmaster until 1972.

In 1969 the new indoor pool in Elstree Way was used for swimming lessons.  In October a pupil, Peter Bibb, was selected to help Magpie, a television programme, interview the Apollo 11 astronauts; Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (the first men on the moon).  He met them at the Hilton Hotel in London and two days later 16th, he appeared on the Magpie programme to relate his experience.

In 1971 some pupils went to Cuffley Camp for a week and the school had its first swimming gala.  This led to a succession of sponsored swims for the British Heart Foundation.  There was also a visit to the television studios at Shepherd’s Bush for the children’s programme Crackerjack accompanied by Mrs Tovey and Mr Jones.

September 1972 Miss Chamberlaine was headmistress until 1981, Mrs J Disborough was secretary and Mrs P Verringer, assistant cook at Holmshill School was made cook in charge at Saffron Green.  In October there was ‘intense sadness’ because a six year old girl had passed away.  A Harvest Festival resulted in forty-six parcels distributed to the ‘old folk’.  The school was closed for a holiday 20th November to mark the Royal Silver Wedding anniversary.  The next week the school had its first Christmas Bazaar which was held to raise funds for PE apparatus.  £176 was raised.  Never Go With A Stranger film was shown to warn of the dangers of unfamiliar people.

Autumn 1973 a new pathway to the infant playground was laid in order to avoid the main driveway.  Mr Crampton was the caretaker.  14th November the school was closed for the wedding of Princess Anne to Mark Phillips.  In January 1974 there were 184 on roll and in September the number had fallen to 109.  Two classroom helpers had been appointed: Mrs Richardson and Mrs Drake who was superseded by Mrs De Turberille who became a Welfare Assistant. 

1974 Boreham Wood schools converted to three-tier and Saffron Green became a First School taking children ages four to nine.

1975 the cook Mrs Verringer left and was replaced by Mrs Cross, Mrs Stone retired.  Mrs Donaghay was the Nursery Nurse and was still at the school in 2001.  Road Safety slides of the Tufty Club were shown.

In September 1976 there were 120 on roll but this increased to about 135 in the main school with forty in the nursery and remained at these levels for the next few years.  In 1978 there was a PTA and Mrs Bright was the chairman.  The welfare assistant was Mrs Evans.

Schools had always had a half term in February in which Friday and the following Monday were taken as holiday.  In modern times, (post WW2) Easter breaks had been three weeks.  In 1980 this changed and a whole week was awarded every February and the Easter holiday was shortened to two weeks. 

School Photo - undated

In 1981 Miss Porter was appointed as headteacher until 1991.

In 1982 the school library opened for the borrowing of books.  In February 1983 the school had to close for three weeks as there was no water.  A water main had burst outside the school and could not be repaired as employees of the Water Board were on strike.  The infant children had to go to Meryfield and the juniors to Holmshill School. 

In 1985 Miss Pilon retired after eighteen years service.  Ann Tovey had been a supply teacher at the school and was appointed a permanent position.  She was also an ex-pupil.  The 1986 Education Act brought about the introduction of INSET and Baker days for staff training.

1990 January, gale force winds blew down three hawthorn trees outside the nursery fence and in October there was an outbreak of chicken pox. 

Mrs J Cook was appointed headteacher in 1991 until 1995.  Mr Eric Dyer replaced Mr Cait as caretaker and he was still there in 2001.  Colour names were given to classes : Nursery - yellow, Reception - orange, Year One - purple, Year Two - blue, Year Three - red, Year Four - green.  The children attended helicopter rides which were organised by the Mayor’s office.

Autumn 1992 a new ‘tuck’ trolley was introduced to ‘swell’ school funds by selling snacks at break times.  After school clubs began between 3.15 pm to 4.00 pm during October to November and April to July and covered subjects such as art, drama, cookery and football.  A new accounting system was introduced in 1993.  In October 1994 there was an outbreak of german measles.  Friends of Saffron Green began.

Staff photo - November 1993

In 1996 Mrs Geraldine Louch was appointed headteacher and she held that position until 2001 when the post was taken by Deborah Purret.

In 2000 Herts County decided to change all their schools in Boreham Wood back to a two-tier system and Saffron Green became a primary again taking children from four to eleven.  In 2001 there were 154 children in the main school and thirty-one in the nursery.  New extensions were added to accommodate the extra children who now remained until they were eleven instead of nine years.  The old nursery and library became classrooms and a new library and nursery were added.  The uniform was green top and grey trousers and skirts.  The school badge was a gold hart and a squirrel divided by a horizontal bar and encircled with the school name.

If anyone from Saffron Green reads this - please update us with the last twenty years at your school!