(In 1958/59 Lindsey County Council Education Committee decided to review the Grammar Schools in the Caistor Rural District and in early 1960 the Education Sub-committee established for this purpose recommended that the County Council close Caistor Grammar School and the pupils be sent to Brigg Grammar School, De Aston in Market Rasen and Cleethorpes Grammar School. This document was the case prepared by the Clerk of the Caistor District Council, Mr C.G. Barr, M.B.E., for the retention of Caistor Grammar School)

CAISTOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Case for the retention of Caistor Grammar School to be submitted by Mr. C. G. Barr, M.B.E., Clerk of Caistor Rural District Council, on behalf of the Governors of Caistor Grammar School, the Caistor Rural District Council, the Caistor Parish Council, and Parents of pupils at Caistor Grammar School, to the Secondary Schools Sub-Committee of the Education Committee of the Lindsey County Council at a meeting on the 18th March, 1960, at the County Offices, Lincoln.

Council Offices,
CAISTOR,
Lincolnshire

15th March, 1960

I N D E X - OF - CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

(1) This opportunity of meeting you is welcomed, and in voicing the opinions of the Governors of Caistor Grammar School, the Caistor Rural District Council, the Caistor Parish Council and Parents of pupils attending Caistor Grammar School, the recommendations of the Special Sub-Committee, which were not accepted by the County Council, will be considered, but nothing personal is intended against individual members of the Special Sub-Committee. It has been assumed that other members of the bodies referred to will also be permitted to add their own observations if they wish.

(2) Ald. Raby at the meeting of the County Council on the 19th February 1960, on moving the reference back of his sub-committee's recommendations relating to Secondary Grammar Education said

“I think we feel that our case is just as strong as ever and we do not want this (i.e. the reference back) to be interpreted as a sign of weakness on our part, but as a gesture of friendliness and warmness to hear ‘the other mans point of view’ in a friendly atmosphere”.

That statement was welcomed, and we feel that after you have heard OUR SIDE, you will agree that Caistor Grammar School should be retained.

(3) The Chairman of the County Council at the same meeting said “I hope that in view of the volume of protest that this proposal has met with and that certain factors were not fully available to the Education Committee when it met on January 8th, the Chairman of the Education Committee will agree to the matter being referred back”.

(4) Apart from those certain factors which were not available to the Special Sub-Committee, unfortunately the two Reports of the Special Sub-Committee contained inaccuracies which were accepted by the Education Committee as being correct.

2. Reasons for NOT accepting the Recommendation of the Special Sub-Committee that Caistor Grammar School be closed.

(a) Date of meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee and terms of reference referred to are inaccurate.

(b) Lindsey County Council Standing Order No. 29 not complied with.

(c) All Grammar Schools in the area should be under consideration.

(d) Reasons for recommendation in First Report.

(e) Doubts of Special Sub-Committee in their own recommendation.

(f) Proposal is contrary to the County Development Plan, to the Advertisement for a Headmaster, to the Education Minutes dated 11th April, 1958, and to the County Architect's selection of site.

(g) No consideration of revision of catchment areas.

(h) No consideration given to future development in the County.

(i) Reference to closure of small grammar schools.

(j) No community of interest.

(k) United opposition by Governors of Caistor Grammar School, Caistor Rural District Council, Caistor Parish Council and Parents.

(l) Duties of Education Committees.

DATE OF MEETING AND TERMS OF REFERENCE

3. I will deal first of all with the two reports submitted to the Education Committee, the first was submitted on the 3rd July, 1959, and is headed Item 3 of Agenda; the second is dated 15th December, 1959, and submitted to the Education Committee on the 8th January, 1960.

4. Paragraph 1 of the First Report reads -

“At the meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee on the 21st December, 1958, when the Building Programmes for 1960/61 and 1961/62 were considered, a Sub-Committee consisting of Aldermen Raby and Scholey and Councillors Clark, Fisher and Wrigley was appointed to examine and report on the problems of accommodation and development at Brigg Girls' High School, Caistor Grammar School and Market Rasen De Aston School because developments at these three schools were inter-related.”

Paragraph 1 of the Second Report Alters from

“because developments at these three schools were inter-related” to “because development at these three schools appeared to be inter-related"

6. The day the Finance and General Purposes Committee are said to have met i.e. 21st December, 1958, was a Sunday, and I doubt very much if that is correct, but let me read what the Education Committee Minutes say the terms of reference were -

7. This is an extract from the Minutes of the Education Committee meeting held on the 2nd January, 1959 - the minute numbers are difficult to follow, but on page 610 Minute No. 158(6) reads -

“that a special sub-committee consisting of Aldermen Raby and Scholey, Councillors F.H. Clark, Fisher and Wrigley be appointed to consider the future development of Brigg Girls' High School, Caistor Grammar School and Market Rasen De Aston School, particularly in relation to boarding accommodation.”

8. What I have just read is a recommendation by the Secondary Schools Sub-Committee, (that is, this Sub-Committee) adopted by the Education Committee and the County Council. It appears to have arisen when Ministry of Education Circular No.342 "Educational Building" was considered. It can be assumed that this circular gave education committees more freedom in selecting projects to go forward, and one can also assume that the terms of reference meant what it said - “to consider future development, particularly in relation to boarding accommodation”, namely, which future development was most urgent.

9. Indeed the Education Committee at their meeting less than eight months earlier (on the 11th April,1958, Minute No. 59(36) page 481) had considered whether the building of new boarding houses at Caistor Grammar School at an estimated cost of £90,000 should be included in their Building programme for 1959/60. There is obviously a limit to what can be accomplished in any one financial year and new boarding houses at Caistor were not included, but they were not and have not been deleted from the list of works still considered essential.

10. The Special Sub-Committee do not appear to have complied with the terms of reference adopted by the County Council.

STANDING ORDER NO. 29(3)

11. Standing Order No. 29(3) of the Lindsey County Council reads -

“When a sub-committee is appointed to consider any matter relative to a particular part of the county, the county councillor for, and the aldermen residing in, the electoral division in which such part is situate, shall, if not appointed members of the sub-committee and if it is reasonably practicable, be notified of the meeting of the sub-committee and invited to attend; provided that any councillor or alderman so notified shall not have the right of voting at the meeting of the sub-committee” -

and yet the local county councillors representing the area to be discussed by the Special Sub-Committee were never invited to attend.

ALL GRAMMAR SCHOOLS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE UNDER CONSIDERATION

12. From the second report paragraph 5, I quote -

“At present there are in the area, with which the sub-committee have been concerned, three grammar schools as under -

(i) Brigg Girls' High School; (ii) Caistor Grammar School and (iii) Market Rasen De Aston School ".

This is a misleading statement because Brigg Grammar School is in the area with which the Special Sub-Committee have been concerned. As the Special Sub-Committee's recommendation was to transfer some pupils to Cleethorpes Girls' Grammar School which is not in the area, that school, should have been brought into the discussion. In addition there are Barton Grammar School and Cleethorpes Humberston Foundation School making seven schools, not three, to be considered.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION IN FIRST REPORT

13. The Special Sub-Committee publicly denied that they had decided to recommend the closure of Caistor Grammar School when they had already decided to do so and then tried to find reasons to support the closure. Have they really prepared two cases - one for closure, one for retention -weighed the merits and demerits, and then come to a decision ? Their own reports point to the conclusion that they have only considered one side.

14 In their first report the Special Sub-Committee based their recommendation to close Caistor Grammar School on lack of adequate buildings, lack of building space, difficulty of obtaining staff, lack of amenities. They even went one stage further and recommended the possible use of the school as a school for maladjusted children.

Taking these points one by one -

Lack of adequate buildings - Of course there are not sufficient buildings - but whose fault is that ? The last permanent buildings were erected in 1930, and today are better than some of the more modern school buildings. The Governors have been pressing for improvements for years, especially for a canteen, since 1947. It is true the children eat their meals in the corridor - but only because there is no canteen, a canteen which should have been provided years ago - long before the County Development plan was compiled.

It would be interesting to know what H.M. Inspectors' report of the School in 1950 said with regard to buildings, and what action has been taken.

Lack of building space - I ask with respect one question -When did the Sub-Committee inspect sites that are available for the extension of school accommodation ? Certainly not before their further report was prepared.

Difficulty of obtaining staff. - At the moment the School is fully staffed and very well qualified for the teaching of science, and at no time has there been staffing difficulties which have not been experienced at other comparable schools.

Lack of amenities - I will not bore you with listing the amenities in Caistor they are equal to any other small town, and television reception is excellent.

School for maladjusted children - The Sub-Committee recommended this to be sited in Caistor which already has a Mental Deficiency Hospital and, incidentally, a League of Friends doing useful work to bring a little happiness to the lives of the patients. Is there not a limit, both of personal service and financial, to what can be expected from Caistor people ?

15. Later these reasons were withdrawn and in the further report, although the paragraphs relating to Brigg Girls' High School and Market Rasen De Aston School remain almost identical to those in the First Report, those relating to Caistor Grammar School were re-written, and only one reason quoted supporting the proposal to close Caistor Grammar School. i.e. on the grounds of :- "Difficulty of one form entry school".

DOUBTS OF SPECIAL SUB-COMMITTEE IN OWN RECOMMENDATION

16. At this stage it should be made quite clear that there is no objection to Market Rasen De Aston School becoming a mixed school if that is the wish of the inhabitants of the Area to be served by a mixed school I will however quote from the further report Recommendations paragraph 5(b) - Market Rasen De Aston School - "The Sub-Committee are satisfied that whatever action may be taken in relation to the other two schools, the case for admitting girls to De Aston School is overwhelming - - - ". The Sub-Committee recommended that De Aston School be converted into a mixed school regardless of Caistor Grammar School continuing as a mixed grammar school and what-ever decision is reached about Brigg Girls' High School." Note the words - whatever action may be taken - even the Sub-Committee appear to have had some doubts about their own recommendation relating to Brigg Girls' High School and Caistor Grammar School.

COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ETC.

17.(i) I do not wish to bore you with too much detail, but I must stress that the proposal to close Caistor Grammar School is contrary, first of all -

To the County Development Plan in which there was envisaged at Caistor "all facilities as are required to serve the rural area in the spheres of Secondary and further education ".

That was some eight years ago.

(ii) Secondly

It is contrary to the advertisement for a Headmaster in January, 1957. That advertisement states

"Future development - The Education Committee' s Development Plan provides for the transfer of the school to a new building on a new site in Caistor, and it is intended to build up the numbers of the school so that it will be a full two form entry school. It is not possible to say when the Authority will be able to start building for this purpose."

That was three years ago.

(iii) Thirdly

It is contrary to minute No. 38(2) on page 461 of the Education Committee Minutes of a meeting held on the 11th April, 1958, It reads -

"Caistor Grammar School

The admission of girls from Market Rasen and the adjacent villages would have a serious effect on the numbers at Caistor Grammar School and if the school was to reach two form entry level it would be necessary to increase the number of boarders.

The Development Plan provided for this to be done and also for the school to be transferred to a new site because of the difficulty of bringing the premises up to the required standard on the present site."

The question of future building had been discussed with the Headmaster and the suggestion had been made that new boarding houses might be built on the school playing field and that the existing deficiencies in teaching accommodation might be remedied by building on the site now occupied by the boarding houses which were adjacent to the main school buildings. The County Architect had expressed the view that such a project would be possible. "

" Resolved (by the Education Committee and adopted by the Lindsey County Council)

(1) - - - -

(2) Caistor Grammar School - that the Director be authorised to discuss the provision of new boarding houses and additional teaching accommodation with the Governors and the Ministry of Education".

That was only some 15 months ago.

I now ask -

(a) When was the decision of the Lindsey County Council to discuss the proposals to provide new boarding houses and additional teaching accommodation with the Governors of Caistor Grammar School acted upon ? "

I submit that that discussion has never taken place and that the instructions of the Lindsey County Council have not been carried out.

(b) "Were the applicants for the post of Headmaster completely misinformed in the advertisement about the future of the School ? "

I submit that it was the intention of the Lindsey County Council to carry out its proposals under conditions which are no different today, but which will alter because of development so that a grammar school at Caistor will be absolutely essential within the next two years.

(c) "When was the County Development Plan relating to secondary and further education for Caistor amended ?"

I submit that it has not been amended nor is there any case for amending it.

The Further Report paragraph 4(a) states "- - - the site would be awkward to build on", but the County Architect say "such a project would be possible".

NO REVISION OF CATCHMENT AREAS CONSIDERED

18. The Sub-Committee state in the further report that they are of the opinion that Caistor Grammar School will become a one form entry school. That is their opinion, but that statement is not accepted.

19. The Sub-Committee have only, and I quote from their own report -

"examined various ways in which the grammar school catchment areas might be re-organised if Caistor Grammar School were closed and the children had to attend other schools. They have not examined various ways in which the grammar school catchment areas might be reorganised if Caistor Grammar School were retained. In the suggested reorganisation submitted to you by the Sub-Committee it would appear that boys and girls from Grasby would go to Brigg Schools, but boys and girls from Bigby and Somerby to Market Rasen. How much thought has really been given to the revision of the catchment areas ?

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

20. The Sub-Committee have certainly given a lot of thought to their proposal that Caistor Grammar School be closed but just how much did future development in the County take a part in their deliberations.

21. Quoting again from the Further Report - the same paragraph

5(b) referring to recommendations -

"In view of the developments forecast by the County Planning Officer at Nettleham, Reepham and Cherry Willingham, it seems likely that any available places at Lincoln will in a few years time be required for girls from these villages."

22. And that is the only reference to any consultation the Sub-committee had with the County Planning Officer or the County Planning Committee.

23. It is submitted that Caistor Grammar School must be retained because of future development in the County - Scunthorpe is expanding rapidly. There is a proposal to develop Bottesford, Broughton and other parishes in the Glanford Brigg Rural District. (What is the % of 11 + pupils obtaining grammar school education places in Brigg because of shortages of places ?).

24. Immingham is expanding; as is Laceby; and it is getting increasingly more difficult for girls to gain admission to Cleethorpes Girls' Grammar School.

Now a word about development in the Caistor Rural District.

In Caistor itself:-

(1) R.A..F. Development. If this follows the normal pattern at least 50 houses will be erected ?

(2) 25 dwellings by Private Enterprise on one site and

(3) 12 dwellings by Private Enterprise on a second site.

These last two are definite proposals and have been submitted to the County Planning Committee.

In the parish of Nettleton about one mile from Caistor

The ironstone mine is to be further developed and within two years it is anticipated that the labour force will be more than doubled to over 400 men.

Agricultural development at Rothwell is taking place and an additional labour force of 100 will be required.

There is a proposal to develop over 30 acres of land for housing purposes in Keelby which can double the population of that parish in less than 10 years.

Binbrook Aerodrome which is in the Caistor Rural District is being further developed and an additional 80 married quarters dwellings are to be erected and school places at Binbrook are to be increased - shall I say to bring that school up to some 550 places.

There is the strongest possible case for the retention of Caistor Grammar School, by amending the existing catchment area so that children living within easy reach of Caistor Grammar School attend Caistor Grammar School.

Caistor is nearer than Brigg, Cleethorpes or Barton-upon-Humber from Keelby, Binbrook and Immingham respectively.

REFERENCE TO SMALL GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.

27. Ald. Raby said at the meeting of the County Council on the 19th February, 1960 that he did not want anyone to go away with the idea that all small grammar schools will be closed. Your attention is drawn to paragraph 5(a) of the Further Report " - - - It seems clear to the sub-committee that under these conditions the continuance in the County of a number of small grammar schools is a very questionable policy and one which they themselves are unable to recommend". Exactly what does this mean ?

NO COMMUNITY OF INTEREST

28. There is no community of interest between North and South Kelsey, and Brigg. The interest is with Caistor . It must be remembered that the Founder of Caistor Grammar School lived at South Kelsey.

COMBINED OPPOSITION

29. (1) The Governors

The Governors of Caistor Grammar School have been criticised locally for not pressing the Education Committee for their requirements. The Governors have submitted proposals when considering annual estimates but have appreciated that the County Council has not a bottom-less purse and that in the end it is the ratepayer and taxpayer who find the money. They have not pressed their claims sufficiently but have been satisfied to take their turn in the long queue. From the Special Sub-Committee's recommendation they appear to have waited in vain although they accepted in good faith the assurance that their requirements would receive attention. They have registered their strong objection to the proposal to close Caistor Grammar School.

(2) The Caistor Rural District Council

The Caistor Rural District Council know that governors of grammar schools have certain responsibilities together with the education authorities. They do not seek to have any control whatsoever over Caistor Grammar School but they are concerned, as the representatives of the electors of the Caistor Rural District, with what the effect a grammar school or the lack of a grammar school has on their District. They believe that having a grammar school in Caistor has helped to stop the drift of the population from the land, and indeed the census for 1951 shows an increase in the population of Caistor itself. It must be remembered that the grammar school is an essential part of the community life of Caistor and the neighbouring parishes. The Council are concerned that if the only grammar school is closed the countryside will be less worth living in and this will be a death blow to agriculture. There will come a time when nobody will want to live in the country.

The Council have always co-operated with the County Council. They have adhered to the County Development Plan and have commenced a programme for sewerage schemes based on the priorities laid down in the Development Plan, They have approved the building of flats for single teachers but they consider that the elderly should be provided for first, and the flats will be built as soon as possible. Caistor Rural District Council have always supported the County Council in their annual estimates which include the Education rate.

(3) The Caistor Parish Council

The Caistor Parish Council is a live council. They meet regularly every month and that speaks for itself. They are progressive - their street lighting system which is claimed to be the best of any council of comparable size proves this.

The Caistor Parish Council too are concerned about the effect the loss of the Grammar School would have on Caistor. The school has always been closely associated with the religious life of the town and this influence has had an undeniable effect on the pupils themselves, especially in adult life, The records of the Juvenile Court in Caistor support this statement.

(4) The Parents.

To support the protest by the parents, I will quote section 76 of the Education Act 1944 -

"In the exercise and performance of all powers and duties conferred and imposed on them by this Act the Minister and local education authorities shall have regard to the general principle that, so far as is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure, pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents".

The parents submit that their children have received and are receiving efficient instruction and training and that to retain Caistor Grammar School will not incur unreasonable public expenditure. Indeed expenditure has never been questioned by the Special Sub-Committee since reaching their conclusion.

The parents are convinced that their children should continue to be taught in their own natural surroundings and be provided with an education which will fit them to take their place in the community. The aim should be general culture - specialisation for their chosen profession should come later.

DUTIES OF EDUCATION COMMITTES

30. There is no intention of trying to teach the Education Committee its duties, but section 7 of the Education Act 1944 is appropriate at this stage.

" The statutory system of public education shall be organised in three progressive stages to be known as primary education, secondary education, and further education, and it shall be the duty of the local education authority for every area, so far as their powers extend, to contribute towards the spiritual, moral, mental and physical development of the community by securing that efficient education throughout those stages shall be available to meet the needs of the population of their area".

The words used in the Section are "community" and "population" NOT children. It must be remembered that children will eventually grow up to take a lead instead of a part in community life as part of the population, but the primary consideration of the children must be met in conjunction with the community and population by educating them in their natural surroundings.

It is a debatable point whether large units such as three form entry and larger schools, are the best. The opinion submitted now is that there is no case for even proposing to close Caistor Grammar School, based on this section alone; as Caistor Grammar School is essential for the spiritual, moral, mental and physical development of the community to meet the needs of the population of that part of their area known as the Caistor Rural District.

31. REASONS FOR THE RETENTION OF CAISTOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

1. Situation in Lindsey and Climatic Conditions etc.

2. 6th Form.

3. Adequate staff.

4. No evidence that big units are best.

5. No evidence of inefficiency.

6. Sufficient building space for any extension.

7. Development in the County.

8. Need for additional places at Brigg.

9. Wishes of the parents.

10. Wishes of the inhabitants.

11. Part played in community life.

12. Development plan prepared with conditions which are no different today.

13. Need for the smaller Grammar School.

14. Sub-Committee not in possession of all facts.

15. Terms of reference.

16. Spirit of Pupils.

SITUATION IN LINDSEY AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ETC.

32. Caistor is situated in the north of Lincolnshire upon the western escarpment of the wolds overlooking the fertile plain and has commanding views which extend as far as Lincoln. It is the natural centre of the Rural District. The countryside is of most attractive and diverse scenery of unspoilt beauty, free of smoke from furnaces of industry. It is very pleasant and busy little country town serving as the business centre for the large surrounding area of rich farming country. The climate is dry, bracing and most healthy, as medical records will show.

There is no undesirable influence, no risk of serious interference with studies, no rowdyism and no hooliganism.

There are exceptionally good playing fields in close proximity to Caistor Grammar School.

Because of these factors Caistor is ideally situated for the provision of a grammar school and boarding houses.

33. The numbers in the sixth form are gradually being increased, and since 1957 under the present Headmaster a number of 25 has been reached. This is over 10% of all the existing pupils at the School and considered by responsible and official educationalists to be the ideal percentage of the total number of pupils at a grammar school. A total of 12 subjects are available for pupils in the sixth form and no subject has yet been requested which cannot be provided.

ADEQUATE STAFF

Caistor Grammar School is staffed by a Headmaster and 12 full time teachers ( 8 males and 4 females); one 3/5 time Art Master and five part time teachers.

NO EVIDENCE THAT BIG UNITS ARE BEST

35. The Special Sub-Committee have produced NO evidence that big units, that is three form entry schools and above, are best. It is a well known fact that juvenile delinquency tends to rise with the increased number of larger schools. In the smaller school, every pupil is known personally by all members of the staff, including the Headmaster, and consequently a personal relationship, which is to the advantage of pupils, is developed, which cannot exist in a larger school.

NO EVIDENCE OF INEFFICIENCY

36. The Special Sub-Committee have not questioned the efficiency at the school. It is impossible to compare academic results of one school with another as conditions differ. All things being equal generally speaking, the academic results are up to the national average at Caistor Grammar School.

SUFFICIENT BUILDING SPACE FOR ANY EXTENSION

37. There is sufficient building space already owned by the School for any extension, as the visit by members of the County Council to the School will have shown.

DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY

38. It is fair to assume that the Special Sub-Committee could not be aware of proposed future development in the County especially in the Caistor Rural District and contiguous County Districts when they submitted their first report.

Proposed development at Caistor, Keelby, Laceby, Nettleton, Rothwell and Stainton-le-Vale (Binbrook Aerodrome) alone makes a grammar school at Caistor absolutely essential

NEED FOR ADDITION PLACES AT BRIGG

39. Brigg Girls' High School does not require girls and boarders at present at Caistor Grammar School to bring that school up to two form entry. There is proposed development at Bottesford, Broughton and other parishes in the Glanford Brigg Rural District and additional grammar school places will be required very shortly.

WISHES OF PARENTS

40. The wishes of the parents of pupils attending Caistor Grammar School do not appear to have received the full consideration they deserve. At a Parents Meeting held in Caistor on the 29th October, 1959, when some 200 parents were present, a resolution was passed supporting the Governors in their objection to the proposal that Caistor Grammar School be closed. With the exception of the majority of parents from the Market Rasen area if a mixed grammar school is developed at De Aston School, the parents wish their children to continue their education at Caistor Grammar School.

WISHES OF THE INHABITANTS

41. At the Public Meeting called by the Special Sub-Committee and held in Caistor on the 4th February,1960, nearly 400 adults attended. They passed unanimously a resolution calling upon the Lindsey County Council not to adopt the Education Committee' s recommendation that Caistor Grammar School be closed. in addition, the County Council have received objections from numerous individuals and other official bodies in the County.

PART PLAYED IN COMMUNITY LIFE

42. The School has always been closely associated with the religious life in Caistor and this influence has had an undeniable effect on the pupils. The pupils already take their turn with other organisations in Caistor to provide tea and entertainment on the meeting day of the Friendship Club, an association of Old Age Pensioners. At Christmas they have joined in Carol singing at the Caistor Hospital. Several of the senior pupils take Sunday School classes and take an active part in the organisation of Cubs, Brownies, Scouts and Girl Guides. Without the Grammar School these children will be lost to the community life in which they now share.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN PREPARED WITH CONDITIONS WHICH

ARE NO DIFFERENT TODAY.

43. When the County Educational Development Plan was prepared it was envisaged that Caistor should be provided with a new grammar school and new boarding houses; and that the School should be built up to a two form entry school.

This was re-iterated when the present Headmaster was appointed and also again in April, 1958. Conditions relating to the number of potential pupils in the Area are no different today and indeed because of proposed future development, if there was a need when the Plan was prepared, there is more than a need in 1960.

NEED FOR THE SMALLER SCHOOL

44. In the rural areas, the pattern of settlement is such that really large schools are out of the question.

The smaller grammar school is an essential part of any rural community. An area the size of the Caistor Rural District is too large to be left without a complete town centre and the withdrawal of the staff would nearly strip Caistor of its graduate population.

SUB-COMMITTEE NOT IN POSSESSION OF ALL FACTS

45. It is submitted that the Special Sub-Committee were not in possession of all the facts to enable them to recommend that the Development Plan relating to Caistor, that is additional teaching accommodation and new boarding houses, be implemented forthwith. Had they been aware of all the proposed development, it seems obvious that they would have considered a revision of catchment areas and reached a quite different conclusion.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

46. Under the terms of reference quoted in the two reports of the Special Sub-Committee it is impossible for a conclusion to be reached. The seven grammar schools in North Lindsey, that is Barton-upon-Humber Grammar School, Brigg Girls' High School, Brigg Grammar School, Caistor Grammar School, Cleethorpes Girls' Grammar School, Cleethorpes Humberston Foundation School, and Market Rasen De Aston School, must be considered together. The total number of pupils in Lindsey should be divided so that all grammar schools have at least the minimum requirements to provide for a two form entry grammar school.

SPIRIT OF PUPILS

47. Caistor Grammar School has produced pupils who possess a spirit which the community cannot afford to lose. Reference must be made to the 25 miles march by senior pupils under terrible weather conditions to present in a dignified manner their petition to the Chairman of the County Council. Ald. Gough remarked at the meeting of the County Council on the 19th February,1960, that if all small grammar schools could produce such children as they had seen that morning, then they were doing a very fine job. Perhaps it would not be fair to quote from a local newspaper which reported in two columns news relating to Caistor Grammar School, and on the same page in the next three columns reported adverse news of a grammar school in the area with which the Special Sub-Committee were concerned.

The report is worth reading none the less.

48. Nothing more needs to be said except to quote the words of the pupils' petition -

"We the present pupils of Caistor Grammar School, respectfully remind you that in the year 1630 our founder Francis Rawlinson, provided in his will for 'the foundation and maintenance of a free grammar school to continue for ever in the market town of Caistor.'

We still wish it to continue and it seems to us that a decision by you today to close our school will be breaking faith with the past and us; for we do not consider that the reasons advanced for its closure either good or sufficient.

We therefore humbly petition that you will continue to maintain it and spend as much on improving its buildings as will bring them up to the standard of those younger grammar schools that are our friends and rivals.

We believe that if this is done, those who follow us will so acquit themselves as to be worthy of your trust and that we shall not have walked in vain."

49. HOW THE RETENTION OF CAISTOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL CAN BE ACHIEVED

1. Revision of catchment areas for grammar schools in the County.

2. Teaching accommodation and boarding houses.

REVISION OF CATCHMENT AREAS

50. Assuming that slightly over 300 pupils are required for a two form entry school, and using the figures from the further report of the Special Sub-Committee, there were 227 pupils at Caistor Grammar School at the 1st October, 1959. There are 39 boarders, and pupils are from the Market Rasen De Aston School present catchment area. Should that school be developed as a mixed school, presumably these 60 pupils would be transferred to that school. This would leave 167 pupils (227 - 60) at Caistor Grammar School.

By a revision of catchment areas there could be:

The Director of Education kindly supplied the figures relating to Keelby etc., and Binbrook, and I thank him for his co-operation.

The transfer of some pupils from the Immingham area who go to Barton Grammar School at present could also be considered,

Keelby etc., is nearer to Caistor than to Brigg by at least 7 miles.

Binbrook etc. is nearer to Caistor than to Cleethorpes by at least 4½ miles.

Binbrook is nearer to Caistor than to Market Rasen by ½ mile.

Immingham is nearer to Caistor than to Barton-upon-Humber by at least 2 miles.

These distances are shown in the Appendix I

51. If it is clearly desirable that girls in the Market Rasen area should be able to attend a grammar school in Market Rasen (Further report para. 3(b) ) then it is submitted that it is just as desirable that pupils in other places should attend their nearest grammar school.

52. The Special Sub-Committee in their first report (para. 5(b)) recommended that children should normally attend the nearer of two schools.

53. If the catchment areas are revised on the lines suggested, there would be a saving in transport costs and travelling time.

54. Additional boarding places are urgently required for R.A.F. personnel stationed in the County. As soon as it is made known that Caistor Grammar School will be retained applications for admittance to the boarding houses are expected from R.A.F. personnel already in the County and also from steel workers at Scunthorpe in respect of their children.

TEACHING ACCOMMODATION AND BOARDING HOUSES

55. Plan No. II in the Appendix shows the existing teaching accommodation. Plan No. III shows the existing school site and from this it will be seen that there is ample room for necessary additional teaching accommodation. The existing permanent teaching accommodation built in 1930 is in excellent condition and most suitable when compared with modern school buildings.

56. Boarding houses could be erected on the school playing field site or adjacent thereto which is within a convenient distance from the school. The Education Committee will be aware that this possibility has been confirmed by the County Architect.

CONCLUSION

57. Because of the overwhelming number of objections received by the Lindsey County Council against the proposal that Caistor Grammar School be closed, and because of the statement now presented to you, it is submitted that there is the strongest case for Caistor Grammar School to be retained.

58. The Education Committee have an unenviable task to satisfy the educational needs of the County and they have the sympathy of us all, but the present position is having an unsettling effect upon staff, pupils and parents.

59. With this further additional information now before you, you are respectfully asked to reconsider the whole problem, let us know today that you propose to recommend that the numbers of the school be built up by a revision of catchment areas so that the school will be a full two form entry school; that additional teaching accommodation and new boarding houses at Caistor remain in the County Educational Development Plan; and that such a plan be put into operation as soon as conveniently possible.