Croxley Green History - Little Green School - Croxley Green History Project

Little Green School

. Little Green School, originally built on a five acre site, was also designed by architect David Medd. The building was constructed to reflect light and space. His design was also intended to make it possible to change the old system of desks in rows facing a blackboard.

New methods of teaching in the classroom developed by the education authorities meant that tables and chairs for the children were more appropriate. The heating and lighting systems were also very innovative. David Medd collaborated with his wife Mary, nee Crowley, also working in the Education Dept and favouring the new teaching structure.

Built on the northern part of the village close to the parish boundary with Sarratt, the school grounds retained many old trees and are set on the edge of open farmland overlooking the countryside. Little Green School with hall / stage, library, dining area plus classrooms has several areas equipped for a variety of sports facilities.

Both Malvern Way and Little Green schools opened on 6th May 1949 by the then Minister for Education, The Right Honorable George Tomlinson M.P.

William Worthy was appointed as the first Headteacher from 1949 and was succeeded in 1959 by Ron Watson who retired in 1984. Mrs Judith Exley took over for the following four years and she was succeeded by Alex Miller. Headteacher, Mr. Metcalfe was in post from January 1998 – July 2013. Mrs. Janice Tearle

The current school website can be found here http://www.littlegreen.herts.sch.uk/

Invitation to the official opening of the school May 1949

Extract from a January 1949 edition of the Croxley Community News - THOSE NEW SCHOOLS - At last it seems that the efforts of this Association over a period not of months - but year will soon see fruition so much so, in fact, that the authorities are now concerned in finding suitable names for the schools when opened, surely a most encouraging sign. It is felt by the Council that the school in Malvern Way might be so named as to commemorate the local connection with Gonville and Caius College and suggest the school be named after Dr. Keys who endowed the college with the Manor of Croxley Green. Regarding the school in Little Green Lane, as it would appear to be on land once forming part of Killingdown Farm, the Council recommend "Killingdown School" as being most appropriate in this instance. Perhaps members may have other views or suggestions to make. If so, we should be pleased to give them publicity or submit to the authorities for consideration.

1950-51 A school event can you name it ? -Mary Jefferies is seen on the far right front row

1950 - Headteacher Mr. Worthy & Mrs Worthy - Mary Jefferies 2nd row from back and 3rd from back

1950-51 Mary Jefferies is center stage -Can you help with this event?

Extract from the Croxley Resident August 1950

1952 names for the above picture - can you help with the missing names?
Back Row - Mr W Worthy ( Headmaster ), Mary Toogood, Richard Smith, Robert Lane, Johnathan Marrow, Malcolm Smith, Philip Latham, David Atkins, Colin Graham, Leah Canvin - we believe the lady is a Miss Rivers ?
2nd Row - Marion Woods, Daphne Lutchford, Celia Simpson, Barbara Clark, Pat Randall, Lynne Wallis, Jackie Hedges, Hilary Faulkner
3rd Row - Rae ( ? ), Jane Whiting, Sandra Mc Cormack, Jean ( ? ), Wendy Wilkes, Gretel Tompkins, Linda Tansley, Rachael Bennett
Front Row - David Haddon, Unknown, Trevor Denton, Greg Dean, Colin Graham, Roger M Smith

(© loaned by Lyn Dyke nee Lyn Oliver) 1952 Little Green Junior School with Mr Worthy, Lyn (Rosalyn) Oliver is third on the left in the middle row, between Rosemary and Valerie. Can you help name anyone in the photo please? So far identified is, Back row Mr Worthy, is headmaster, 3rd right, next to the teacher is Adrian Castle. Second row down, 3rd right is Jeanette Thompson. Front row is Billy Smart. Can you add more names?

(© loaned by Ann Hunt) 1952 Little Green Junior School - Front Row seated on mat ? ? Second Row seated on chairs Arthur Gray ? ? Ann Hunt ? ? Third Row standing ? ? ? ? ? ? Back Row Head teacher Mr. Worthy ? ? ? ? ? Class Teacher Please can you help to identify the other children in Ann’s class as well as the Teacher?

(© loaned by David Haddon) 1954 Little GreenSchool - Back Row: Mrs Worthy, Leah Canvin, ??, Douglas Scales, David Smallman, Jonathan Morrow, Michael Gibbons, Robert Lane, Martin Cheshire, Malcolm Smith, Lyn Walls, Mr Worthy. Third Row: Jaquline Hedges, Barbara Clark, Pat Randall, Daphne Lutchford, Marian Archer, Mary Clothier, Lynne Fairbanks, Hilary Faulkner, Celia Simpson,Carol Harman, Marion Woods. Second Row: ??, Jane Whitting, Sandra McCormick, ??, ??, Marion?, Linda Jarman, Maureen Gillam, Pat Wallis, Rachael Bennett, Gretal Tompkins, Evelyn Massey, Wendy Wilkes. Front Row: Colin Graham, Richard Smith, David Atkins, Roger Smith, Daniel Dyal, Trevor Denton, David Haddon, Rodney Pope.

1955 Another class is this the correct year and do you know anyone featured?

1959 School photograph Little Green School

1959 names for the above picture - can you help with the missing names?
Back Row: Raymond Payne - ?? - Stephen Clark - Keith Walker - Keith Wilson - Jimmy Washington - ?? - Christopher Fowler - Raymond Child
Second Row: Lynn Hawthorn - ?? - ?? - Rosemary Payne - Gill Marquen - Venia Noble - David Crump - Bill Simmonds - ?? - Nicolas Taylor - Andrew Stacey
Bottom Row: Joan Glass? - Jennifer Eldridge? - Lynn Patterson - Sheila Jarvey - Glynis Eyres - ?? - ?? - Christine Connibeare - Linda ? - Lynda Finn - Ann Taylor

1955 Are any of your family members featured here? Please can you add to the following already identified. 2nd row up 4th/5th/6th left Diane Eeles -Margaret ??- Wendy Nunn. 3rd row up 5th from the left Brian Willett

1960's A class photo taken at the entrance to the school.

1965 Can you help identify these pupils?

First Row (seated): Second Row: Third Row: far right Tony Alcock Top Row:

Between 1950 and 1970, the historian Andrew Saint once revealed, a new school was completed every day in England. He also said that “no more ambitious, disciplined, self-conscious or far-reaching application of the concept of architecture as social service can be found in any western country”. Postwar Hertfordshire, with a growing young population, exemplified this achievement. At a time of shortages in building materials they used standardised and prefabricated elements to produce elegant, humane, light-filled places of education. They were designed by the architects’ department of Hertfordshire county council, within which notable individuals took the lead.

1972 Taken at the front entrance with a class teacher- can you help identify them?

1984 - The photo is of both of the two classes of pupils that year.

1984 - The photo is of both of the two classes of pupils that year.
1st row from left: Paul Boar, Peter (Dylan) Richards, Graham Tilley, David Severy, Simon Mayhew, Mark Saunders, Darren Dawes(?), Jonathan Wragg, Craig Linton.
2nd row from left: Clare Bence, Ruth Sealey, Clair Debenham, Sarah Vincent, Melanie Rowe, Sharon Bennett, Jayne Holman, Helen Dangerfield, Sharon Price, Joanne Corley, Katherine Trainor, Clare Read,
3rd row from left: Mr Watson (headmaster), Lee Hewett, Nicky Jones, Sarah Watkins, Sarah Gunn, Helen Fisher, Andrea Tozer, Tracy Hawkins, Nicola Wharton, Brian Ausden, Kevin ?, Craig ?, Sarah Middleton,
4th row from left: Brian Marchant(?), Leyton Breed, Robert Halward(?), Simon Bennett, Justin May, Andrew Frost, Paul Kidd, Keith Biggerstaff, Unknown, Kevin Maxwell, Mr Anderson (teacher), Mary Tither (teacher)
Back row from left: Sally Perkins, Unknown, Deborah Jenkins, Joanne Thompson, Suzanne Mouncey, Alison Day, Deborah Sheldrake(?)
(thanks to Jayne Holman & Sharon Price)

Little Green Junior School c1987-89

Binkie O'Connell and Jane Tate: A Corsham Hippo, Rhino, Elephant and 3 Tortoises at Little Green Primary School

The Statues outside Little Green School

Born in 1925, Binkie (Jean) is remembered in Hertfordshire as Binkie O’Connell, sculptor of the Croxley Green school animals. Records indicate that she created the work with Jane Tate.