Wow Ivydale Primary School has quite a history hasn’t it?
Ivydale Primary School stands proudly on Ivydale Road in Nunhead London. It’s a vibrant community school educating children aged 3 to 11. The school’s story is deeply intertwined with the growth of Nunhead itself.
Originally Nunhead was a small hamlet. Its expansion only took off in the mid-Victorian era. The proximity to London the famous Nunhead Cemetery and the new railway spurred rapid development. Suddenly there was a need for schools to serve the burgeoning child population.
Ivydale Road Elementary School opened in 1888. It started in temporary iron buildings. Imagine 53 children filling those temporary structures. That number more than doubled in just four weeks.
The school was initially divided into two departments one for boys and one for girls and infants. Each had its own headteacher. The original buildings quickly proved insufficient.
In 1891 free schooling became nationwide. This led to construction of a new three-story building. The cost was a substantial £30000 for its time. The children moved into their new school in August 1892.
Later additions included a laundry room for the girls and a Manual Training Centre for the boys. Regular attendance was encouraged with outings and medals. Boys went on excursions to the Bethnal Green Museum and the Tower of London. Girls however didn’t get similar opportunities.
The curriculum was traditional. It emphasized the three Rs reading writing and arithmetic. Scripture was taught daily. The school used innovative object lessons blending science geography and natural history.
Infant teaching changed rapidly. New methods focused on playful learning. Older children’s studies expanded beyond the basics to include history geography and practical skills. Girls learned needlework cookery and domestic skills. Boys received instruction in woodwork and science.
Class sizes were enormous. One teacher Mr Osborne is recorded as teaching a class of 74 children. Despite the challenges of low pay and social status teachers consistently received positive feedback.
In 1913 the school divided into three departments each with its own headteacher. The Second World War however brought a temporary closure in 1939. Children were evacuated. Ivydale reopened in 1942.
Ivydale Primary School has educated generations of Londoners. Its story reflects the social changes and educational advancements in Nunhead and London as a whole. It continues to thrive as a vital part of the community.