schools

West End School (Hemsworth Modern School/ Hemsworth Secondary School/ Hemsworth County Secondary School/ West End Infant and Junior School.)

The School was built as a BOARD SCHOOL, and officially opened on 7th January, 1907 by Jos Walton Esq., M. P. The first Chairman of the Governors was Mr.I. Burns. The first Headmaster was Mr. Geo. Maxfield, who resigned on 31st October 1927, and was succeeded by Mr. Geo. W. Moses. Mr. Moses was secretary of the Hemsworth Association of the National Union of Teachers for 13 years, and was twice the President of that organisation. In 1933 he was president of the West Yorkshire Association of the N. U. T. In addition to his professional activities he was a member of the Hemsworth Urban District Council, a vice-chairman of the Parochial Church Council, and had over 30 years service with the National Savings Movement. From 1939 he was secretary of the Hemsworth Savings Committee. and also Assembly Member for the West Riding (South) Constituency. A well known Chess player - was one of the 12 players to represent Britain at Stratford-on-Avon in 1926, and the first man to win the Sheffield Championship Trophy three times. He played for Yorkshire from 1910. An avid Brass Band fan he attended the National Championship every year.

The New Building

An early school photo of pupils at West End - Miss Palmer

R. H. Gilbert School
This school no longer serves as a day school. The building which stands north of the Church, was built as a CHURCH SCHOOL in 1912. It was named after the Rev. R. H. Gilbert the then Rector of Hemsworth. It was designed as a Girls and Infants School with separate departments each with its own Headmistress. They were Infants:- MIss. R. E. Smith, Miss. N. Thorpe, Mrs. Penlington, Girls:- Mrs. Hartley, Miss R. E. Smith, Miss Quayle. In 1935 the school reorganised as an Infants School the Head being Miss Quayle. The next Headmistress was Miss E. Marshall. Miss Marshall took an active part in the Girl Guides, and local R. S. P. C. C. The school had accommodation for 206 children and comprised of 6 classrooms and a hall. During December 1951 an average of 120 children stayed for School Dinner.

Southmoor Road Junior School
This school was opened on 8th January, 1900, as a ' through ' School with 200 children on roll. The first Headmaster was Mr. Geo Maxfield, who left on 7th January, 1907 to become headmaster of the new ' West End' School. (Hemsworth Modern School) In April, 1914 a separate Infants department was opened. Mr. Maxfield was succeeded by Mr. Harry Naiper Penlington, who continued until his retirement on 29th March, 1946. During his 39 years as head of this school Mr. Penlington became a national leader in education matters, and for many years was treasurer of the National Union of Teachers. of which organisation he had also been President. He travelled widely on educational missions visiting places as far apart as Japan and the USA. He was on the board of Governors for the 'Modern School' . Mr. Jack Brewin took up his duties on 27th August 1946 replacing Mr. M. Thompson who was acting headmaster after Mr. Penlingtons retirement. Mr. Brewin well known in many West Riding (Yorkshire) villages as a professional cricketer, was a member of the local committee of the National Association of Schoolmasters

The New Primary School Moorshut Road (now St. Helens School)
In 1952 the new Junior School was under construction on the Highfields Estate. It was to have accommodation for 320 children, and would replace Southmoor Road Junior School. Headmaster and staff of Southmoor School were to take over the new school in August 1952. The formal opening of (Hemsworth Primay School) was on 20th September, 1952, by H. E. Holmes Esq D.C.M. J.P. (M.P. for the Hemsworth Division) The staff were Mr. J. W. Brewin (Head), Mrs. E. G. Cooper, Miss. K. O. Hardy, Mr. R. J. Dixon, Miss. B. Ashwell, Miss. K. Spencer, Mr. A. G. Blackburn, Mr. J. T. Glover, Mrs. E. Morley, Mrs. E. A. Smith

Hemsworth Technical Institute. (see also Hemsworth College)
The building stands beyond the present High School and was built of Ackworth Stone in 1935. An extension was added in 1952 also built of pitch-faced Ackworth stone to match the old building. In 1952 the headmaster was Mr. G. W. Moses (Also the head of Hemsworth Secondary School) at that time there was 4 full time staff whose chief work was the instruction of Mining entrants. (During wartime the Institute was used as an ATS Typing School -Thanks to H .Taylor for that info)

Hemsworth College
The new college opened in 1965 on Station Road. The National Coal Board paid for the building and passed the running over to the West Riding County Council. Students from the Technical Institute were transferred to the college, and shortly after courses other than Mining were introduced.
1968 Specialist unit for Nursery Nurses courses, Home Management etc
1971 Specialist unit fpr Business Studies
Extension, and another 4 units were added later, principally,
1980 New welding and automobile worksops, administration area, and housing of Library on the ground floor. Most areas were ramped.
The Double unit was used for Art and Craft classes.
1981 Horticultural Unit transferred from Wakefield. Floristry started.
1982 Agricultural classes started (controlled from Askham Bryan College)
After the formation of Wakefield District College in 1982 all mining courses were transferred to Whitwood Centre, and most of the engineering to Wakefield Centre.
In 1982 there were 28 teaching areas (including workshops) and approximately 20 classes attending College each day.
The breakdown of student enrolments per sector was -
Electrical Engineering     81
Social Services and Hospital Studies    232
Transport and Fabrication Tec      87
Office Studies and Management    145
Science (Horticulture/Agriculture    197
The above included part-time and full-time student, who may have been associated with Manpower Services Commission, Horticulture, Agriculture, Nursey Nurses and kindred subjects, Link courses from Schools (including Special Schools) and Foundation Courses.
There were som Adult Education classes during the day, and about 40 in the evening.
The Centre had 2 annexes - 1 at Brackenhill, Ackworth, and another at Minsthorpe.   Minsthorpe housed the language laboratory.
There were 600 unemployed school leavers in 1983.
Pricipals were G. W. Moses (acting) Headmaster, West End School 1935-1949.   J. E. Harvey 1949-1974.   A. A. Swindlehurst 1974-1979.
R. E.Lunn (acting) 1979. K. W. Ruddiman 1979 - 2002.
                          © N. Jackson 1984

The College was demolished in 2002, and a housing estate is now on the site.

Hemsworth Grammar School
Formerly a private residence Hemsworth High Hall was purchased by the West Riding County Council on 8th November 1921, and opened as a Grammar School. The first headmaster was Mr. A. G. Jenkinson M. A. (Oxon), who was succeeded by Mr. R. W. Hamilton M. A. in September 1937. An ex-president of the West Yorkshire Association of the National Union of Teachers. He was especially interested in Esperanto. Families connected with earlier history of the Hall were the Leathams, who were members of the Wakefield Banking House; and the Woods, the ancestors of the Viscount Halifax. The school became Hemsworth High School, and in 2001 was renamed Hemsworth Arts and Community College.

Hemsworth Mining and Technical Institute (Historical Notes)
The Institute was built on the Grammar School grounds and opened in 1935.
It comprised 3 ground level rooms, and a large basement room.   Day and Evening classes were held at that time.
During WWll the Grammar School used the 3 classrooms during the day and the basement room (which was the engineering workshop), was commandeered for the
A.R.P. headquarters.
After the war, with the nationalisation of the mining industry (1947), mining courses were started with 2 full-time staff.   Courses increased steadily as did staff, and in 1952 - 3 first floor rooms were added. (this work was carried out whilst classes were in session).   In 1956 a refectory and shot firing gallery were built immediately across the drive.
The rise and fall of mining courses since 1947 is indicated by the following record of student hours. 1946/47 - 15,700.   1958/59 - 140,000.   1978/79 - 23,000.
The high mining student population in the early 1960's prompted the construction of Hemsworth College (See below)