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St. Nicholas School, West Wickham
Number on roll: Boys 62 Girls 43
A medical examination was carried out on new entrants during their first term and all the other children
had their annual medical inspection during the other terms with appointments for their parents to attend.
Every child in the school is a slow learner, many have disabilities and defects causing this and several have
multiple handicaps under the following classifications:
Asthma and respiratory disease 9
Autistic 2
Brain damage 9
Colour blind 1
Delicate 8
Epilepsy or petit mal 5
Hearing defect 4
Heart defect 3
Hydrocephalus (arrested) 2
Mongolism 3
Muscular disease or weakness 4
Ophthalmic disease 4
Obesity 3
Physically handicapped 4
Psychological, emotional and behaviour problems 18
Problems of deprivation 27
Speech defects 12
Language, as distinct from speech difficulties. 17
Forty-one children wear glasses or were referred to the Eye Clinic for vision defects.
The services of the Speech Therapist are absolutely necessary, and a third of the total number are
receiving regular speech and language development therapy in school.
B.C.G. vaccinations were carried out on 6 boys and girls, and Rubella vaccination was given to 6
senior girls.
There were 12 school leavers who obtained a variety of different jobs, mostly of a routine nature and
under supervision.
All the activities of the school are geared to help independence to stimulate and to create interest, to
allow the pupils to gain confidence and ability so that when they leave school they will be able to gain useful
employment within their capabilities.
Sporting activities have included canoeing on the lake at Stockwell College and a camping trip.
Outings to London and Educational visits took place to Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, Covent
Garden (old and new), Gatwick Airport, Horniman's Museum, Knole Park, Windsor Safari, Whittington Church,
St. Leonards-on-Sea and Crystal Palace Football Ground. Many of these outings have been made possible by the
presentation of a Mini-Coach to the school.
The heated swimming pool is in use all the year round and each one who is physically capable is taught
to swim which is an important asset. The pool is in the process of having new chlorination and filtration equipment,
part of which is being carried out as an engineering project by the senior boys.
The year concluded with a Christmas Fayre with entertainment from a school choir and a country dance
team giving a real sense of achievement.
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