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23
ST. GILES' SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
AND DELICATE CHILDREN
I am indebted to the Head Teacher, Miss Lambert, for the
following report:-
This year we have again endeavoured to carry out our purpose
of keeping our work in the main stream of school and community
life in Croydon. The curriculum is framed to make entry
to, and transfer from, the school as little disturbing as
possible to the individual child.
Association with other schools has been much enjoyed in
such activities as training for and singing at the schools'
Carol service and Music Festival, attending the Saturday Horning
Concerts and the Ballet Performance at the Davis Theatre; and
in entries sent to the Handicrafts Exhibition.
The gifts at the Harvest Festival were even more generous
this year and were again taken to our old friends at Cranleigh.
Senior pupils were most interested in their visit to the
Town Hall during Local Government week 'Everybody's Business'.
Pupils of appropriate age sat the Transfer Test Examinations
and Senior pupils have been successful in the examinations
of the Royal society of Arts.
The welcome advent, in September, of Mr. R.P. Brown to the
Staff has enabled us once more to devote proportionate time and
attention to Arts and crafts as well as to further academic
work and to Physical Education. The latter has Included normal
and special remedial exercises, football, cricket, tennis,
hockey, netball and field sports. Our Summer Sports Meeting,
attended by 200 parents and friends, was again honoured by the
presence of Alderman Cole and of Mrs. Cole who kindly presented
the Sports Cups.
Attendances twice-weekly after school at the Swimming Baths
by an average of 26 boys and girls and 3 staff were sadly curtailed
during the weeks of the 'bus strike although the following
results were obtained:- 3 x 440 yds., 4 x 220 yds.,
2 x 100 yds., 3 x 50 yds., 3 x 20 yds.
Transfers to other schools of children no longer in need of
special educational treatment numbered 21. 17 boys and girls
left school during the year for work; and in this connection
the conferences between them, their parents, the attached
Medical officer and the Head Teacher have proved, increasingly,
their value, to all concerned. we are much Indebted to the
Youth Employment Officers for their work for our boys and girls
throughout the year.
Among the happy events of 1958 has been the School Prize
Giving and Christmas Party attended by Alderman Cole and Mrs. .
Cole and Mrs. J.J. Cooper. Alderman Cole presided and Mrs.Cole
presented the prizes, again autographing the special prizes
given by her for service to the school. Very much enjoyed were
the Parents' Social attended by 170 guests; the Old Scholars'
Re-union, and the visit of the Senior Girls from Croydon High
School, who later entertained fifty of our youngest children at
a most happy party at their school. The Croydon Federation of
Street Traders again gave to the children of the whole school a
delightful party and very generous Christmas gifts.