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One of the most notable developments in 1972 was the introduction of the Duke of Edinburgh
Award Scheme. The course was run by members of staff with the help of outside organisations and
individuals who willingly gave their time. Ten boys and ten girls from the school gained the bronze
award. This was most encouraging for all concerned and I am very grateful for all the people who
helped the children in their achievement.
Another development was the meetings we had in parent's homes. Parents can feel isolated
with their slow learning children, but if they can meet and discuss problems that arise in their homes
with other parents, they find this very useful. Teachers attend these meetings when they can. If
parents can understand what is happening to their children in Hedgewood it helps the child. At these
local parents meetings we have met some parents who never come to school. We held eight meetings
this year which proved so popular that we are to carry on with them.
In 1972 we started regular weekly horse riding instruction at the Charville School of Equitation,
which is only five minutes walk away from the school. The lessons have been very successful and
have been an attraction for children who on the whole are not very good at other sports.
The School Council which started two years ago continues to meet weekly.
Towards the end of the year our school was invited by the Borough road safety committee to
take part in the training course organised by the assistant safety officer. The course was for moped
riders, and eight of our pupils went on the six lesson course to learn the basics of riding a moped,
maintenance, and the practical requirements of the highway code. After the course, which also
included demonstrations, films and riding practice, the children were put through their paces in an
unofficial test which was of a high standard. Four children passed, and were very proud of themselves.
We have had a lot of success in swimming. This year four of our older boys obtained their
intermediate life saving awards. We take 40 children swimming three times every week, and while
our main aim is to teach them to swim, we have been very pleased with their achievements in gaining
various swimming certificates and awards. In 1972 we have been successful throughout the school
with 14 confidence awards, 12 for water safety, 4 for junior swimmers, 3 for elementary life saving,
4 for intermediate life saving, 7 for personal survival—Bronze, 8-10M awards, 6-25M, 2-100M,
6-200M, and 10-400M. At our end of term presentations, we had the honour of having Mrs. Judy
Rowley (nee Grinham) to present the swimming awards and she brought along the gold medal that
she won at the Melbourne Olympic Games to show the children.
The ascertainment of the educationally sub-normal pupil presents an exercise in co-operation
between members of various disciplines and the parents of the child. A child's educational difficulties
may be identified at several points in its school career, but in the case of the child with very limited
ability, the problem should be recognised early. Infant teachers are often reluctant to put a child
forward for examination too early in its career, but evidence of learning difficulty is beginning to
build up by the third school year at the latest. Educational psychologists, who are severally made
responsible for groups of schools in the Borough, and the medical officers should be brought in to
discuss the problems presented to the teachers. An investigation into the child's mental ability and
general medical condition with special reference to hearing and visual acuity, is part of a general
assessment and only after careful consideration of all the available reports and discussions is the
child recommended for special education as an educational sub-normal pupil.
(F) Epileptic
In day special classes 2
In ordinary schools 32
Children ascertained in 1972 7
It is a remarkable fact that 32 of the 34 children ascertained as being epileptic and receiving
medical treatment for this condition, can be contained in ordinary schools. A tribute must be paid to
the headteachers who have such children in their classes and who accept the small but nevertheless
disturbing risk of a major attack occurring in one of them and the subsequent upset caused to the
other pupils and, possibly, the teacher. Modern drug treatment has very largely removed this
possibility and the majority of children pursue a normal school curriculum with only minimal restrictions
being applied to their physical education.
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