South Yorkshire Times – Friday 03 February 1933

New Infant School Luxury for Brampton

A Wonderful Nursery

A group of enthusiasts: In the centre (foreground) Sir Percy Jackson, chairman of the West Riding Education Committee, who performed the opening ceremony. On his right is Lady Jackson, and on his left the headmistress of the new school (Miss Dean) and Mrs. Hallam, wife of Mr. J. H. Hallam, Director of Education for the West Riding, who is seen towards the rear in the centre of the doorway.

The group also includes Councillor W. Popplewell, J.P. (chairman of the Wath Urban District Council), Mr. A. J. Thompson (chairman of the Wath Education Sub-committee), Mr. E. Stanker, Mr. J. Mills, Mr. H. Cutts, and Mr. Ambler (members of the local education committee), Mr. A. F. Finney (county inspector of schools), t), Mr. C. C. Ellison (local education committee), Mr. F. Denton (county school architect), Mr. J. Siddall (county councillor) and the vicars of Brampton Bierlow and Wath-on-Dearne.

A new school for infants erected by the West Riding County Council at Cortonwood was formally opened on Saturday by Sir Percy Jackson, Chairman of the West Hiding Education committee. The school, which has been in use for several weeks, embodies many new features. It is arranged round four sides of a grass quadrangle and is set back sixty feet from the main road. All the rooms open on to a glazed corridor.

A feature of the school is the provision of an open-air nursery classroom for babies. This has a large verandah and is fitted on three sides with French windows, which can be opened partly or fully according to the direction of the wind. The room is heated mainly from the ceiling and has its own conveniences. The whole building is warmed by a low-pressure hot-water gravity system and is illuminated by electricity.

Nursery friezes give it a cheerful and colourful appearance. The chief contracted were W. Johnson and Sons, Wombwell, and the whole of the joinery work was done by Waddington brothers of Wath. Miss Penn has been appointed headmistress.

From this establishment the children will pass to the Ellis Junior School, which is being reconstructed then to the new senior recently provided by the Ellis Trustees.