An end and a beginning…
“This is the last day of the County Secondary School, West Hill, St. Austell. From September 1st, Poltair School will have replaced it. Having been associated with the difficulties of the Secondary Modern School for a quarter of a century, and having fought the prejudices of the general public throughout that period, I look forward to the new era in Secondary Education.” Last entry in the log book of West Hill School, written by Headmaster, Archie Smith.
Educational changes for St Austell
In the 1960s, secondary education was provided by West Hill Secondary Modern School and St Austell Grammar School.
The switch to the comprehensive system would change that into: 2 comprehensive schools (Penrice and Poltair); a 6th Form Centre; and the Mid-Cornwall College.
The switch to the comprehensive system would change that into: 2 comprehensive schools (Penrice and Poltair); a 6th Form Centre; and the Mid-Cornwall College.
Split sites
Central to the reorganisation of the Poltair site were Rex Thomas, Headmaster of the Grammar School, and Archie Smith.
Gradually, the new Poltair was to move into the old Grammar School.
By the end of September 1972 the 6th Form College and Poltair were settling onto new sites.
Teachers and pupils had to move between West Hill and Poltair in a demanding shuttle system
Gradually, the new Poltair was to move into the old Grammar School.
By the end of September 1972 the 6th Form College and Poltair were settling onto new sites.
Teachers and pupils had to move between West Hill and Poltair in a demanding shuttle system
One and All
On September 1st 1974, all pupils of Poltair school were on one site, with the 6th Form based in what is now the Student Services Centre.
The details of the final move from West Hill had been masterminded by Andy Ellis and Frank Stevens.
The details of the final move from West Hill had been masterminded by Andy Ellis and Frank Stevens.
The Test
Comprehensive education was controversial: many feared that standards would drop.
Supporters of the idea thought differently. Archie Smith and the founders of Poltair wanted the highest standards for all pupils, hence the school motto: Apprendre c’est vivre (To learn is to live).
A great deal was at stake and the school had to succeed. The failure of some early comprehensives was well known, so Poltair had to move in the right direction.
Supporters of the idea thought differently. Archie Smith and the founders of Poltair wanted the highest standards for all pupils, hence the school motto: Apprendre c’est vivre (To learn is to live).
A great deal was at stake and the school had to succeed. The failure of some early comprehensives was well known, so Poltair had to move in the right direction.
THE ACADEMIC TEAM
The academic line-up included these Department Heads:
English-John Horn; Art-Lester Merriman; Music-Geoff Wheildon; Drama-Fred Shepherd; Sciences-Ray Podmore; Modern Languages-Christine Neal; Home Economics-Margaret Neville; Technical Subjects-John Storey; R.E.-Derek Stevens; Mathematics-Frank Stevens; Girls’ PE-Jill Barnes; Boys’ PE-Alan Plester; History-Margaret Downing; Geography-Andy Ellis.
English-John Horn; Art-Lester Merriman; Music-Geoff Wheildon; Drama-Fred Shepherd; Sciences-Ray Podmore; Modern Languages-Christine Neal; Home Economics-Margaret Neville; Technical Subjects-John Storey; R.E.-Derek Stevens; Mathematics-Frank Stevens; Girls’ PE-Jill Barnes; Boys’ PE-Alan Plester; History-Margaret Downing; Geography-Andy Ellis.
Pastoral care
•Year tutors were appointed to be in charge of the pastoral care of pupils:
•1st year-Sonia Rowe and Derek Stevens
•2nd year-Jill Voaden and Alan Tucker
•3rd year-Jenny Salmon and Norton Willey
•4th year-Anne Olver and Derek Olver
•5th year-Margaret Downing and Andy Ellis
•1st year-Sonia Rowe and Derek Stevens
•2nd year-Jill Voaden and Alan Tucker
•3rd year-Jenny Salmon and Norton Willey
•4th year-Anne Olver and Derek Olver
•5th year-Margaret Downing and Andy Ellis
BUILDINGS FOR A FUTURE
•Poltair School comprised the old Boys’ and Girls’ Grammar Schools and a bewildering variety of huts. This was far from ideal.
•Persuading the Local Authority to provide new buildings was (and still is) a major challenge.
•However, new buildings did appear: a Technical Block; the Sports Hall; a Science Block (named the Smith Block) and a new Music suite.
•These were welcome, but piecemeal, changes. Generations have shared the experience of getting wet while moving around the site in the rain.
•Persuading the Local Authority to provide new buildings was (and still is) a major challenge.
•However, new buildings did appear: a Technical Block; the Sports Hall; a Science Block (named the Smith Block) and a new Music suite.
•These were welcome, but piecemeal, changes. Generations have shared the experience of getting wet while moving around the site in the rain.
Academic standards
•In 1977, came the first true test of the new school with the first examination results for the first cohort of truly ‘comprehensive pupils’.
•42.5% of the whole intake had achieved 3 or more O-levels or grade 1 CSE equivalents.
•This meant that Poltair’s results were better than any other school whose statistics had been published.
•This was the start of many years of academic success.
•The late David Penhaligon M.P. boasted on the Today radio programme of a school in his constituency that churned out top results. No prizes for guessing the identity of the school!
•42.5% of the whole intake had achieved 3 or more O-levels or grade 1 CSE equivalents.
•This meant that Poltair’s results were better than any other school whose statistics had been published.
•This was the start of many years of academic success.
•The late David Penhaligon M.P. boasted on the Today radio programme of a school in his constituency that churned out top results. No prizes for guessing the identity of the school!
A School for All Talents
Following the Grammar Schools’ long tradition of sporting success, Poltair excelled in various sports, not least Athletics, as well as in Science, Technology and Art.
A Triumphal procession
Some of the accomplishments in the early years:
•Plodders’ cross-country club and charity fund raising activities (led by the ever-young Paul Manning);
•Winners of the DTI computer competition (led by Ray Podmore);
•European Young Scientists of the Year, 1979 (led by David Guiterman);
•Winners of the BP Great Britain Hovercraft competition (led by John Storey, Brian Ellis and Chris Lidsey);
•And many, many more!
•Plodders’ cross-country club and charity fund raising activities (led by the ever-young Paul Manning);
•Winners of the DTI computer competition (led by Ray Podmore);
•European Young Scientists of the Year, 1979 (led by David Guiterman);
•Winners of the BP Great Britain Hovercraft competition (led by John Storey, Brian Ellis and Chris Lidsey);
•And many, many more!
Top of the Pops
Far from being a failure, Poltair rode high. Parents were desperate to enrol their children here. One father even changed his address in order to be eligible. This turned out to be a lock-up garage. Another father left his wife temporarily in order to live with his son in the catchment area. Once his son became a pupil, the family was reunited.
Duty Carried Out
In August 1981, Archie Smith retired, having succeeded beyond all expectation in establishing comprehensive education at Poltair.
As a former wartime RAF pilot, he considered that he was ready to sign the discharge form ‘DCO’-duty carried out. Given the outstanding achievements and reputation of the school in 1981, no-one would disagree.
It had been a team effort but every team needs a leader and he had done his duty superbly
As a former wartime RAF pilot, he considered that he was ready to sign the discharge form ‘DCO’-duty carried out. Given the outstanding achievements and reputation of the school in 1981, no-one would disagree.
It had been a team effort but every team needs a leader and he had done his duty superbly