Since 1962, pupils have attended Pegasus Theatre productions of plays for children at the Library and Merlin Theatres. More recently they have visited the Civic Theatre, Chesterfield and the Crucible and Lyceum Theatres. They have also been taken to locations both local and further afield in connection with learning projects. When the school was closed for use as a polling station for the Municipal Elections, Mr. Walch instituted day trips for the older children to York, Chester or Coventry, Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon. In more recent years there have been weekends spent youth-hostelling in Derbyshire and a few days away in York, London, Chester or Scarborough.
The Women's Fellowship of Norton Church gave a silver cup in 1962 to be presented to the winning team on Sports Day. The teams were named by colours:- red, green, yellow and blue and often in the interval between races, the visiting parents would be entertained with maypole dancing.
A swimming cup was given to the school in 1970 by the retiring Head Girl (May Queen) and more recently a cup for excellence in -running was presented by a J4 boy. All three cups are competed for annually. The teams are now named after former headmasters:- Fox, Barden, Walch and Crookes - most appropriate in this Centenary year.
The headmaster and his deputy used to attend the annual Schools Swimming Galas at Heeley Baths in which Norton Free pupils competed. In recent years , the children have learned to swim at Rowlinson School Swimming Baths and have won many swimming certificates.
The first deputy headmaster of Norton Free School was Mr. MacGregor who was appointed in 1963. He left in 1966, as he was opening an hotel on the Isle of Arran! He was succeeded by Mr. Emest Crookes in September of that year.
As early as 1961 wool collections were being organised to raise money for school funds and occasional Bring and Buy and Jumble Sales were held
The school has raised a great deal of money for charity over the years. In 1966, they sent a contribution to the Aberfan Disaster Fund and from 1967, gifts of money instead of garden produce were brought by the children to Harvest Thanksgiving services to support church projects, including aid to Vietnam, the Mission to Seamen's Fund, the support of a 6-year-old dumb and partially blind little girl and later, a Bethlehem school child. From 1971 to the present time, gifts of non-perishable food have been collected and distributed to deserving local causes at harvest time. For a number of years, toys were collected by the children at Christmas and sent to the Sheffield Overseas Aid Shop and several charities have benefited from sponsored events. Collections from services organised by children and staff in Norton Church are always earmarked for charity.
For a number of years, J4 children have taken their turn in providing flowers, decorating the church and cleaning the brasses for a Sunday in July. Until fairly recently, the girls arranged the flowers and the boys cleaned the brasses but I suppose in this day and age such division of labour would be termed 'sexist.'
1964 was a busy year for dramatic expertise. Canon Gledhill had written a play called The Cross and the Sword' and the children gave two performances in Church at the beginning of May to large audiences of parents. Later in the month. May Day was held in the new school hall. Admission had to be limited to one member from each family and the hall was filled to capacity. The next day a repeat performance was given so that the children could watch one another and pupils from Chantrey and Oakes Park Schools were also invited. 'The Cross and the Sword' was revived in 1970 for the celebrations to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Martyrdom of St. Thomas-a-Beckett and the building of Norton Church.
May Day returned to the Church Hall in 1968 owing to lack of space in school, as there were now 219 children on roll.
At Christmas, the infant Nativity play or entertainment was usually held in the school hall but the venue for the junior entertainment varied. A rather special Christmas Pageant was presented in 1966 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.
Christmas is always an exciting time for children in school and Norton Free is no exception with parties attended by Father Christmas and a conjuror or film show on the last afternoon of term.
Several refinements were made to the school building in the late 1960's. Toughened glass was fitted to the large windows of the 'Derwent' classrooms and the lower panes of the infant room. Low cupboards with bench tops and sink units were fitted in all the classrooms and a flexible screen was installed in the hall so that the dining area could be cut off if necessary. Venetian blinds were fitted to the windows on the sunny side of the school in 1972 and lined curtains were fitted in the hall so that films could be shown.
The main concern of any school is the safety of the children in its care and thanks to the vigilance of the school crossing patrols, very few children have been injured on their way to and from school. The local police have always been most willing to speak to the children on safety matters and 'Police Fortnights' were held periodically when pupils were introduced to many facets of police work including dog training and handling, the work of the police horses and the intricacies of the police patrol car.
Mr. and Mrs. Walch were invited to many speech days and prize givings at the various schools in the city to which Norton Free School children had progressed and it must have been very gratifying for them to hear of the success of ex-pupils.
In 1965 a passage of writing by one of the children was used as part of a B.B.C. Schools broadcast and a book token, together with a plate for insertion in the chosen book, was sent to the school as a record of its contribution.
The following year, a schools' competition was held by the Sheffield Savings Committee to mark its 50th anniversary. This was for writing, art and handicrafts with a National Savings theme. The Infant group entry won the trophy for that age-group and the Junior group entry was highly commended. The first prize was awarded to the school for story writing in the 7 - 9 age category and a 3rd prize for the 9 - 11 age group.
The school was used by students from the City College of Education for teaching practice from autumn 1966 instead of by those from Thombridge Hall College. Lecturers from the city college demonstrated to students the teaching of French in the Primary School using J3 and J4 as 'guinea pigs'. Gradually this developed and French was taught throughout the Junior department until 1970.
Parents' evenings have been held regularly for many years and meetings are arranged for pre-school children and their mothers at the end of the term before the children begin school.
With the demise of the 11+ examinations in 1968, Mr. Walch received notification that pupils from Norton Free would go on to Gleadless Valley Secondary School from 1968/69 to 1970/71 and to Rowlinson Secondary School from 1971/72 to 1973/74. The proposed reorganisation of education in the city meant long-term plans to change the functions of the school to that of 'First School' for children from the ages of 4+ to 8+. Scholars would then transfer to Hemsworth School, which was to be designated a 'Middle School' for scholars aged 8 to 12 years. Obviously this scheme was most unpopular and a public meeting was held in the Church Hall for parents to discuss their objections with the Chairman of the Education Committee. Appeals were lodged and the Rector asked that Norton Free School became a one form entry for a combined First and Middle School. The Plowden Report on schools stressed the need for co-operation between the home, the school and the community and to remove children over the age of 8, would be a contradiction of this ethic. In the event, the reorganisation of the Primary Sector did not happen in this area.
The school was closed for rather a different celebration on 20th September 1965 - the Commemoration of the 700th anniversary of Simon-de-Montfort's Parliament and the 750th of the signing of the Magna Carta.
Mrs. Muriel Bagshawe died on 9th April 1966. The log book describes her as 'Manager, friend and benefactor of the school', and with her death the close association of the Bagshawe family with Norton Free came to an end. Her successors at The Oakes were her nephew,. Mr. Thornber-Bagshawe and his wife. Mr. Walch visited Mr. Bagshawe in 1969 to discuss nature talks, and walks in Oakes Park. Mr. Bagshawe paid a return visit to the school to speak to J4 children about the countryside in general and Oakes Park in particular and later he conducted them on a nature walk through his estate.
An innovation in 1969 was 'Friday Clubs', each being organised and run by a member of staff. On Friday afternoons, children could choose their club according to their interests, and subjects were as diverse as cookery, music, crafts, drama, collections or recorder, with other topics being introduced over the years.
In 1970, the Rector celebrated his Jubilee year as incumbent at Norton and Mr. Walch left Norton Free to become headmaster of Totley Junior and Infant School.
When the school opened after the summer holidays, Mr. E. Crookes was acting headmaster and in October 1970 , he was appointed to the post. Mr. O'Leary came as a temporary teacher in the J4 class but only stayed for one term so Mr. Crookes was a teaching head until the appointment of Mr. J.L. Driskell as his deputy at the beginning of the summer term.
There were 226 children on the role at the beginning of 1971 and the school was once more bursting at the seams. Again children due to enter school after Easter had to wait until September and eventually a small group of infants was taught in the dining area.
This was the year of the introduction of decimal currency and letters were sent to parents about how the change would affect money sent to school for dinners and for savings.
Mr. Crookes attended the official opening of Rowlinson Comprehensive School by Mr. Harold Wilson M.P. on 15th October 1971 and 3 days later he was at the opening of St. Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic School. Two years after this, a team from that school beat Norton Free pupils in the finals of a Road Safety Quiz after a very hard-fought contest.
Norton Free was converted to Natural Gas early in 1972 during a very cold spell of weather and many children were sent home because the convector heaters supplied for use while the work was being done were inadequate. Education was again disrupted as a result of a power cut a few weeks later and the economic crisis of January 1975 forced the school to close for one week. The half-term holiday due in February was cancelled.
The May Queen ceremony had been discontinued but a head boy and girl were still elected annually and the traditional May Day entertainments continued.
Mr. Driskell began a folk-singing club for interested J3 and J4 children which added to the variety of clubs available on Friday afternoons. The news that he had been admitted to hospital following a brain haemorrhage in October 1972 was a great shock to everyone who knew him. Happily, he took up his duties again in February 1973 with no apparent lasting effects.
Another 'Royal' holiday was given on 20th November 1972 when the Silver Wedding of H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh was celebrated.
Canon Gledhill's retirement in December 1973 coincided with the transfer of the parish from the Diocese of Derby to the Diocese of Sheffield. He was succeeded as Rector of Norton by Rev. Mark Williams who took up his duties in August 1974.
For a number of years, a competition was held in school for the best Christmas table decoration made by an infant and by a junior child. Most of the end products were sold at the Church Christmas Fair for Church funds.
A programme of football matches was organised during the winter months on Saturday mornings and in early 1974 as part of a study of the history of the school, a football match played in mock-Victorian costume, and under the rules of that time, was played against Meersbrook School. The girls wore simulated Victorian costumes and served refreshments. This was a 'return' match of one played in 1890! History repeated itself and Norton Free were victorious. Mr. Driskell had refereed the match.
In September of that year, he took up duties in Colorado U.S.A., having been accepted for a one year teacher exchange. His place at Norton Free was filled by Mr. W.A. Gilmore of Colorado.
Music was an important part of the life of the school and groups of music teachers paid occasional visits to the school playing and demonstrating their instruments to the children. There were also opportunities for pupils to learn to play musical instruments.
Mr. H.E. Todd, author of the 'Bobby Brewster' stories, a firm favourite with many young readers, visited the school and told the children some of his stories. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress paid an official visit in 1976 and later in the year, a party of older children spent some time at a City Council Meeting.
The policy of help for others continued with support for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Church of England Children's Society, Help the Aged and Dr. Barnardo's.
Teaching Practice students now came from the Sheffield City Polytechnic.
Due to the ever increasing price of school dinners, pupils were allowed to take sandwich lunches to school and as the years went by, dinner numbers decreased considerably.
Regular visits were made by Junior classes to Thombridge Hall and Mayfield Environmental Studies Centre. Also the children visited the City Hall in Sheffield to see films presented by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
J4 pupils were busy producing the school newspaper The Norton Weekly'. Each child had a part in its production and 2 reporters were assigned to each class to gather news. Articles, jokes, puzzles, poems, interviews, sports reports, competitions and even a comic strip were added to make a very entertaining news sheet published every Friday and avidly read by children and parents alike.
A trophy known as The Award' had been given to the school by the parents of two ex pupils. It was used to encourage academic effort and the teacher of each class in turn nominated a deserving child to whom it was presented weekly at the Friday morning assembly. The Award was very highly prized by the children who won it and eagerly sought by those who didn't.
Mr. F. Barden, former headmaster, died in early March 1976 aged 81 years. The school was represented at his funeral service by Mr. Crookes and senior pupils.
Mr. J.L. Driskell left Norton Free in April 1977 to be Headmaster of Crookes Endowed Junior and Infant School, and he was succeeded the following September by Mr. J.E. Spreyer.
Parents and children now had a choice of Comprehensive Schools between Gleadless Valley and Rowlinson and a programme of visits was arranged annually to smooth the children's transition from the cosy family environment of Norton Free to the potentially bewildering world of the large comprehensive.
Several events were held to commemorate the Silver Jubilee in 1977. The traditional May entertainment for parents had a 'Royal' flavour and a selection of the items was performed at a Jubilee Party attended by the elderly housebound of Norton. A children's party arranged for 28th June was marred by heavy rain and outdoor events had to be abandoned. There was a competition for the best decorated bicycle and a lasting memory is of a red, white and blue playground after the rain had washed the colour out of the vast amounts of crepe paper that had been used! However, the children enjoyed the tea and the entertainment provided and were presented with a badge in an inscribed case to mark the occasion.
The first Norton Week, organised by the Parish, was held from 25th June - 2nd July and the various events were well supported by Norton Free children and their parents, illustrating once more the close links between school and church.
The increase in school numbers was still causing considerable concern and to temporarily alleviate the situation, 2 small rooms were made available at Oakes Park/Chantrey School for the summer term of 1978, pending the delivery of a mobile classroom in September. A second arrived the following year and the classes were able to move out of the hall and dining area.
In common with all schools, the staff at Norton Free have attended many in-service courses over the years.
With children's safety in mind, a representative of South Yorkshire Police had shown the film 'Don't talk to Strangers' in school on several occasions. When the ring road dual carriageway was being constructed in 1981, Mr. Crookes expressed his concern about the potential dangers to children especially as many of them had been used to playing in the fields where building operations were in progress. To underline these dangers, the film, 'Building Sites Bite' was shown to the Junior children.
A party of Jl children spent an afternoon at Whirlow Farm in 1980 and as a result were invited to be present when H.R.H. Princess Anne visited the farm. Norton Free children were also present when H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent opened the Norton Tennis Centre in 1991.
Three matters were under consideration in 1980/81:- the length of the pupil day, corporal punishment and school uniform. The school day at Norton was cut by 20 minutes in line with City Council policy. Corporal punishment in Sheffield schools was to be discontinued. There had been no situation at Norton Free for many years which had involved official corporal punishment, in fact an ex-pupil remembers finding the old cane in a very obscure comer of the school!
Uniform had never been compulsory at Norton Free. Most children wore the blue blazer with its yellow badge and some, the blue and yellow striped tie. In earlier years, caps had been worn by the boys, but no more! After the Sheffield Education Committee's ruling that the compulsory wearing of school uniform should be abolished, the blazer disappeared and parents were informed that the wearing of long trousers for boys would be acceptable. After a number of years of 'anything goes', it seems that some degree of uniformity has returned to most primary schools with the wearing of personalised sweat shirts. At Norton Free, these are in the old school colours of blue and yellow.
During the week beginning 6th April 1981, the school was involved in the bi-centenary celebrations of the birth of Sir Francis Chantrey. A representative group of children and staff were present at the commemorative service in Norton Church and during each afternoon of the week, the public were admitted into school to view a display of children's work.
During the Summer term 1981, Mr. J. Spreyer was appointed to the Local Authority Task Force and his position was filled by Mr. S. Barton in January 1982.
The first computer was supplied to the school in 1982 and members of staff trained in its operation.
One of the mobile classrooms was removed the following year and the chimneys of the old building were made safe. During this work, the old school bell was re-hung and made operational. For a while it was rung five minutes before the electric bell sounded, to give the children warning that school would soon begin. It made one think of other children many years before who had been summoned across the fields by the same sound.
A sponsored walk was held in the afternoon of 14th July 1983 when all the children, members of staff and many parents and friends walked distances varying from 5 to 20 laps around Gleadless Valley School playing field in very hot conditions. A massive £700 was raised to buy equipment for the school including two computer trolleys and a video recorder.
1983 had been declared Christian Heritage Year and the South Yorkshire Metropolitan County chose twenty churches to represent that heritage, one of which was St. James. The climax of the celebrations was the Norton Pageant and Mediaeval Fayre. A large number of pupils and staff took part in the spectacular parade around the streets of Norton which started and finished at The Oakes. The school organised a float and other pupils were involved as members of the Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides or Sunday School. The theme of the parade was the history of Norton from Saxon times and most of the Fayre took place around the Chantrey Monument. Among the many attractions was a Sheep Roast and, for Norton Free children, Mr. Crookes secured in the village stocks! A good time was had by all.
Canon Gledhill died in December 1984, three days after his 80th birthday.
The next spectacular event in the parish was the production of 'Chad - the Norton Miracle Play', written by the curate, Simon Bailey. It was performed in the churchyard and told the story of how the 7th century Saint Chad may have brought the Christian Faith to Norton. Children from Norton Free who were not participating formed part of the audience at each performance.
The Bishop of Sheffield visited Norton Free in 1986 and spoke to the children, first of all in Assembly and then in their own classrooms. He presented a signed photograph to the school as a memento of his visit.
The Rev. Mark Williams left the parish in 1989 to take up a position in Norfolk and was replaced as Rector of Norton by Rev. Michael Morgan in the same year.
Mr. Barton left the school at Easter 1992 and Mr. Crookes retired a few months later in July. They were replaced by Mr. R. Barren as headmaster and Mr. K. Denton as his deputy.
In the latest re-organisation of schools throughout the city, Rowlinson had become a Tertiary College, so most children went to Gleadless Valley School upon leaving Norton Free. Now, the rationalisation of school places has led to the imminent closure of Gleadless Valley in July 1995.
The introduction of the National Curriculum examinations in the primary school, and school league tables has resulted in a complete upheaval in education from which the dust has not yet settled. This is the latest change in a school which has seen so many, and which could be regarded as a microcosm of English primary education. It is sincerely hoped that Norton Free School will survive and always retain the family atmosphere which has endeared it to so many generations of children, parents and staff.