School History
History of Sutton Coldfield Girls' School 1929-1999
by Grace Whitehouse
1929 - 1939
The School opened on the 18 th September 1929, after more than 20 years of petitioning for it, on the site of The Beeches with 6 1 / 2 acres of land. The Foundation Address was given by the Countess of Warwick. Plans were made for a building to house 30 pupils increasing to 520. The local authority set aside £6,250 for capital expenditure and a special local rate of 1 / 2 d was levied from 1928 - 1938. Further finance was obtained from Warwickshire County Rates, government grants and fees of £11 guiness a year.
Miss Kathleen Bradley, M.A. who was appointed Head mistress brought with her great experience, a pioneering spirit and a good organising ability.
Staff interviews were held, seven teachers taken on - all female - with resignations on marriage. The building was only half finished but high standards were established.
Four houses were set up - Nevil, Tudor, Vesey and Warwick , blue, red, green and white sashes respectively. The County Council provided bicycles for those who travelled more than 5 miles and Miss Bradley designed the Jockey Cap. Freda M. Merrin was the first Head girl.
1931 saw the first issue of the "Cynosure" with the familiar Tudor Rose drawn on the front. On re-reading these early poems and short stories, one marvels at the wonderful wealth of talent that lay inside these young pupils.
In 1932 nine and a half acres in Monmouth Drive were leased from the Sutton Town Hall for a sports field, the library was furnished with 1,280 books and many groups were formed: field club, dramatics, debating and the French society. The second quad was built and the statue in it was donated by Mr Bunch, the County Architect for Warwick .
Foundation days on the 30 th January were usually celebrated by an evening of speeches and music in the Town Hall. A copper beech tree was planted in the School grounds to commemorate the Coronation of King George in 1937.
Many holidays and camping expeditions were arranged before 1939. It is also to be noted that in 1939 a bill from Miss Germaines' in the High Street for the complete brown school uniform, including blazer, raincoat and shoes was £5. 3s.10d.
Sport was a feature of the School, and included Hockey, Netball, Tennis and Rounders. Senior and Junior teams were involved; matches arranged with other schools and inter house matches caused fierce rivalry.
Jean M. Jager composed the music for the school song "Beauty" by John Mansfield. Mrs Jager (Hunt) was one of the first teachers to be engaged by the School; tragically she died leaving a husband and a week old baby in 1933.
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Sources:
Reference Department of Sutton Coldfield Library
A.A. Fairn - "Brief History of Sutton Coldfield Girls School 1929 - 74"
Jane Thompson - "Sixty Years of Sutton Coldfield Girls' School 1929 - 1989"
Gillian Plant - 1940s Cynosure magazines.
Jennifer J. Jones - Headmistress.