Usworth New Schools on Manor Road
Opened Thursday, 26th September 1929

Junior School is left of the Building with the Large Chimney.   Senior School is on the right.
Viewed from the Playing Fields on the Usworth Colliery side of The New Schools.

( Sunderland Echo & Shipping Gazette - Wednesday, 25 September 1929. )

Details of New School & Opening Ceremony

( Sunderland Echo & Shipping Gazette - Friday, 27 September 1929. )

[ Press Cuttings, Courtesy of Washington History Society ]

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  The Seniors

Senior School on the left, next to Usworth Colliery Miners' Welfare Hall.     Junior School on the right.
Mining communities loved their gardens / home-grown food, so Usworth Senior School taught gardening.
School Gardens behind Welfare Hall

Top Left Corner: Road to Don Gardens, Quarry Row and Single Row.
The Road passes under 'The Coal Depot', and the railway lines from Usworth Colliery (right) are just visible.

•   •   ◊   •   •

Usworth Colliery Mixed School.

Above Manor Rd: Coal Depot gone!  -  Usworth Scout Hut  -  Miners' Welfare  -  School Field  -  School Kitchens  -  Post Office (top)

Below Manor Rd: The Parkie's House  -  Bandstand  -  Play Park  -  St Michael's Church and Edith Avenue (far right)

[ Photograph courtesy of Washington History Society ]

•   •   ◊   •   •

The School Playing Fields.
Viewed from the Path running along the School Fields to Usworth Colliery Post Office.

[ Many Years Later ]

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Good Attendance, 1947/48

All the above pupils were awarded books for their good attendance and some of these books were of a very high standard, indeed.  See below.

The inside cover of the book presented to Norma Copeman:
Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

[Many thanks to Norma, who also supplied the pupils' names.]

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Athletics Team, 1957

Back Row L/R:  John Hall,  John Nicholson,  -- ? -- ,  Billy Foster,  -- ? -- ,  -- ? -- ,  Jacky Oliver, -- ? --

Middle Row L/R:  -- ? -- ,  Avril Pescod,  -- ? -- ,  Heather Finnigan,  Carol Pescod,  -- ? -- ,  Marion Fletcher,  -- ? --

Front Row L/R:  David Longstaff,  David Goundry,  -- ? --

•   •   ◊   •   •

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Athletics Team, 1959

Back Row L/R:  K. Felton,  M. Owens,  -- ? -- ,  K. McGlen,  J. Nicholson,  D. Longstaff,  B. Foster,  E. Kelly,  K. Marjoram,
D. Goundry,  K. Hennage,  J. Ashett,  J. Williamson,  -- ? -- ,  -- ? -- ,  T. Copeman,  J. Jackson,  B. Robinson

Middle Row (sitting) L/R:  M. Fletcher,  -- ? -- ,  A. Barron,  C. Pescod,  H. Finnigan,  A. Pescod,  -- ? --

Front Row L/R:  -- ? -- ,  C. Ellis,  -- ? -- ,  D. Surtees,  N. McCreery,  P. Hislop,  J. Johnson,  E. Heslop,  D. Atkinson

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Football Team, 1951/52

[Thanks to Colin Hagan for this picture and for identifying the players.]

•   •   ◊   •   •

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Football Team, 1959

Back Row L/R:  Keith McGlen,  John Gordon,  John Jackson (Goalkeeper),  Harry Marshall,  Brian Robinson,  Wilson Hepplewhite

Front Row L/R:  Eddy Kelly,  Vince Holten,  Tom Copeman,  Allan McCreery,  Derek McMann

•   •   ◊   •   •

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Football Team (season unknown)

[Usworth Colliery Welfare Park]

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Gymnastics Team, 1958

Back Row L/R:  B. Simpson,  R. Sweetman,  -- ? -- ,  M. Lawton,  L. Wilson,  D. Goundry,  K. Jonas,  P. Ward,  D. Williams,  -- ? -- ,  E. Wilson

Middle Row L/R:  M. Pestell,  A. McCreery,  M. Lambert,  W. Hepplewhite,  N. McCreery,  A. Watson,  Y. Stobbart,  R. Forrest,  J. Johnson,  -- ? --

Front Row L/R:  T. Copeman,  F. Goscombe,  J. Simpson

Usworth Colliery Secondary Modern School  -  Netball Team, 1950

 

Oliver 'Wackford' Whitfield

Mr Oliver Whitfield
Headmaster

Who remembers Wackford Squeers, Schoolmaster of Dotheboys Hall?
[ Charles Dickens Novel:  Nicholas Nickleby ]

Mr Whitfield wasn't the only Teacher in Usworth who waved a big stick!
See Miss 'Wackford' Hill - Staff & Pupils 1922.