Woodlands School

I dont remember Sue Underwood, I was 75-80 and recall there were more women teachers around this time, including the spectacular Miss Bacon from Ellis House. A lot of teachers mentioned in this forum were still just as sadistic in my time, I well remember "Crufty" Pattison, the serial tool and wood block thrower and was caned by a particularly nasty Geography teacher who tapped a ball bearing to the end of his cane. Roger Greaves was my Housmaster in Ellis House, straightened me out on more than one occasion and I have Pete Beckram to thank for helping me undertsand maths through a variety of coaching and caning. The special careers advice from Harry Tope the TD master was inspiring, services, craft apprentice, tech apprentice or on the track were his ideas for my future, probably why ended up working for Greenpeace! Thompson was still on the rampage when I was there, caned me for accidently treading on a bee, broke his cane on my back whilst frothing at the mouth and calling me a sadist! It all seemed a bit rugged at the time, but some things stuck, like being punctual. Whacking, slapping and punching just seemed normal back then, there was a guy named Eric Blyth a history teacher who was very handy with his fists. I moved to New Zealand in 85 so lost touch with my Coventry school mates, though would love to readsome posts from the same period I was at Woodlands, especially from Ellis boys... One more female teacher I remember, the often braless Miss Ball who took home ed.....

Hi there I'm new to this. I was fortunate to attend Woodlands from 1962-1969. Having worked in Education for most of my working life I can honestly say, looking back, that I had a fantastic all round experience. I was in Ellis House and had a great House Master in "Bear Miles". He taught me the importance of being firm but fair which I took into my teaching career. I loved History and was fortunate to be taught by John Jackson and Mike Bone, 2 inspirational guys. I loved languages and enjoyed the experience I had with Howell Jones, Hugo Hottot and Sammy Howells. Above all I loved sport, in particular Rugby. How lucky was I to be taught by Jack Pilbin, Tony Wood and Malcolm Miles, they definitely shaped my life I had great mates but 2 stick out in mind, Dave McDonald, who to this day was one of the best rugby players I played with, and Terry Hillyer, who went on to acting roles, in particular Coronation Street. Woodlands at that time was a true mixed ability Comprehensive School and I firmly believe that current educationalists could look at this model which offered equal opportunities for everyone. Would look forward to hearing from anyone who was around at this time.

Left this "school" 46 years ago and they still treat people today as they did in my time. School sees red over 13 year old boy's purple hair Acting headteacher Dr Roger Harris said Taylor was sent to an internal exclusion unit (IEU) on his first day at school where he would still get an education. Moderators, apologies if I'm breaking any copyright issues, if I am perhaps you can edit accordingly from this headline in yesterday's Coventry Telegraph. Thanks. Edited by Midland Red, 10th Sep 2015 9:49 am (Telegraph link inserted above)

I seem to recall Mr Blyth married Miss Balls, and yes Jocko Blyth was quite handy.

Bill Cleaver certainly had a school team of Morris Men and they performed the sword dance which ended up with the interlaced swords held up at the end to show the pattern.

Mention of the first female teacher at Woodlands reminded me when at Junior Tech Perrins (Maths) was taken ill (Peritonitis - we thought) and off quite a long time. We had a supply female Maths teacher which was wonderful after all the suffering we had from 'Pedro' (more especially if like me you hated Maths lessons and could easily be caught by the curlies and your head banged on the blackboard (this really did happen on more than one occasion). The lady teacher had a maroon velvet covered handbag which had gold hinges along the bottom, and she neatly clipped the sides together with a twist on the top (if she needed anything from it) to close it. I think everyone found her a pleasant lady. Good behaviour, no more black marks on report cards (all too regular with Pedro). Roy Webberly and I composed some lines about him sung to a popular cowboy theme-tune! Webberly, Bentley and I (in the Lower 6th at Woodlands) produced the first Woodlands School Magazine as joint editors. I still have a copy (1954-55).

Woodlands Academy could close - report

Well, well the rumours of 1963 were true. Woodlands and Tile Hill Wood are merging. The wheels of the education authority do grind slowly!!! This has to be a major backward step, surely the only reason to participate in the cross country was that you would be closer to the girls, if the merger goes through what is the point of that gruelling run around a cold muddy field in the middle of winter? On second thoughts, perhaps every cloud has a silver lining, merged school, no need for cross country me thinks.

Woodlands School Under 15 football team 1956/57. Back row - L to R. Ken Dickson, Bob Bates, Joe Pitchford, Graham Heggie, Mr Davies (PE Master). Front row - L to R. Colin Turnbull, Potter, Brian Lever, Jimmy Pigg, Oakley, Morris, Cowburn.

Woodlands School Senior football team 1957/58. Back row - L to R. Roger Miles, Bob Bates, Dunn, Graham Heggie, Ken Dickson. Front row - L to R. Brian Lever, Colin Turnbull, Brian Cockerton, Jones, Siddle, Sant, Jimmy Johnston.

Now that Woodlands is a topic of the past, I have been reminiscing and reading many of the blogs. I recall my days in Gibson House 59-63, headmaster was Newton, I remember having been caned by him once, for whatever reason I cannot recall, no doubt at the time I considered it to be totally unjust punishment. The latter days of West as headmaster and the first year of Thompson who in a few weeks totally changed the ethos of the school, those in the fifth who were not already prefects, were appointed in a level of authority ..... it became more like a police state!! The carpenter teacher who would shave the hairs off his arm with a chisel to demonstrate how sharp they were and then, without fail during lessons throw a lump of wood at anybody not listening or mucking about. Other characters too numerous to mention in the short time I have, who reigned over their subjects, some appeared to enjoy abusing their status of 'power' and certainly would not exist in today's school environment whereas others who were more considerate would not be out of place in the schools of 2016. In writing previous Woodland blogs I have often questioned myself did I enjoy my time at Woodlands? If I'm totally honest I cannot answer. Did I like school? - I don't think so Do I regret being at Woodlands? - No, there were some good times as well as not so good! Did it set me up for the years to come? - Yes of course it did, I suppose I didn't too badly when I went out in the wide world. Any mistakes I may have made were not as result of my school days Contradictory answers ..... has time blurred my memory .... possibly, but saying that I have enjoyed reading the Woodlands pages so perhaps it was not so bad after all. There are memories which can never be taken away from me

Billybobs, I can't now find the relevant post when you mentioned Deputy Head at Woodlands R.E.S. Jones who taught me English at Junior Tech. I recall the Head Boy in that final year prior to Woodlands was Dave Jackson, like me from Stoke and who, during National Service, was posted to RAF Pucklechurch, near Bristol. I was at College in Bristol at the time (mid-late '50s) and Dave spent a 42 hour pass in my lodgings in Bristol. Does anyone have news of him or know where he is now. even perhaps still in Coventry? His brother lived in Hugh Rd, Stoke where I lived in the vacations a few doors up from them with my grandfather and aunt and I used to visit them then. Would like to know what happened to Dave.

Hi Prof - The reason you cannot find the 'relevant post' is that I would not have mentioned anything relating to Junior Tech as it was before my time. Keep searching, I wish you luck.

Prof. Look on "FreeBMD". Enter Jackson, David G, marriages, and you'll see a marriage to a Dorothy Corden in Coventry Now enter Jackson, mother Corden, births, and you'll see two children born in Coventry This might well be who you are seeking, and give you more info to use There's also 192.com although if you find something of interest you would have to pay a small amount to extract full details Good luck