Certificate - an examination requiring 98 per cent, of accuracy. T. C. George, F. H. Tolputt and W. Beale have obtained the Elementary Certificate. We hope that Reynolds will be ready for his speed examination by Christmas and that George, Tolputt and Beale will be ready for the theory.
On looking through the past records of the school we find that 181 outside examination successes have been obtained by the school since 1904, an average of nearly seven a year. The record years were 17 in 1912, 15 in 1915, and also in 1916, 14 in 1909 and 13 in 1905. The examinations include London Matriculation, Senior Cambridge, College of Preceptors, Senior and Junior, various Trade examinations, Bank entrances and Pitman's Shorthand (all grades). Two pupils are sitting this year for their first Typewriting examination and two pupils for music examinations. These latter are innovations in the school. We must not forget the eleven candidates at the July Oxford Local examinations this year. The best of luck to all of them! We want 1931 to beat the record of 17 successes in 1912.
The work of the school has undoubtedly improved this year, both in quality and quantity. Mr. Wallace has been untiring in his efforts to get the best results for the examination work. Miss Stubbs speaks well of the music and also of the way the Preparatory boys have worked. Mon. Ardontz has taken an extra French class on Saturday mornings and Miss Filmer reports that the typewriting pupils are making good progress.
On Thursday, 26th March, a party of nearly 50 visited the Pavilion to see Cherry Kearton's Film, " In the Land of the Lion." Mr. Kearton, who lives at Loose, came on the platform and gave a thrilling description of each incident as it was depicted on the screen. The antics of his chimpanzee, " Mary," were immensely enjoyed. The whole performance, without doubt, was one of the finest pictures of animal life ever shown on the screen, and proved far more entertaining and realistic than any other film of African fauna and flora that we have seen.
Thanks to the kindness of Mr. V. C. Haslewood, a party of about 40 boys was conducted over the very extensive Medway Brewery belonging to Messrs. Style and Winch.
The organization of the brewery, the efficiency of the plant and the cleanliness of the premises formed an impressive object-lesson to the boys taking part in the visit.
The provision of new shelves in the Preparatory classroom has enabled us to display the school Library to advantage. We have about 170 volumes, but new ones will be welcomed to replace worn-out books. In addition to the boy’s library, there is Mr. Piper's private library, consisting of about 1,500 books on various educational subjects. This fine collection of books is the amalgamation of Mr. Piper's own library, Mr. McCabe's library and that of Mr. Morris, whom the boys remember on the occasion of a short visit just prior to his death last December. Boys are privileged to consult this library upon obtaining special permission. The volumes deal with a wide field of scholastic subjects, but languages, science and mathematics form the nucleus. In addition, the 13th edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica is available as well as the usual standard reference works.
Books have been presented to the school library by the following : - J. Barker, W. Tucker, Mr. H. Piper, A. Baxter, W. J. Steer (an old boy), B. Westover, J. Piper, Miss Stubbs, E. Bowler, K. Whibley, J. Maskell, and J. Pearce.
P. Hinton and W. Beale have acted as librarians. W. Beale has been the school prefect and W. Beale and J. Piper have acted as janitors.
The visits to the baths this term have proved exceedingly popular. The boys are actually taught to swim by qualified and competent instructors. G. Burgess, R. Bodiam, S. Reynolds, A. Baxter, A. Harman, J. Beale and E. Locke have all learnt to swim this season. Before the end of the summer the following should also be able to swim: - R. Wood, J. Piper, K. Morgan, L. Morgan, P. Randall, G. Haywood, and W. Jones.
Next term we shall have our Physical Exercises again. This is a valuable part of a boy's training and should not be missed by any boy except by doctor's orders. Situated, as we are, in a very healthy part of the country, it should be an easy matter for boys to keep in first-class physical condition. These classes teach you how to do it - and then ten minutes every morning directly you jump out of bed!