British Pathe

Godwin Road School / Goodwin Road School - East Ham.

Good coverage of the question of antiquated schools - shows slum area - children at play, in assembly, in classes and in canteen. An interview with headmaster and teachers. the children are multiracial.

Nice shots of children in...

Godwin Road School / Goodwin Road School - East Ham.

Good coverage of the question of antiquated schools - shows slum area - children at play, in assembly, in classes and in canteen. An interview with headmaster and teachers. the children are multiracial.

Nice shots of children in assembly singing a song. Mrs Catherine Knowles (sp?) is the junior school head teacher. She is interviewed about her philosophy of teaching. We see a PE lesson. The children are trying to move around only using two arms and a leg. Looks like fun.

Mrs Knowles talks about how the school is rather miserable and dingy and about how this must affect the children. Children are seen running down staircases and into the playgrounds. They play games together. Various shots of activities going on in classrooms - a music lesson is conducted right next to a mathematics lesson. A male teacher talks about the problems he encounters at the school. A bell is rung in the corridor. The junior school pupils look at books in a corridor. This shows how little space there is in the school. The headmaster of the senior school is interviewed. He said that coming from a large spacious school to Godwin School was like coming from heaven to hell! He speaks of his difficulties at the school.

The hall is seen being turned into a dining room. Chairs and tables are moved by dinner ladies. Narrator speaks of the difficulties for a multiracial school in catering for different dietary restrictions (religious restrictions...). Dinner ladies set the tables and serve the children their lunches.

Various shots of the children then an interview with two young female teachers. One speaks of how the noise is exhausting. The classes are very large and also gloomy. Lack of space and gloominess are also problems. The head teacher talks of how teachers have to compromise and improvise. Children walk home from school. Nice shots of the children.

16 mm B/W Sep. Magnetic roll 4554 B.