From its beginning until January, 1931, the school took in children who remained there until they reached the, for long, normal school leaving age of 13, but af'ter January 1931, all children on reaching the "11 +" stage were moved either to Frome Grammar School or to Combe Down School. The Hinton School then became a Junior School and in October, 1932, there were as f'ew as 17 children on the books. At the time of writing these notes, numbers are over 30 which means that the School is entitled to have more than one teacher. In 1953, under the Education Act of 1944, the School became a Junior Voluntary Aided School. It is not easy to discover how much was paid in fees at diff'erent dates in the School's existence. In the 1870's and 80's the ordinary f'ee seems to have been 2d. ~ week though infants only paid 1/2d. Children designated as "Tradesmen's Children" seem to have paid 6d. a week. Not unnaturally there was argument from time to time as to what c onstituted a "Tradesman`s Chi ld " ; On September 4th, 1891, schools were declared free -no more fees being payable by parents. The greatest number of children to be on the books was 112 (September 3rd, 1895). The walls of the old School must have positively bulged, and how Miss Lucy R. White, even when aided by monitress and pupil teacher, managed to teach so many, seems little short of a miracle. However, Mr. Arthur Swift records that from personal experience, Miss White was a grand woman for "walloping" the children, so maybe she imparted knowledge effectively, if in a way of which most modern educational psychologists would strongly disapprove: The old School Log Book records much of local interest. The atmosphere of the Seventies, Eightees and Ninetees was in some senses much more peaceful and happy-go-lucky. The internal combustion engine did not exist, and those living in the country had to rely much more on their own immediate resources for amusement. There is a greater air of independence of a Central Authority -No Whitehall to worry. It is possible with a little imagination to read so much into some of the rather brief and laconic entries in the Log Book. Here are a few.
Feb. 2nd, 1882. Mrs. We refused to pay 2d. fee for daughter Alice. Not at school.
March 6th, 1882. Alice & Charles returned. (Fee paid?).
June 11th, 1884. Admitted Arthur Swift to the Infant's Room. (A hero still with us).
July 25th, 1884 Herbert Walter not as ready with his answers as he might be. (Probably both teacher and taught suffering from the heat. Did he get a walloping"?).
Aug. 4th,1884. School closed for Club Fete
Aug. 5th,1884. Children very tired and dull. There is only one recording in the Log Book or any wordy battle between teacher and parent.
Jan. 1 st, 1885. Headmistress insulted by E.W. , Mother of Winifred
Absence for various kinds of work seems to have been not unusual. One infers from the tone of the entries that it was without permission of authority
June 29th, 1885 Frank Northover absent all day driving horses for Mr. Clark.
Sept.14th, 1885. George Andrews absent all day working for Mrs. Bailey.
Mar. 3rd, 1887. George Swift absent for a week for bird keeping.
Holidays, varying in length from a day to a week, were given to celebrate Coronations, Royal Marriages, and the ends of Wars. Finally, partly because it might be rash to note events too near the present day, let us end with a charming, if slightly cryptic little extract from a report dated April 20th, 1896. The infants are in nice order".