OLD AZURIANS

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
The West Sussex County Council and its Education Committee set out the rules for the conduct of school in a document entitled, Scheme for the administration of the School, held in the County Archives in Chichester.

The first paragraph contains a few surprises. The County Council says it will maintain a secondary school for boys in freehold premises that it owns and occupies in Worthing. The second surprise is the name, which was to be “The County of West Sussex Secondary School for Boys at Worthing, to be commonly called ‘Worthing Secondary School for Boys’.” And lastly: “Provision shall be made in the School for the education of Boys who intend to become teachers in Public Elementary Schools.”

The first surprise is that The County Council says it will maintain a secondary school for boys in freehold premises that it owns and occupies in Worthing. 

The second surprise is the name, which was to be “The County of West Sussex Secondary School for Boys at Worthing, to be commonly called ‘Worthing Secondary School for Boys’.” 

And lastly: “Provision shall be made in the School for the education of Boys who intend to become teachers in Public Elementary Schools.”

GOVERNORS

There were to be 14 governors, who would be a sub-committee of the county education committee. Ten of them had to be members of that committee. The chairman, vice-chairman and six of those members had also to members of the council. Of the remainder, three would be appointed on the recommendation of Worthing Town council, and, another surprise; one on the recommendation of Oxford University.

Governors served for three years; they were unpaid and could not have an interest in supplying goods or services to the school, or be a master in the school. The clerk to the Governors was the secretary to the county education committee.

On finance, the governors had to conform to regulations made by the council and its finance committee. They had to submit income and expenditure accounts in the normal way, as estimates for the year following 1 April. An abstract of accounts would be sent to the Board of Education in Whitehall.

GRADUATE STAFF
On staff, the headmaster was required to be a graduate of a UK university or have an equivalent approved qualification. He is to be appointed, after public advertisement, by the council on the recommendation of the governors and the committee, who could suspend or dismiss him for due cause.

The head was expected to give his personal attention to the duties of the school and not have any job that interfered with the proper performance of the post. In particular, he could not keep a boarding house for pupils, except with the express permission of the governors. 

Teachers, then known as assistant masters, were to be appointed by the head, after approval by governors. Teachers could be dismissed immediately or on notice, but could appeal to the governors.

Governors and headmaster shared responsibility for organisation and curriculum: “. . .the Governors shall prescribe the general subjects of instruction, the relative prominence and value to be assigned to each group of subjects, what reports shall be required tobe made to them by the Head Master, the arrangements respecting the school terms, vacations and holidays. They shall exercise general supervisions of the school buildings and arrangements.”

Before making any of the above rules, the governors should consult the headmaster. He should be able to express his views and is entitled to attend all normal governors’ meetings. He also had the right to make proposals, which the first head, Rolfe Martin, did on many occasions. The final decision, however, rested with the governors.

The head did, however, have jurisdiction over school arrangements. These included control over the choice of books, the method of teaching, the arrangement of classes and school hours an the whole internal management and discipline of the school. This included the powere to expel or suspend pupils for cause. He had to report these to the governors at the next meeting and parents or guardians had a right to appeal to the governors.

RELIGION
There is substantial guidance on religious instruction. This was compulsory and had to be given in accordance with the principles of the Christian faith according to rules made from time to time by the governors. No change could be made to these rules without consulting all likely to have a view.

The scheme forbids the teaching of any catechism or formulary distinctive of any particular religious denomination, but allows for an exception, on application on behalf of 12 pupils of any one denomination. Teachiing could take place within school hous but only the pupils who applied and met any additional teaching cost.

The general principle is then stated as follows: “No pupil shall on the grund of religious belief be excluded from or place in an inferior position in the School , and a pupil shall not be required as a condition of being admitted into or remaining in the School, to attend or abstain from attending any Sunday School, place of religious worship, religious observance, or instruction in religious subjects in the school or elsewhere.”

Pupils could be withdrawn from religious instruction lessons on the the written request from his parent or guardian.

ADMISSION RULES
The rules for admission of pupils are given shortly. No pupil under 10 may be admitted. No pupil over 18 may stay in school except with permission of the governors on the recommendation of the headmaster.

Under the quaint heading, TO WHOM THE SCHOOL IS OPEN, paragraph 21 says the school is for day pupils only. Preference is for children of parents or guardians resident in West Sussex.

Applications for the school should go to the headmaster, who must keep a record as well as a records of admissions.