King Ecgbert Secondary

[Stenner]

Or to give it the title it had when I was there (Sept 1959 - Jul1966 King Ecgbert Secondary Technical School For Girls - totally girls only school so it's changed a lot over the years. 

We had a very strict headmistress called Miss Coates (affectionately known as Kitty though not sure why). She always wore her black gown, much like the Harry Potter teachers lol. Some other teachers I can recall were Miss Griffiths (maths), Miss Cole (geography), Mrs Bluff (music), Miss Lant (history), Mr Solway (science - chemistry or physics), Mrs Singleton (biology), Mr Shaw (office things - bookkeeping/typewriting etc), Miss Garraway (PE). Know there were many more, but that's all I can recall at the moment..

We used to get bus up to main road at Totley, then we had a 10-15 minute walk up to school, along Totley Brook Road, right onto King Ecgbert Road and go to the end where there was access to the school through the school playing fields. We had hockey field, cricket field (yes, we played cricket every summer), tennis courts and general fields too

Our uniform was VERY strict, basically maroon and pale blue. In winter we had blue shirt with school tie and maroon dress with crossover top and gored skirt (available from one supplier or home made to strict pattern) and we had to wear knee length white socks and (believe it not) maroon knickers!! We had to wear maroon gaberdine coats and beret (with badge showing).. In summer, we had blue dresses, ankle socks, and maroon blazers and/or cardigans and the maroon beret. No-one was allowed to wear stocking until 5th year when the winter wear was swapped for a skirt instead of the dress. There was a strict no jewellery or nail colours (I can recall getting sent to the chemistry department to ask for something to remove some I'd forgotten all about).

What memories, will add more if can recall anything

[JS2021]

On 17/04/2022 at 22:02, Stenner said:

Or to give it the title it had when I was there (Sept 1959 - Jul1966 King Ecgbert Secondary Technical School For Girls - totally girls only school so it's changed a lot over the years. 

We had a very strict headmistress called Miss Coates (affectionately known as Kitty though not sure why). She always wore her black gown, much like the Harry Potter teachers lol. Some other teachers I can recall were Miss Griffiths (maths), Miss Cole (geography), Mrs Bluff (music), Miss Lant (history), Mr Solway (science - chemistry or physics), Mrs Singleton (biology), Mr Shaw (office things - bookkeeping/typewriting etc), Miss Garraway (PE). Know there were many more, but that's all I can recall at the moment..

We used to get bus up to main road at Totley, then we had a 10-15 minute walk up to school, along Totley Brook Road, right onto King Ecgbert Road and go to the end where there was access to the school through the school playing fields. We had hockey field, cricket field (yes, we played cricket every summer), tennis courts and general fields too

Our uniform was VERY strict, basically maroon and pale blue. In winter we had blue shirt with school tie and maroon dress with crossover top and gored skirt (available from one supplier or home made to strict pattern) and we had to wear knee length white socks and (believe it not) maroon knickers!! We had to wear maroon gaberdine coats and beret (with badge showing).. In summer, we had blue dresses, ankle socks, and maroon blazers and/or cardigans and the maroon beret. No-one was allowed to wear stocking until 5th year when the winter wear was swapped for a skirt instead of the dress. There was a strict no jewellery or nail colours (I can recall getting sent to the chemistry department to ask for something to remove some I'd forgotten all about).

What memories, will add more if can recall anything

Mr Solway was still there when I went to Ecgberts in the late 80s. He had a Ford Escort MkII 1.3 Ghia in metallic green if I recall correctly, and he'd sometimes sit in it to eat his packed lunch ! I seem to remember he taught Chemistry and was also responsible for discipline, incl occasionally administering the cane ! The latter would have the present snowflake generation seething I'm sure.

Does anyone remember Mr Marsh the Physics teacher ?

[Bikeman]

That was interesting to read, as the uniform code sounds very similar in its strictness, to De La Salle (all boys school) where I started in 1966 after passing my 11 plus. Unfortunately, none of my pals passed, so I had no friends there when I started, however soon made new ones. I know one girl from my class at St Joseph's junior school went to St Ecberts in 1966, but I can't remember her name.

We had compulsory specially designed green blazers with green & gold piping around the edges and a badge with motto 'Fortis in fide' (Strong in faith)- only available from Walsh's department store. We had to wear grey shorts in the 1st year and a school cap when outside school; then in the 2nd year, long black trousers were permitted and we ditched the cap as soon as out of the school gates! The green blazer continued until the 6th form, when it changed to a black blazer with the same green & gold piping. 

[Lysanderix]

School uniforms were a matter of great pride for those of us who passed the 11 plus…that is for the first couple of years….after that they became something of a drag. I never knew anyone who went to King Ecgberts….although, for a time in later life, I lived quite near the school….which I never knew started life as  a girls technical school!