Taunton Manor High School: A memory of Old Coulsdon

Taunton Manor High School

A Memory of Old Coulsdon.

I attended this school between !971 and 1974 before moving on to Purley High School. It was a truly awful school run by a Dickensian character, who still used corporal punishment. He was aided and abetted by like minded teachers who didn't seem to like children, although there were a few exceptions. I too was bullied while there by children and a teacher. Dreadful place. Remembered for all the wrong reasons. Many years later, returning to the gates brought back tears.

Added 27 September 2021

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If the author of the 'a memory of Old Coulsdon' is referring to Mr Akers - then yes, he did apply Old Testament teaching 'spare the rod spoil the child' - and other teachers did follow his leading - but I can assure 'DOGS' was an utter workaholic with a well, fanaticism to get the best out of the pupils. He did have a degree theatrical, wearing his gown and he used to dynamo around the school - my form teacher - Garth Wright - one time head of Taunton Manor, used to come into the class room, out his hand to his head, and say 'I have just half an hour with the Head and I am exhausted'. He ran a good school and got the most out of the boys. He was brought up with corporal punishment - felt it worked - and used it himself. The education authority did not replace it with anything else. His use of corporal punishment seems to attract more attention than th effort he put in to get the most out of each boy.

By Nigel Godfrey on Sun Aug 20th 2023, at 4:46 pm

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