The Robert Manning Technology College

The college has evolved through several stages since its earliest days in 1877. The birth of state education through the Elementary Education Act of 1870 brought about the opening of the Star Lane Board School on July 2nd 1877. Star Lane is now known as Abbey Road. The original logbook from this school still exists and its early history is meticulously documented in copperplate handwriting by its first head teacher, Mr John Derry. Under his leadership, there were three monitors, Arthur and Harry Smith and Frederick Warren who were "desirous of becoming pupil teachers." Thirty-six boys were admitted, but by July 20th there were 90 on the roll with ages ranging from seven to 15 years. 

Singing was a popular feature of the day's activities and reference is made to Arthur Smith accompanying several pupils who were members of the church choir to Matlock, a considerable journey in those days. The school remained open until August 17th when harvest was in full swing and with attendance declining, the head teacher decided to close for one month. Interestingly, when it reopened, there was a very poor attendance because families were still out gleaning. In December, girls were admitted but were kept together in one class under the direction of Miss Osborn. Strict discipline was very much the order of the day and the head teacher writes: "A big boy in the school is constantly giving trouble, is disobedient and seems impervious to good counsel. I tried the effect of a good caning". There seemed to be little structure to the timetable and reference is made to classes being dismissed as late as 4.40 p m with half-day holidays being granted by the head teacher as he decided necessary. On one occasion, he even closed for two days on account of Bourne Fair. 

In the course of the next few years, mention is made of French and Latin being introduced for some pupils and an evening school was opened for 50 boys and girls. By 1880, there were 419 on roll, 154 boys, 125 girls and 140 infants, but the average attendance was only 58%. Euclid, geography, history, arithmetic, algebra, music, English grammar and composition, together with handwriting, were now established as parts of the curriculum. Inspections appear to have taken place every year. Mr. Derry retired in 1887 and was replaced by Mr. Joseph Davies who was at the helm into the 20th century but he unfortunately suffered from ill health and the school fell into decline, both in numbers on the roll and in attendances. 

Mr. Harry Goy, who was appointed head teacher in 1920, changed the situation dramatically. He introduced handicrafts, gardening and set up a football team. The school flourished under his leadership and several pupils were rewarded with county scholarships to attend Bourne Grammar School. In 1946, Mr. L R W Day was appointed head teacher, moving from the grammar school where he had been head of the French department. During his first year, he appointed Mr L P Wilson and Mr L H Decamp to his staff and it is recorded that when the annual sports day was held on the Abbey Lawn, there were over 1,500 people in attendance. 

In 1946, the school began operating on a split site when temporary buildings were opened in Queens Road to cope with increased class sizes. These wooden huts, known as HORSA, or Huts Occasioned by the Raising of the School Leaving Age, were still in use almost 60 years later as the town's youth centre but were finally demolished in 2004. In July 1958, new extensions were opened in Edinburgh Crescent by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, the Earl of Ancaster, when 620 people were crammed into the hall. The school was now totally separated from the one in Abbey Road and became known as the Bourne County Secondary School. 

Mr Day retired in 1968 and Mr H D Bostock was appointed head teacher. There were 375 pupils on roll at this time but when a summer gala was arranged it was estimated that over 2,500 people were in attendance on the playing field. The school grew steadily over the next few years with mobile classrooms becoming a familiar feature. Mr Bostock retired in 1980 and Mr Decamp was appointed in his place with Mr Wilson as his deputy. 

In 1984, Mr Michael Kee took over the reins as head teacher and there were now 650 pupils on the roll. The school grew rapidly over the next few years with the opening of new craft, design and technology rooms and new science laboratories. In 1987, the name was changed to the Robert Manning School, after the 14th century monk from Bourne Abbey who is credited by historians and linguists as the first man to write English as we read it now. 

September 1988 saw the birth of the sixth form with just 13 students in its first year. The town was growing at a considerable rate, increasing pressure for the expansion of facilities and so a new teaching block was opened in March 1989 by Kenneth Baker, the then Secretary of State for Education and Science. The previous year, in April 1988, a public leisure centre was built on adjoining land at a cost of £½ million and the school was able to enjoy the benefits from a "chance to share" scheme including a magnificent sports hall that was officially opened by Emlyn Hughes O B E who unveiled a commemorative plaque. The centre offered a variety of sports activities including badminton, netball, basketball,  volleyball, table tennis, indoor soccer, hockey, bowls, trampolining, gymnastics and indoor cricket and there was also a viewing balcony for the sports area. 

The culmination of a period of tremendous growth and progress was marked in 1999 when technology college status was granted. There are now more than 1,000 students on the roll with 150 in the sixth form administered by a staff of 100. From its small and even humble beginnings, the Robert Manning Technology College is the perfect example of a school meeting the challenge of an expanding population and society's changing educational requirement and as a result, it has become a learning institution of which the town can be justly proud.

In 2005, the head teacher was Geoff Greatwood. The pupil roll had reached 1,139, there was a staff of 118 and an annual budget approaching £4 million.

See also     The Leisure Centre     Bourne Youth Centre

Go to:     Main Index     Villages Index