Long memories of a school that was divided by class | Letters

As a former pupil of Haberdashers’ Aske’s boys’ school, and an exact contemporary of Brenda Sufrin, who was at the girls’ school 65 years ago (Letters, 6 February), I did find her “defence” of the direct grant school both equally applicable to the boys’ school, then in Cricklewood, and an extraordinary indictment of a school intended to serve a wider community than those who could merely pay. The suggestion that a school with “nonexistent careers advice” and that gave “too little encouragement to those who were not seriously academically gifted”, precisely in line with my experiences, must be a damning verdict on any school, let alone one supported by public money.
Nigel Gann
Former comprehensive school headteacher and education consultant

I too went as a scholarship girl to Haberdashers’ Aske’s girls’ school a year or so after Norma Cradock (Letters, 1 February). My mother had to find the equivalent of several weeks’ housekeeping for the uniform coat, hat, two blouses and some navy knickers. Then the money ran out. I wore a tunic from the school pre-worn “shop” that showed its long history all too clearly

My form mistress took pleasure in my daily humiliation by pulling distastefully at my hand-knitted jumper as I entered the classroom, saying: “Why are you wearing this thing?” My mother sat up late into the night knitting on the finest steel needles with the thinnest ply wool trying to emulate the machine knitting of the approved shop garment.

The English mistress jumped on me when I stumbled over a word and hounded me constantly thereafter. The maths, French and art mistresses went out of their way to encourage me. Fee-paying girls donated half a crown or five shillings every week to the form’s charity collection. They harassed and sneered at me because I could only bring a threepenny bit or sixpence. I had no friends there.

My experiences at this school confirmed me in my lifelong socialism and my belief that the rich can be simply unable to comprehend a lack of means, but among their servants and lackeys – who hope to be accepted as “one of them” – are the worst oppressors of the less fortunate. Just look at the present Tory party.

I spent only one deeply unhappy term at Haberdashers’. My family moved, and at a rural county grammar school I soon reverted to the happy, well-integrated and high-achieving girl I had been before. I went on to enjoy a successful career and family life.
Barbara Clarke
Loughborough, Leicestershire

I too attended a fee-paying school on a precious scholarship in the 60s and 70s. My working-class parents struggled to afford the uniform and the lunches. I had a local authority free travel pass. I, and the 12 other girls in my year on direct grant places, provided some academic salt to the mix of girls from more affluent families.

But the honours board showed that success was spread evenly across the whole year. I was never bullied – picked on from time to time, maybe, to help someone with their homework! What a wonderful education we had. What lifelong friendships we made, both within the scholarship group and the fee-payers.
Anne Dyas
Solihull, West Midlands