HolyNameSchool

Holy Name Primary School

Difficulties with transport during the Second World War made it necessary to provide a local catholic school. No financial aid was possible so on 3rd October 1940 the old wooden church was opened as a school for children up to 14. Numbers attending peaked at about 200 in spite of local authority pressure to disperse children to non-Catholic schools, there being no air-raid shelters at the school.

The school was staffed by nuns and by voluntary lay staff - in the 13 years it was open no salaries were paid. Cleaning and maintainance were carried out by parents. After the war land was obtained to build a permanent school.


Model of school labelled 'Modelled by Bryan C Smith December 1952'. The international style is evident in the semi-circular wing on the left.	The school as opened on 4th January 1954 - photograph from the Walsall Observer. Note that the semi-circular wing in the model has not been been built as shown, perhaps for reasons of economy.
© 2007, Tim O'Mara