The History of Craft Education in Schools


Many old scholars will remember Graeme Sagar, Design and Technology teacher and assistant house master at Sibford during the 1970s and 80s. Graeme is currently working on a book on the History of Craft Education in Schools … which includes reference to the large part Quakers have played in its development. Much of the content can be seen on his website www.gsagar.org. Below he shares some thoughts with The Rocket.


large place in my memories. This first encounter with the Quakers had a permanent effect on my life and my spirit. Few days pass without me remembering those times.


N My early education was at


Wombwell Secondary Technical School from where I went to study teacher training at Dudley College of Education. It was at Dudley where I first met Hugh Maw and it was also during my time there that, as part of our course, we were taken to visit Sibford School in Oxfordshire … little did I know then that I would eventually spend 20 years there! My first teaching position was


at a comprehensive school in Sheffield after which I joined the Sibford staff in 1970 as a Metalwork Teacher and Assistant Housemaster in Nansen House alongside Alan Jarvis. I was appointed by Jonas Fielding, headmaster at that time, and replaced Jeff Easton who moved to York.


The early 70s was a time of change in this subject area, with the separate subjects of woodwork, metalwork and technical drawing being merged to allow the wider concept of design and technology to develop. It was time to move forward, and creating direct access to both workshops, together with a design area, seemed to be a good plan. I have strong memories of spending any spare moment working alongside Norman Coxan wielding a sledge hammer and chisel to knock the wall through between


10 / The Sibford Rocket


early 30 years after leaving, Sibford School still occupies a


Graeme with his wife Mary


the workshops and inserting the supporting RSJ! It was at this time that Stuart Hedley was appointed to replace Lindsey Martin who had taught Woodwork, and we then had the opportunity to pool ideas and make a really effective working environment. Fitting out cupboards, work benches and book cases became a necessity so with sleeves rolled up we got stuck in. A really exciting time for us both.


Jonas Fielding sadly retired, which gave rise to us joining forces to create a silver rose bowl which was presented to him on behalf of the staff - Stuart producing a superb hand hammered bowl and I making the lid, finial and box. Then there came the silver bowl marking the retirement of John Gilchrist.


These were the days when craft


teachers had to do their own maintenance on top of everything else. Nevertheless, when Mike Finch informed me that a milling machine was available from Cadbury’s, and he was willing to help collect it, the chance was too good to miss. Consequently, we had an evening out with a van and collected what was a very heavy bit of kit. We were becoming a truly unified subject with woodwork at one end, metalwork at the other and a design area in between. Very diverse projects were produced whilst


keeping sights on real craftwork. This was further augmented when Eric Morecambe walked through the door and, with his usual glasses wiggle, asked if we made coffins!


continued page 12


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