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A brochure for parents, Victoria College Prep, 1965

 

College Days: A Brief Memoir

Timeline:

1962-1965 Mandalay Primary School
1965-1969 Victoria College Preparatory School
1969-1976 Victoria College School
 

Victoria College Preparatory School

This is a boys only school. The headmaster at the time I went there was Mr Raymond H. Tostevin. It is situated in Mount Pleasant, St. Helier, nestling in the hill below Victoria College.
 
The classes began numbering at year three, up to year 6, as the "feeder" schools then provided the early years. In year three, the class was taken by Miss Kent-Smith, and the school building was then Mount Pleasant House. During my time there, the new school (the current building) was built, the old house demolished, and the pre-Prep begun.
 
Uniform was a black blazer emblazoned with the letters VCP, a black school cap (with the same), and short grey trousers, worn throughout the year, whatever the weather. Only year 6 were permitted to wear long trousers. This is still the norm, and I imagine it is still as chilly in the playground in winter!
 
Cooked lunches were provided at College House, a short trek up the hill. As we passed the statue of Sir Galahad in the College grounds (the War memorial), we had to doff our caps.
 
Sport took place on playing fields of Victoria College, and was taken by a Mr Renault.
 
Physical education (P.E.) took place at the gym at Snow Hill during my first year, then in the custom-built gym in the new school. It was taken by Ken Webb, who was also a commentator for sport on Channel Television in those days.
 
Each year had three forms, and some teachers doubled as a form teacher and a specialist teacher (in, for example, geography or French). Obviously, my narrative covers only those teachers with whom I had the most contact.
 
In year four, the class was taken by Mr A.B. Jolley, who used to enliven English lessons with tales of Greek Myths and Legends - Perseus, Theseus, Jason and the Argonauts, the fall of Troy and the adventures of Ulysses.
 
In year five, Anton Dupoy incorporated a few simple science experiments into the curriculum. This was the first time science had been taught as a subject at the prep. There was also quite a 'flu epidemic that year, and our form was so reduced in numbers that we played chess and read for about three weeks. It was at this time that I really learned the game. I also gained a form prize for French this year. This took the form of a book token
 
In year six, John Stansbridge was the form master. He suffered a heart attack, and was absent for one term, his place being taken by Miss Kent-Smith (back from retirement). This year also saw the introduction of "audio-visual" French learning (with a slide projector and spool tape recorder), which was an innovation and quite different from the more formal approach to the French language (which I actually preferred). In this year, I also gained the form prize for Mathematics.
 
Among other teachers, I recall Mr Rolls, who was art teacher, and later became the headmaster (long after my time); his son, Ian Rolls, is a notable Jersey artist.
 
Assemblies (which were daily) began sharp at 9.00 a.m., and any latecomers had to stand outside, then be trooped in when there was a natural break, to stand in front of the rest of the school. Assembly took the form of hymns, prayers, a reading from the bible or other religous text, and a presentation by one of the pupils in front of the whole school, when they would stand up and recite by heart some interesting text they had learned (of their own choice) for about five minutes. Everyone had to do a presentation at some time during their time at Prep., and I remember mine was about the solar system, taken from a book which I believe was a Christmas or birthday present.
 
The metric system had not taken root at prep, so weights were calculated in ounces, pounds, stones and lengths in inches, feet and yards; monetary sums involved pounds, shillings and pence (which was "d" not "p", e.g. £1, 3s 1d). Today's children have it easy in comparison!

Now see what happened at Victoria College