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British army children's schools in Singapore 1870-1971
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Type
Thesis
Author
Gaskell, R. P
Supervisor
Wong, Ruth H. K.
Abstract
This thesis traces the development of British Army Children's Schools in Singapore and relates them to provisions in England and Wales since 1870.
Until about 1905, Army children in Singapore, under the care of Army Schoolmasters and Schoolmistresses, enjoyed a standard of elementary education in no way inferior to that offered in British. For the next 45 years however, during which increasing numbers of able children at home were enjoying the benefits of secondary education, stringently limited elementary schooling, only, was provided for Army children in Singapore. Though, as British forces built up in the 1930's in response to Sino-Japanese hostilities, a purpose built school was opened at Alexandra in 1939, it was to be 1952 before secondary schools were provided for Army children in Singapore.
The uneasy peace, which followed the Japanese surrender, erupted into the Malayan Emergency (1948-60) and the Korean War (1950-53), during which British forces in Singapore grew at an unprecedented rate. This growth demanded the building of primary schools at Nee Soon, Selarang and Pasir Panjang, and, in the spirit of the Norwood Report (1943) and the 1944 Education Act, the establishment of selective secondary schools at Alexandra and Gillman. These schools grew rapidly in size and professional status, as United Kingdom based teachers arrived to supplement locally entered staff, especially in the secondary schools.
Secondary boarding facilities, established in 1956, enabled selected pupils from Malaya to attend Alexandra Grammar School, where, because of a constantly changing and growing staff and pupil population, liberal selection procedures and largely inadequate facilities, the greatest difficulty was encountered in emulating the academic rigour of a grammar school. Alexandra Secondary Modern School like many primary schools, laboured under pressure of accommodation only resolved by the use of an annexe.
In September 1964, the reorganisation of secondary schools on a 2 tier comprehension pattern produced the newly completed St. John's, catering ultimately for pupils aged 14-19 and Bourne School for pupils aged 11-14 in the existing secondary school buildings at Alexandra and Gillman.
The further concentration of British forces caused by Confrontation (1963-7), imposed greater pressure on Army schools, which at their peak served 5,600 pupils, of whom 350 were secondary boarders from Malaysia.
The decision taken in January 1968 to withdraw British forces by December 1971, began a process of Army school closures first in Malaysia and latterly in Singapore. The announcement by the Conservative Government of its intention to retain a limited presence in Singapore after 1971, has initiated not only the planning of primary schools administered by the Army on behalf of the Service Children's Education Authority, but also the negotiation of places for Service secondary pupils in the proposed International School which replaces St. John's in September 1971.
Until about 1905, Army children in Singapore, under the care of Army Schoolmasters and Schoolmistresses, enjoyed a standard of elementary education in no way inferior to that offered in British. For the next 45 years however, during which increasing numbers of able children at home were enjoying the benefits of secondary education, stringently limited elementary schooling, only, was provided for Army children in Singapore. Though, as British forces built up in the 1930's in response to Sino-Japanese hostilities, a purpose built school was opened at Alexandra in 1939, it was to be 1952 before secondary schools were provided for Army children in Singapore.
The uneasy peace, which followed the Japanese surrender, erupted into the Malayan Emergency (1948-60) and the Korean War (1950-53), during which British forces in Singapore grew at an unprecedented rate. This growth demanded the building of primary schools at Nee Soon, Selarang and Pasir Panjang, and, in the spirit of the Norwood Report (1943) and the 1944 Education Act, the establishment of selective secondary schools at Alexandra and Gillman. These schools grew rapidly in size and professional status, as United Kingdom based teachers arrived to supplement locally entered staff, especially in the secondary schools.
Secondary boarding facilities, established in 1956, enabled selected pupils from Malaya to attend Alexandra Grammar School, where, because of a constantly changing and growing staff and pupil population, liberal selection procedures and largely inadequate facilities, the greatest difficulty was encountered in emulating the academic rigour of a grammar school. Alexandra Secondary Modern School like many primary schools, laboured under pressure of accommodation only resolved by the use of an annexe.
In September 1964, the reorganisation of secondary schools on a 2 tier comprehension pattern produced the newly completed St. John's, catering ultimately for pupils aged 14-19 and Bourne School for pupils aged 11-14 in the existing secondary school buildings at Alexandra and Gillman.
The further concentration of British forces caused by Confrontation (1963-7), imposed greater pressure on Army schools, which at their peak served 5,600 pupils, of whom 350 were secondary boarders from Malaysia.
The decision taken in January 1968 to withdraw British forces by December 1971, began a process of Army school closures first in Malaysia and latterly in Singapore. The announcement by the Conservative Government of its intention to retain a limited presence in Singapore after 1971, has initiated not only the planning of primary schools administered by the Army on behalf of the Service Children's Education Authority, but also the negotiation of places for Service secondary pupils in the proposed International School which replaces St. John's in September 1971.
Date Issued
1971
Call Number
LA1490.12
Date Submitted
1971