Here might be a place for the history of the school. When it was built, when it closed, and other such trivia.

Pelsall Comprehensive as it became in the early 70's was originally known as Pelsall Secondary Modern. Originally sited in Old Town Lane/School Lane, at what is presently the Pelsall Infants & Junior School. The new building at Heath End/Pelsall Lane was completed for the start of the Autumn term 1963. A previous headmaster at the Old Town Lane/School Lane was a Mr. Lloyd. I am not sure if he left prior to the school moving, or when Mr Townsend took over as head when the school moved.

Some changes took place in the late 70's early 80's with a new science block added, somewhere near the old staff car park and the sports storage sheds. It became part of 'Community Schooling' (used as community centre out of school hours). With the opening of Manor Farm Comp. on the other side of Rushall numbers began to fall. A decision was made by Walsall Education to close one of the three schools competing for attendance's. These were Shire Oak, Shelfield (Mob Lane) and Pelsall Sec/Comp itself. Shire Oak became 'grant maintained' so it became a two horse race. As Pelsall Comp had a large amount of land, it was decided to sell off the building and land for housing development.

However once the school had closed, it transpired that there was a covenant places on the land prior to the building of the school stating that it could only be used for 'Education' purposes. This now doubt pleased the local residents, who had had a leafy outlook for many years.

After moving around schools in the Walsall area for many years The EDC took over part of the site. During the early part of 1996 the old Rushall Junior & Mixed Infants (JMI) suffered a blow to their buildings. The new head, with some resistance from old scholars & parents, moved the school up to the newer part of Pelsall Comp. The former JMI buildings in Pelsall Lane being redeveloped for housing.

A typical term Timetable

This timetable is probably from 68-69

There were 7 periods during the day. Start times are shown across the top under the period number. The red numbers under the subjects are the room numbers. Morning 'Break Time' was between periods 2 & 3 and was 15 minutes, 'Lunch  Break' was between periods 4 & 5 and afternoon 'Break' between 6 & 7.
From about 1970 the afternoon break was abolished and period 7 on Wednesdays & Fridays was also abolished, meaning we all went home early.... GREAT!

At As originally built, there were 20 'proper' classrooms within the main building. Rooms 21 & 22 was 'temporary' wooden structure with a central entrance and integral cloakroom, There were often referred to as 'Cow Sheds' and were adjacent to the playground. Another pair of temporary rooms, 23 & 24, were added at right angles to 21/22. Yet another pair were added at the back of the science block around 1971.

There was also a 4th year building project to build a lean-to classroom at the back of the assembly hall, fronting onto the fish pond. As far as I remember this took a couple of years to build, so at least two 4th year teams must have worked on it. When finished, it was cold, damp and leaked like a sieve.

Mr Cook was the project leader, and he was the one that took classes in there. There's justice!
 

School House Teams
Classes were divided into 'houses'. Initially there were 4, but when the school became a Comprehensive a fifth was added. Done to split classes (and friends) into competitive teams for sports and quiz's. They also became 'forms' for registration, in post comprehensive years, before the forms split into academic groups for lessons. (I think that's how it worked anyway)

House Names:- Pattison, Nightingale, Scott, Livingstone. + Cheshire  and later still, Hillary

Summer Camp
Those in a favoured form were able to go to a summer camp at the Chasewater lake near Cannock. This I believe entailed what we now would call 'Team Building' obstacle assault course and messing about in boats on the lake, and sleeping in dormitories. One for boys and one for girls... all right & proper..... From what my friends told me at the time, they would have rather been in lessons!!

Another popular outing was to Dovedale, in the Lake District national park. Just like 'Youth Hostelling and walking' today.

Day Trips
I remember a 3rd year day trip (1970) to Longleat Safari Park & Bath.

Colour pictures taken March 2002

Thanks to the head of Rushall JMI, Mr Austin Cheminais & The EDC for giving me a guided tour around the premises.