Pupil Teachers' College and two Higher Elementary Schools, Birkenhead

NEW SCHOOLS. BIRKENHEAD - At the last meeting of the Birkenhead School Board, the plans of Mr. Thomas W. Cubbon, of Birkenhead, were adopted for a block of educational buildings, including a pupil teachers' college and two higher elementary schools for 300 boys and 300 girls respectively. The pupil teachers’ college has accommodation for about 150 students, and consists of the usual science and other classrooms, also large examination hall, library, dining-room, &c. The higher elementary schools are planned on the regulations of the new Minute of the Board of Education, and each includes, in addition to ordinary classrooms, central hall, chemical and physical laboratory, drawing classroom, and gymnasium. The boys' school also includes manual room, and the girls’ school cookery and laundry accommodation. The site adjoins the General Post Office and has cost £6,000. The whole block of buildings is expected to cost about £30,000. [Building News 15 February 1902 page 163]

PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BIRKENHEAD - The foundation stone has just been laid of new higher elementary schools for the Birkenhead School Board. The new schools are being erected in the centre of the town on a site covering 2,870 sq. yards, fronting Conway Street, and adjacent to the General Post Office. The buildings provide accommodation for 350 boys and 350 girls, each school being planned in a separate block, connected by means of general rooms common to both departments. The boys’ school fronts Conway-street, and the girls’ school faces Burlington-street, each school having two entrances from main streets and two from playgrounds. The boys' school consists of ten general classrooms, all grouped around a central hall; and, in addition, rooms for manual instruction, drawing, chemical and physical laboratories, and the usual cloakroom and teachers’ accommodation. The girls’ school consists of similar general accommodation, and also rooms for cookery, laundry, drawing, chemical and physical laboratories, etc, a lecture room and dining-room being common to both schools. The general classrooms in both schools are kept away from main streets to ensure quiet and good light. Large open and covered playgrounds are provided at the rear. A caretaker's house is arranged on the top floor. The buildings are three stories in height, the design being Renaissance in character, freely treated. The elevations to main streets will be faced with red Ruabon bricks and buff terra-cotta, the roofs being covered with green Westmoreland slates. The floors and staircases will be of fireproof construction. The general contract is being carried out by Mr. James Merritt, of Birkenhead, for the sum of about £2,000, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. T. W. Cubbon, architect, of Birkenhead, Mr. Henry Helms acting as clerk of works. [Builder 4 April 1903 page 369]

Reference    Building News 15 February 1902 page 163
Reference    Builder 4 April 1903 page 369