Memories of Victoria School on site of Westfield Academy

These pictures from the Watford Observer archive are more than 60 years old but they will resonate with anyone who can recall art or chemistry lessons for example, or sitting down with friends to eat lunch in the school canteen.

These images were taken in early 1963 at Victoria School when it had moved into a new site in Tolpits Lane after leaving its former home in Addiscombe Road.

• Looking back at a Watford street's more formal past
• When workmen rang the changes at a Watford phone box
• Rare snaps unearthed of how Watford looked 60 years ago

Originally built in 1897, the school was first called Fearnley Street School and was one of the first 'board schools' of that time. 

The teacher has the attention of most of the pupils (Image: Watford Observer)

All schools had previously been private or church run until boards of elected representatives were established in towns to provide publicly-owned education for all.

Carrying out a chemistry experiment (Image: Watford Observer)

There were separate buildings for boys and girls at the school in Tolpits Lane and it later became Westfield Community Technical College and is now home to Westfield Academy.

Hard at work in a chemistry lesson (Image: Watford Observer)

Time for lunch (Image: Watford Observer)

The school's dinner ladies at work in the kitchen (Image: Watford Observer)

Walking to a lesson (Image: Watford Observer)

An arm raised to ask a question (Image: Watford Observer)

A group of pupils watch the teacher demonstrate (Image: Watford Observer)

A pupil models for his classmates during an art lesson (Image: Watford Observer)

Working together as groups in the classroom (Image: Watford Observer)