Crofton Infants School - (2 of 17)

The building on the High Street, now Crofton Infants School and Early Learning Centre, is the oldest remaining school in the village. It was built in 1877 as Crofton Board School and opened on 2 October 1877 with Headmaster Mr. John Glaister and 60 pupils.

In November 1884, Mr. Glaister died of consumption, and Mr. Samuel Thompson was appointed as the new Headmaster. By then, enrolment had doubled to around 120 pupils. Mr. Thompson left for the Lake District in the summer of 1890, and Mr. William Sanders took over. The village was expanding rapidly as mineworkers settled in the new houses of New Crofton.

By 1894, a new building had been added, almost doubling the school’s size. The expanded premises opened in February, and Mr. Sanders was expected to teach 220 children with little assistance and on a lower salary than his predecessor. He resigned that December to take a post in London.

The next Headmaster, Mr. William Shaw, would remain for 37 years. By 1902, he had built up a staff of five assistant teachers and two monitresses. The Infant Department was run separately by Miss Booth, assisted by Mrs. Shaw. As the village continued to grow, two extra classrooms were added to accommodate another 120 children.

In 1904, the School Board was replaced by the West Riding Education Authority, and Crofton Board School became Crofton County Council School. By 1930, the school was once again overcrowded, and children from the Sharlston side of the village were sent to the Council School in Sharlston.

Mr. Shaw retired in 1932, when his son-in-law, Mr. Ian Brogden, became Headmaster of the Senior School. Around the same time, Miss Booth retired, and Miss Rollinson (later Mrs. Wales) became Head of the Infants Department.

By 1954, when the school leaving age was raised to 15, older pupils moved into Crofton Old Hall with Mr. Brogden as Head of Crofton Secondary School. Mr. Townsend became Head of Crofton Juniors in the High Street building.

In 1968, the Juniors moved to a new school on Slack Lane, with Mr. Townsend remaining as Head. The Infants, now led by Mrs. Willis, took over the entire original building.

When Shay Lane School opened in 1972, several staff members and pupils transferred there.

In 1974, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council replaced the County Council. Mrs. Willis had by then left, and Mrs. Mellor became Head Teacher. She oversaw the school’s centenary celebrations in 1977, which featured a week of activities including staff and pupils dressing in Victorian costume.