Vintage back to school

Thinking back to your school days probably brings back a lot of feelings. You remember your friends, the games you played on the playground, and your favorite outfit. Maybe you also remember the anxiety you felt before tests, or how nervous you felt if you had to start at a new school and make new […]

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An image from 'Going to School' (Ladybird books series 563) by M E Gagg; illustrated by Harry Wingfield; First Published 1959

An image from 'Going to School' (Ladybird books series 563) by M E Gagg; illustrated by Harry Wingfield; First Published 1959

Jaroslav Savka

Ysenda Maxtone Graham quizzed dozens of former female boarders across the UK about their school life for her new book, Terms & Conditions: Life In Girls’ Boarding Schools 1939-1979.

An image from 'Going to School' (Ladybird books series 563) by M E Gagg; illustrated by Harry Wingfield; First Published 1959

It’s perfectly okay to defy societal convention. I actually encourage it. But know what you’re up against and be prepared for the difficulty that can sometimes come with it. Our culture only tolerates rebels to a degree. Once you’ve crossed that line, you’re in tricky territory. This isn’t to say there’s no value here. It just might not be comfortable. Thumbing your nose at the establishment is not for the faint at heart. Go for it.

1940's Teenage girl doing her homework while listening to radio.

As the Summer break is in full swing for most UK pupils, we’ve swapped this month’s teaching resource for a brief look back at how previous generations of children spent their holidays - as captured in images from the GNM Archive.