Contents

All our yesterdays

Through Our Eyes

Over the summer Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre is hosting a digital exhibition on the history of four local schools.

The exhibition was previously held at Hall Place, where it attracted some 3016 visitors.

The exhibition consists of series of documentaries that look at their schools’ origins and development from the Second World War to the present day.

School pupils undertook the filming, presenting, interviewing and also composing music.

The exhibition was created under the auspices of end2endTV in partnership with Bexley Archives, Bexley Music and Hall Place in Bexley, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

Each of the schools has an interesting story to tell.

Old Bexley Church of England Primary School can trace its history back to 1707 when Thomas Smollett, a former Vicar of Bexley left money for the education of the poor of the parish.

Bexley National School, Bourne Road

Burnt Oak Junior School was originally attached to The Hollies children’s home, which only later began to admit local children and became a regular local authority establishment.

Burnt Oak County Primary Junior mixed school, February 1971

Hurstmere School began life as Blackfen Central School for Boys, transferring to a new site on Hurst Road in 1955 to cope with the post war baby boom and the expansion of secondary education.

A production of Tom Sawyer at Hurstmere School in 1958

Finally Bexley Grammar School established the same year with the encouragement of the future Prime Minister, Edward Heath, who would later intervene to preserve it against moves to abolish the eleven plus.

Bexley Grammar school. Viscount Hailsham looking from a window while insprecting the school after opening

From the archives to the screen

A round of applause goes out to the students of Burnt Oak Junior School, Old Bexley Church of England Primary School, Bexley Grammar School and Hurstmere School, who spent the past year working on the “Through Our Eyes” project.

With cameras in hand and creative minds racing, these students not only documented history, but also served as directors, interviewees and composers, filling their films with their unique perspectives and talents. The results of their efforts were shown on BBC London News.

As these young filmmakers proudly share their experiences and accomplishments, they not only celebrate the legacy of their schools but also inspire others to explore history with curiosity and creativity.

Bexley students who took part in the end2endTV project