Fourth year girls at Bideford County Secondary School

practice bathing the baby during a mothercraft course which has been part of the school's curriculum for fourth formers over the past four years.

The course, based on the kind of instruction recommended in the Newsom Report, is in the same category as the 'work experience' experiment that the school now runs.

The classes, run jointly by Miss J M Davies and Mrs A Godfrey, deal with all aspects of motherhood from early pregnancy right through to when the child reaches school age. Equipment for the course has recently been reinforced with many other aids, including a large doll, and although this is mostly used to practice such procedures as bathing, babies are frequently brought along.

As well as learning about care of the child, the girls make clothes and toys. These are put to practical use at each of the classes when anything up to 20 young children transform the classroom into a nursery. Not only do the girls welcome the course but the babies also seem to have a good time. Said Mrs Godfrey "We haven't had a tear yet."

Other activities at the school include: first aid, household repairs and decorating, gardening and work towards the Duke of Edinburgh awards. And, of course, the school's holiday cottage at Hartland provides additional interest.

Gazette article 22 March 1968