This film is a record of activities at two girls' schools in the 1950s, Richmond Girls High School, North Yorkshire, and Dyke House Secondary Modern Girls School, West Hartlepool. This film may have been intended as a comparison between This film may have been intended as a comparison between grammar school and secondary modern education, made for (and possibly by) the University of Durham, School of Education students. The film includes mime performances, Red Cross training for juniors,...

This film is a record of activities at two girls' schools in the 1950s, Richmond Girls High School, North Yorkshire, and Dyke House Secondary Modern Girls School, West Hartlepool. This film may have been intended as a comparison between This film may have been intended as a comparison between grammar school and secondary modern education, made for (and possibly by) the University of Durham, School of Education students. The film includes mime performances, Red Cross training for juniors, a section on the School Flat and the Domestic Science Room, needlework, expressive dance, country dance, tennis and netball practice. [Colour] Title: Richmond Girls’ High School The film opens with exterior views of the extensive modern buildings of Richmond Girls’ High School. Girls in school uniform carrying satchels or bags walk towards the entrance of the school. A knockabout with tennis racquets and balls takes place between three girls on a concrete recreational area. A gardener attends to a lilac bush at the edge of a lawn. A group of students walk towards the school building. They all wear a similar style of dress but the colours are different, being either blue, green or pink. These colours may represent school ‘houses’. They are joined by other schoolgirls. A group of girls sit on some concrete steps, deep in conversation. Next to a perimeter hedge some other girls chat, as do another group gathered informally on another set of exterior steps. The film cuts back to groups of girls playing knockabout games with balls and tennis racquets while others walk by. A group of girls pass a large window which looks in on a gymnasium. Next a group of students sit inside a classroom with one wall showing numerous paintings pinned to a noticeboard. One girl in the class is finishing some sewing on one of the soft toys she is making in the shape of an animal, whilst another girl also works on a soft toy. Students are taking notes in a science classroom. Two girls examine a specimen of some sort. Next, in the school library students sit reading books or newspapers, another stands near a shelf reading. Two other girls browse through some books on the shelves. Others read at tables where a piece of artwork is on display on an easel nearby. Students sit on chairs outside the school with their teacher sits facing them. They pick up their chairs and move back inside. In the school canteen the girls sit down for a meal, one or two of them carrying pitchers to serve drinks. Others distribute plates and some serve the food out at table. A group of girls walk up a staircase stopping momentarily for the camera. Outside again and girls sit around round small green metal tables reading books. Inside three girls stand next to a large window chatting, a picture displayed on an easel. An exterior view of the building and the modern design of the entrance follows. A man walks up to the doorway. Two members of the teaching staff admire some shrubs as they walk past on a footpath. Outside four students arrange hand bells on the ground in front of four chairs. They sit down and pick up the two bells that are in front of each chair and begin to play. Along one of the main corridors in the school, students retrieve items from their lockers. At the gym students go through movement exercises. Their teacher taps out a rhythm to follow on a small tambourine. The film cuts to a cookery class where students prepare meals. Title: Dyke House Secondary Modern Girls’ School West Hartlepool Exterior view of the expansive red brick school. Some girls sit on the grass in front of the school enjoying the sunshine, as others walk by on the footpath.The girls on the grass, get up and move back towards the school. Title: Scenes From A Version of Snow White In Mime. Outside students students gather in a garden to perform the mimed presentation of Snow White. The wicked queen is welcomed by her servants. Two servants pull back curtains from a ‘magic mirror’ where the queen sees Snow White. Snow White dances in front of some flowers on the ground, she picks them up as the queen watches. Snow White lies on the ground as two dancers dressed as birds (robins?), ‘fly’ down to where she lies. She has been asleep but is revived by the birds’ presence. She thanks the two birds and the three of them do a short dance. The wicked queen casts a spell over Snow White. The film cuts to a high angle view where a seated audience watches the performance. A change of angle follows as the performance continues with a grand finale showing Snow White rescued by a prince. Title: Scenes From An Original Mime – The Toyshop Again filmed outside in one of the school gardens, the mime opens with two ‘toy’ soldiers playing trumpets. Other soldiers carrying rifles form a parade behind a soldier in a cloak who gives a salute. A dramatic sequence follows involving a princess, a minstrel character and the soldier captain, plus others. Title: Red Cross Junior Cadets Seated on chairs outside on a lawn a number of girls receive first aid attention from others who are practising their skills. Legs are bandaged. Another girl has her arm in a sling, another is having her head bandaged and one is having her fingers bandaged. One of the girls with a bandaged knee is lifted up two girls who use their arms as a chair to carry her. Title: The School Flat and the Domestic Science Room. A girl sits at a dressing table brushing her hair. As part of 'domestic' training at the school, the girl practices turning down the sheets on a bed, adjusts the pillow and puts the sheets back. After washing up, two girls dry and polish glass tumblers and cutlery. In a kitchen a number of large cakes arranged on a table. A student places some flowers in a small vase in the centre of the table. Title: The Needlework Room A number of students work at sewing machines. At the back of the room a girl adjusts the collar on the dress of another student to check the fitting. Title: Rhythm and Movement Outside on a lawn in bright sunshine a group of about twenty students do stretching and poise exercises while holding or bouncing a ball. Each movement is done in unison. Unison exercises give way to set pieces in contemporary dance which give an impression of ballet. Next, a similar number of students do exercises with skipping ropes. Title: Scottish, Irish and Country Dances Students perform Scottish dances wearing traditional tartan costumes, traditional country dancesand Irish dance. A Dutch folk dance is performed in national costume with a large model of a windmill nearby. Title: Going Home Students and staff go through the school’s main gates and head homewards. [Black & White] Title: Tennis and Netball Practice Views follow of tennis matches taking place on tennis courts near a single storey school building. A closer view of a doubles match follows. A group of girls roll out a netball post and place it at one end of a court, then a game commences. Views show the teams aiming for the net. Title: Country Dancing The film ends as outside the main school building a number of girls perform country dances.