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When Central Girls' School pupils were taught in Oxford city centre

One section of the 1957 panoramic picture of pupils at the Central Girls’ School in Oxford
One section of the 1957 panoramic picture of pupils at the Central Girls’ School in Oxford

Some readers will remember when girls flocked to Oxford city centre by car, bus, bike or on foot to attend the Central Girls’ School.

The school occupied a prime site in New Inn Hall Street and taught generations of pupils there for nearly 80 years.

This picture, part of a panoramic picture taken in June 1957, comes from Glenys Hudson, of Waverley Avenue, Kidlington, who, as Glenys Howard, was a pupil in the school’s final years.

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She spent four years at the New Inn Hall Street buildings from 1955 to 1959, then moved for her last year with fellow pupils and staff to Gipsy Lane, Headington, where the school was renamed Cheney Girls’ Grammar School.

She lived with her family in Cross Street, St Clement’s, and attended East Oxford Primary School before passing the 11-plus and winning her place at the Central. The headmistress during her time there was Miss Sowerby.

After leaving school, she joined the staff at Oxford Local Examinations in Merton Street helping to organise school exams.

The Central Girls’ School roots can be traced back to 1797.

It had a number of names and occupied several sites in Oxford before settling in New Inn Hall Street in 1882.

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School dinners were taken in the hall of New Road Baptist Church, which was adjacent to the school.

The girls went to the nearby Wesley Memorial church hall for PE, and for outdoor sports had to walk to the field in Manor Road. Following the school’s move up to Gipsy Lane in Headington in 1959, its former building was used by the College of Further Education. It is now part of St Peter’s College.

More sections of the panoramic picture will be published soon.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF