Hamstead History
Hamstead Junior School was opened on April 19th 1937, with children walking down from the antiquated St Paul's school which was on the corner of Spouthouse Lane and the Hamstead Road. The school was built on the edge of the growing community, and in close proximity to the working colliery that provided employment for many.
The school has grown as Hamstead and Great Barr have grown. The school log books show the rise and dip in numbers, with new schools at Gorse Farm, Grove Vale and Tanhouse all built to deal with the large numbers of children that lived and continue to live in our area. All of these local schools grew from the pupils of Hamstead.
The newspaper below was put together by a small dedicated team of Year 6 children, the Chair of Governors, Mrs Howard and Head Teacher, Mr Bowen, and was published in 2017 to commemorate the 80th anniversary. We hope that any viewers enjoy the contents.
Below are photographs compiled into a presentation by former Head Teacher Mr Bowen in 2007 to mark the first 70 years of Hamstead Junior School. We hope that they allow some of our ex pupils to recall happy times.
Photographs from our archives
Hamstead Junior School
History of Headteachers
1937-1961 Mr R. Jones
1962-1979 Mr J. Shipley
1979-1985 Mr R. Ashman
1986-1991 Mrs A. Game
1991-2005 Mrs J. Smith
2005-2020 Mr T. Bowen
2021... Mr N. Fowler