There were private Schools in Patea before the Patea Public School opened in 1875 on Egmont Street. An interview with Harry Locker in the Patea Mail 28 June 1929, tells of the earliest days of schooling in Patea:
With regard to education, the very first school that was hold in Patea was one under a corporal of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment named Corporal Keilor, who held the school in one of the huts in the redoubt on the Heads Road (approx. 1865). I happened to be one of the pupils. When the regiment left the town Corporal Keilor left with it, and the next school was one under a Mrs Morrison, wife of Captain Morrison, and this was held in a whare on the Heads Road. When Mrs. Morrison left there was no school for some time, but as there were a number of children of school ago the Government induced Mr. Palmer, a young married man, to come to the town, and he also held school in a whare on the Heads Road. He, as I have already stated, took command of the Patea Rifles and fell at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. After his death there was no school for some time, until an invalid soldier named Samuel Hannah, started. He taught for quite a long time in a Government hut, first at the Heads, and later near where Mr. Geo. Carmen" now lives. Among Mr. Hannah’s pupils was the present chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, Mr. W. A. Collins. Later on, when the Education Board was formed, Mr. Hannah had to give place to the teacher appointed by the board, a Mr. Weiss, who, I believe, is still alive and a resident of Auckland. A proper school was built near the site of the present Technical School, a portion of which is still to be seen at the back of the technical Building.
None of these Schools would have had many pupils, and they would have been children of the soldiers who had their wives stationed there with them at the time. Harry Locker was the son of Mark and Harriet Locker. They opened a Store on the beach, suppling troops with supplies and liquor. William and Margaret Sergeant also operated a Store on the beach – their children went to these early school’s on the often bleak, wind blown location, Harry was to marry their daughter; Margaret Sergeant.
A public, government controlled School began on the Beach in late 1867, with military man Captain Alfred Palmer appointed teacher, pupils fees were supplemented by the government. Unfortunately, he was killed at Te Ngutu o te Manu in 1868 & this school folded
The next Public school site was reserved in 1871 when the township had moved from the beach up to Egmont Street, and a school building built the following year, for it was operational in 1873 under Mrs Maria Davis who taught 19 girls & six boys. It was possibly on 9 Leicester St, as this was Education Board land, leased by Jack & Fanny Ashby next door for many years. Mrs Orchard also opened a School for girls in Lincoln St in 1879
Mrs Hollis opened a ‘Select Day School’ in September 1887 on Leicester St, in the building previously occupied by Barton Knight Solicitors.
Mr Frederick Gush opened a private School for Girls & Boys around 6 May 1887 called ‘Cumberland House’. By 14 February 1889 the name had changed to ‘Surbiton Villa School’. He started on Hadfield Street, then later moved to Meredith St. He also offered night school classes. By June 1895 Fred Gush was teaching only boys from premises on Victoria St.
Patea Public School (later known as Patea Primary School) opened in 1875. It first took high school students in 1901, and on & off over the following years until the new High school on Kent St was opened in 1960. There were some years before 1960 when low numbers of senior students didn't warrant classes being held at Patea, so they got the train to Hawera High school. Buildings at the Patea Public School grew from four classrooms in 1875. In 1913 a brick building replaced this one. In 1921 gates and steps were erected and the Memorial Avenue planted in memory of pupils lost in the First World War. In 1922 baths were opened and in 1931 the Dental Clinic came into use. a new infant school was opened in 1955. In 1972 this became the main school when the ‘open plan’ infant block was erected. Extra resource area, and a speech clinic were added in 1977. Patea Primary School, as it was later known, closed at the end of 2004. At the beginning of 2005 Patea High School incorporated primary school students to its roll & became known as Patea Area School.
St Joesph's Convent School was opened in 1904, by 5 Sister’s of the Order of St Joseph with a roll of 90. In 1967 it lost its Form 1 and 2 pupils along with the other primary schools, they were sent to the new High School. A new classroom, library and sick bay were added to the original building in 1980.
With regard to education, the very first school that was hold in Patea was one under a corporal of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment named Corporal Keilor, who held the school in one of the huts in the redoubt on the Heads Road (approx. 1865). I happened to be one of the pupils. When the regiment left the town Corporal Keilor left with it, and the next school was one under a Mrs Morrison, wife of Captain Morrison, and this was held in a whare on the Heads Road. When Mrs. Morrison left there was no school for some time, but as there were a number of children of school ago the Government induced Mr. Palmer, a young married man, to come to the town, and he also held school in a whare on the Heads Road. He, as I have already stated, took command of the Patea Rifles and fell at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. After his death there was no school for some time, until an invalid soldier named Samuel Hannah, started. He taught for quite a long time in a Government hut, first at the Heads, and later near where Mr. Geo. Carmen" now lives. Among Mr. Hannah’s pupils was the present chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, Mr. W. A. Collins. Later on, when the Education Board was formed, Mr. Hannah had to give place to the teacher appointed by the board, a Mr. Weiss, who, I believe, is still alive and a resident of Auckland. A proper school was built near the site of the present Technical School, a portion of which is still to be seen at the back of the technical Building.
None of these Schools would have had many pupils, and they would have been children of the soldiers who had their wives stationed there with them at the time. Harry Locker was the son of Mark and Harriet Locker. They opened a Store on the beach, suppling troops with supplies and liquor. William and Margaret Sergeant also operated a Store on the beach – their children went to these early school’s on the often bleak, wind blown location, Harry was to marry their daughter; Margaret Sergeant.
A public, government controlled School began on the Beach in late 1867, with military man Captain Alfred Palmer appointed teacher, pupils fees were supplemented by the government. Unfortunately, he was killed at Te Ngutu o te Manu in 1868 & this school folded
The next Public school site was reserved in 1871 when the township had moved from the beach up to Egmont Street, and a school building built the following year, for it was operational in 1873 under Mrs Maria Davis who taught 19 girls & six boys. It was possibly on 9 Leicester St, as this was Education Board land, leased by Jack & Fanny Ashby next door for many years. Mrs Orchard also opened a School for girls in Lincoln St in 1879
Mrs Hollis opened a ‘Select Day School’ in September 1887 on Leicester St, in the building previously occupied by Barton Knight Solicitors.
Mr Frederick Gush opened a private School for Girls & Boys around 6 May 1887 called ‘Cumberland House’. By 14 February 1889 the name had changed to ‘Surbiton Villa School’. He started on Hadfield Street, then later moved to Meredith St. He also offered night school classes. By June 1895 Fred Gush was teaching only boys from premises on Victoria St.
Patea Public School (later known as Patea Primary School) opened in 1875. It first took high school students in 1901, and on & off over the following years until the new High school on Kent St was opened in 1960. There were some years before 1960 when low numbers of senior students didn't warrant classes being held at Patea, so they got the train to Hawera High school. Buildings at the Patea Public School grew from four classrooms in 1875. In 1913 a brick building replaced this one. In 1921 gates and steps were erected and the Memorial Avenue planted in memory of pupils lost in the First World War. In 1922 baths were opened and in 1931 the Dental Clinic came into use. a new infant school was opened in 1955. In 1972 this became the main school when the ‘open plan’ infant block was erected. Extra resource area, and a speech clinic were added in 1977. Patea Primary School, as it was later known, closed at the end of 2004. At the beginning of 2005 Patea High School incorporated primary school students to its roll & became known as Patea Area School.
St Joesph's Convent School was opened in 1904, by 5 Sister’s of the Order of St Joseph with a roll of 90. In 1967 it lost its Form 1 and 2 pupils along with the other primary schools, they were sent to the new High School. A new classroom, library and sick bay were added to the original building in 1980.
