The School
The numbers of school children recommended for a residential type of school were decreasing. Day schools were beginning to provide for statemented children, and the practice of removing children from their parents for long periods of time was losing ground. The other residential special school at Corley had long since changed its designation. It began as an open-air school for children with health problems and as a short-term placement for under-nourished children. Standards of health improved, other LEAs opened their own facilities and by the 80s Corley was similar in nature to Town Thorns. Special schools were all age establishments although the Education Act of 1944 created the system of primary and secondary education. In the mid 80s Coventry Education made these changes to Special Education in a move known as ‘Future Choices’. In the reshuffle there was no need for two residential schools. The decision was made to close Town Thorns. This came about in August 1986.
1965
The Big House is just visible in the background.
The paved path was the main walkway into the school building.
The windows above are on the corridor side of a row of dormitories.
The 3 windows on the ground floor opened into the boot room.
Stone stairs led to the upper storey.
This courtyard was demolished in 1969.
A raised swimming pool with paving slabs all around filled the area.
1966
A section of the school facing south.
This area is where the conservatory once stood.
The glass structure on the far left was ‘the bridge joining the house to the school.
Not visible are the stone steps that led up to it from outside.
Rooms l to r were quiet room, day room, classroom, another classroom, toilets.
Upstairs were the boys’ dormitories, mostly three to a room, a few singles.
Heavy Crafts Room
The room was situated on the extreme southeast corner of the building and was the lowest of 3 storeys on that elevation. Windows on the right looked out onto the amphitheatre.
A forge and equipment for metalworking can be seen at the far end.
The ceilings of every room were, as shown, wooden with strip lighting.
The floor, like the Hall, entrance hall and all ground floor rooms was oak parquet.
15