Jersey Archive's new series of free monthly talks begins this month, this time asking ‘What’s Your School’s Story?’

Throughout this year, the team at Jersey Archive is delving into the history of some of the island’s parish primary schools.

It follows on from the popular 'What's your street's story?' series, which examined past times at various locations around the island.

The 2025 programme begins on Saturday (15 February), with a talk covering the history of education in Jersey, and from then there will be talks every third Saturday of the month at Jersey Archive. 

The topic will move on to individual schools and their history from the 19th and 20th century, illustrated by photographs taken over the decades.

"We have a massive archive of photographs from the schools that have deposited them with us" (St Mark's School 1958 Credit: Jersey Heritage)

Senior Archivist, Stuart Nicolle says they have a wealth of information to explore and share about schooldays past:

"There's so many different aspects to schools in the island, talking about the pupils, the buildings, the staff and the communities around them. There are so many stories that are ready to be told and we're primed now and ready to tell them."

The Archive team will be using school records including admission registers, and additional resources, such as photos, the census and newspapers to uncover unique stories about each school and its surrounding area.

"We have a massive archive of photographs from the schools that have deposited them with us and some other amazing records.

"Things like log books that the Headmasters would have written back in the day including lots of details of what was going on day-to-day and in the lives of the pupils."

The talks will finish in December with a look at how Christmas has been celebrated in local schools.

You can book attendance and find out more here.

Full programme for ‘What’s Your School’s Story?’ 2025

15 February – History of Education

15 March – St John’s School

19 April – St Martin’s School

17 May – St Luke’s School

21 June – La Moye School

19 July – First Tower School

16 August – St Mark’s School

20 September – St Lawrence School

18 October – St Clement’s School

15 November – Trinity School

20 December – Schools at Christmas