At All Saints’ we endeavour to equip our children with the necessary tools and foundations for learning and developing life skills that reach beyond the school gates and into their futures.

We would really like to hear from our past pupils, so that we can share their experiences after leaving    All Saints’ and find out how our school helped to shape their lives.

An All Saints' Report Card from years gone by ...

Alumni Recounts

Mel Jacques - Classroom TA. 

I remember being at All Saints’ many years ago - a shy, nervous and timid girl. I was in the class that is now Tigers and although my teacher tried so hard to make me feel ok I was still not happy at school and cried a lot. I wouldn’t even speak! My teacher said to my mum that she thought that I didn’t like her but that wasn't the case, I just was so shy. She pursued this and thankfully made me feel ok, eventually liking school. I went on to sing in the choir and was even brave enough to introduce one of the shows standing on the stage - something I thought I would never do. My Headteacher was so kind and I always remember he had such a homely, friendly manner, which helped me feel secure at school.

All Saints’ gave me the nurturing and confidence I much needed. I subsequently went on to senior school - a much more confident girl. It is now, years later, that I am working in the same primary school, helping children to grow and fill them with the confidence I once needed and had from All Saints’.

Blaydon Farmer  

I started at All Saints’ when I was 5. I was a shy, timid boy clinging to my mum.  My EYFS adults and teachers helped me to settle in, but it took time.

By year 4 I was still insecure but I remember in assembly I was so scared when we were watching a show. My teacher was sitting at the side in his chair. I ran to him and he let me sit by his chair - by his legs. It made me feel so much better and safe.

All Saints’ nurturing manner has made me the confident young man I am today. I have completed my fourth year as an apprentice electrician and All Saints’ will always be a big part of my journey. 

Christina Griffin

While doing research into my hometown of Maldon, I came upon your excellent website. I noticed it included an invitation to former pupils to contact All Saints’ School and I was inspired to write the following memoir. I hope you will find it an interesting and helpful contribution to the history of this long-established church school.

As Christina (Tina) Edwards, I attended All Saints’ School during the 1940s and 1950s. The Infants Class was taught by a gracious, white-haired lady who was gentle and kind with her five-year-old charges, but also firm with a  no-nonsense approach. I distinctly remember diligently colouring a yellow paper chick that was put up on the wall as part of a frieze around the room , and also (shamefully) getting into trouble for talking too much. I played the triangle in the Infants percussion band, but, sadly, never got to be the conductor, a highly coveted position. I remember other teachers and in particular one lady who had the unenviable task of teaching sewing to a room full of restless nine year old girls!

My last two years at All Saints’, I was fortunate to be in a class taught by an enthusiastic and energetic teacher who made learning fun and exciting with his many interesting projects such as collecting food labels from around the world to teach geography, and spirited competitions. He was active in amateur dramatics and in December used to read from “A Christmas Carol” employing many different voices for the characters. It was enthralling and unforgettable.

We had an extraordinary Headmaster: a handsome Welshman with silver wavy hair,he possessed a beautiful speaking and singing voice and encouraged us children to read aloud with clarity and expression. We had regular singing lessons (he accompanied us on the piano) and he introduced radio sets into the classrooms so we could listen to the programmes from the BBC Broadcasts to Schools.I still remember one series, Adventures in Music, which sparked within me a lifelong interest in classical music of every kind. Our Headmaster also read to us from wonderful books:”Treasure Island”,  “The Wind in the Willows”, “Moonfleet” and the historical novels of Geoffrey Trease, always stopping at a very exciting point in the story and telling us we would just have to wait until next time to find out what happened next!

Unfortunately, in that time of post-war austerity, teaching supplies were meagre and of poor quality. We used powder paint to draw patterns on newspaper and then cut the pages up to make decorative festoons for the holidays. The ink in the desk inkwells was also a mix of powder and water, at times diluted so much to eke it out that our handwriting (with “dip” pens) appeared light brown on the page. But we were encouraged to do lots of creative writing and to draw illustrations for our poems and stories as well. 

The school building on London Road was already antiquated with high pointed windows and cast iron stoves providing heat in the winter. The cloakrooms were tiny and the (non-flushing ) toilets were outside, open to the elements. The gritty asphalt playgrounds were the scene of much imaginative play of Cowboys-and-Indians, Mothers-and-Fathersvariety, and game of “It” that often resulted in boys and girls falling down, skinning their bare knees, and having to be treated with Dettol. Organised sports were non-existent except for a very occasional game of rounders. As just about everyone walked to and from school, we got plenty of exercise anyway. 

Hot lunches were served across the road in the dining rooms of the youth Hostel. Rain or shine, we had to line up and walk down the long driveway to the hostel building. In autumn, boys used to collect conkers from the horse chestnut trees along the way. The dinner ladies were formidable individuals in overalls and hairnets who dished out the food from metal containers that were delivered in a green Essex County Council van. The best thing that can be said of these dinners was that they were filling.

There was great emphasis in the curriculum on religious education and to this day I remember listening to the Old Testament stories of Jacob, Joseph and Moses, and learning rote the Catechism of the Anglican Church. The vicar used to stop by each Friday and talk to us engagingly about our Christian faith, and we walked down to the church in a “crocodile” on special occasions such as Ascension Day for a short service after which we had the rest of the day off!

Eventually, I passed the infamous 11+ exam and went on to Maldon Grammar School where I was head girl in the early 1960s. At my final All Saints’ School prize giving I was presented with a copy of L.M.Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables”. What an inspired choice! Not only did I love that book, it actually changed my life. After reading about Anne going to college and earning a B.A. in English, I was determined to do the same. I received my B.A. from King's College, London University and went on to have a very interesting life teaching in England and Canada and earning a Master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Western Ontario. I have worked as librarian (both school and public) and I am now a docent emerita at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. I live in Mattawan, Michigan, married for 51 years to a  now retired professor of languages at Western Michigan University. Our son has a Ph.D. in music; he is an accomplished teacher, composer and pianist. So the love of music implanted in Maldon in the 1950s by the late Headmaster lives on many years later and many miles away from All Saints’ School.

Breanna Blackboro

It both seems like yesterday and decades ago that I attended All Saints. Following this, I studied at Colchester County High School for Girls and then received a place at the University of Birmingham to study medicine in the Summer of 2018. I am delighted to say that I have completed my time there and will graduate as a Doctor on 19 July. Timewise this has been slightly delayed as I took a year out to get an extra BSc in Emergency Care through the University of Plymouth and to have fun (I learned to ski, attended some exciting courses and did some travelling).  

At risk of sounding cliché, I don’t think there is one experience or memory that has allowed me to get to where I am today – but I can very confidently say that the foundations laid for me by All Saints opened doors and gave me the confidence to walk through them. It’s fair to say that I would not have reached where I am today without the early academic foundations which allowed me to attend a secondary school that improved my chances of securing a place in medical school. However, I think there are far more important aspects of my time at All Saints to mention. All Saints founded my inquisitive nature and love for learning by making lessons exciting and creative. My caring nature, ability to work as part of a team, honesty and ambition all stem from the groundwork in those early years. It was the moments where I didn’t realise I was learning – Hilltop, lunchtime calligraphy lessons, singing in church, narrating in class assemblies – that had the biggest impact.  

I’ve come to appreciate how lucky I was to attend a school that I looked forward to learning in, one in which I felt valued as part of a community. Throughout my recent paediatrics block, I have been surprised and deeply saddened to hear of so many children where this isn’t the case. Regarding what I would do differently… I wish I had been involved in a team sport – I was an active child (gymnastics, trampolining, swimming) but being part of a team sport makes it much easier to make friends in adult life and instils important values. That said, I couldn’t be more thankful for having had such a hectic extra-curricular schedule as an 8-year-old. Only when you are older do you realise how important these things are for making you a well-rounded and interesting person. Perhaps controversially, I wouldn’t change anything else – I believe it is important to learn lessons “the hard way” for yourself, and those lessons inform the person you become later down the line.  

In terms of advice for current students… note that if you don’t get put in a group with your best friend, the world won’t end. Sometimes the people that you think you don’t like end up being some of your closest friends. Be kind – saying ‘hello’ to the person who is sitting by themselves at lunchtime could have a much bigger impact on them (and you) than you could imagine. Remember how lucky you are to go to any school, let alone one as good as All Saints. Next time you're complaining about PSHE or maths, think about the child that will never learn to read or write - and all the extra opportunities that you will have, because you can. One for the year sixes…. wave to your loved one if they come to watch you in a class assembly, even if you think they’re a bit embarrassing. When you grow up, you’ll have many moments where you wish they were there at the back of the room to cheer you on. Resist the urge to want to grow up too fast; there is plenty of time to stay up late, wear make-up, have a social media account – whatever it is that you wish you could do. Time flies once you start on the roller coaster that is secondary school and beyond – don’t wish it away. Above all, enjoy!

Fiona Marshall (nee Keeble)

I attended the school in the 1970s in the infants at Hylands Drive and finishing in the juniors at the London Road site, before going on to the Plume School. I have heard it said many times that the Plume School teachers could recognise the manners and abilities of those children that had attended All Saints School when they first arrived at Plume, so the school's reputation obviously went before it.

I have always been proud of my Maldon connection, my mother taught at both All Saints and the Plume School and my father was a founding director of a  boatyard in Maldon. I remained local in my career, eventually becoming the first female Chief Executive at Maldon District Council, a position I stayed in for 9 years . I am lucky enough to now be retired and living locally in Tolleshunt D'Arcy.

There are many things I remember about All Saints, a few that stand out are the joyful hymn singing sessions, especially singing Jerusalem and All Things Bright and Beautiful and when we were first allowed to use our ink filled fountain pens and trying really hard to keep my books neat and tidy. Most of all I remember the discipline generated by the passionate and committed teachers. I clearly remember each and every one of them.

Looking back I feel that I would have possibly have benefitted from getting a broader context to the work that we were undertaking in class, to understand how it could be applied practically and potentially make it more meaningful. Teaching pupils to be inquisitive, to understand how things work and to join the dots will undoubtedly benefit them in their future lives.

I'm an advocate of introducing passionate individuals in particular careers to young people, to provide inspiration and meaningful insights into future career opportunities. Starting this at primary school can hopefully help to get across the value of learning from an early stage. 

I particularly recall the value of friendship and friend groups at this stage in my school life and also the damaging impact of childish nastiness. Encouraging youngsters to value others and recognise the importance of kindness is undoubtedly a priority.

WHY NOT Become part of our All Saints’ Alumni?

If you are a past pupil, get in touch and tell us how

All Saints’ has made an impact on your life.

Just email us on:

alumni@allsaintsprimaryschoolmaldon.co.uk