Seeking Special School Pupils from the Seventies

A Birmingham charity is looking to record the stories of people who attended special schools in the city in the 1970s.

As part of the “Education is Special” project, CASBA has trained up groups of pupils in four schools to act as Oral Historians. They have already interviewed over 40 people, but they want to find more former pupils who can talk about what it was like to study there.

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, this exciting project is revealing how special education has changed over the past fifty years. Only after the Education Act was passed in 1970 were Local Authorities stopped from denying those with Learning Disabilities a place at school for being “Ineducable”. The first cohort to study in special schools after the law changed were there at a momentous time and their stories will offer a crucial insight into Learning Disability History.

CASBA’s Heritage Project Coordinator, Joe Peacock, explained: “The stories we have already recorded give some fascinating insights from the staff, parents and pupils into what it’s like at these inspirational schools. The staff and pupils have been fantastic, and they are really keen to speak to more former pupils. We want to ensure that Learning Disability history is recorded by and with the people who understand it best.”

CASBA is working with Victoria school in Northfield, Fox Hollies school, which is now located in Moseley, Dame Ellen Pinsent Primary in Billesley and Mayfield school in Lozells. If you or anyone in your family went to these schools and would like to share your story, please contact Joe Peacock joe.peacock@casba.org.uk or call 0121 4750777.