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Castle Deaf Classes, Castle School, Castle Green (c1894–1898)
The first state-funded education for Deaf children in Bristol was begun in a basement classroom at the Castle School, about 1894. Records relating to the classes are limited, but Hershon surmises that the classes began then, most probably in response to the ‘Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act 1893’ which made it compulsory for the state (and Bristol City Council) to provide education for the Deaf and Blind.
The Castle Deaf Classes opened with room for 20 pupils. In May 1894, Bristol had 39 deaf children, 27 at the Castle School, one at Mina Road Girls School and one at Redcliffe Day School; by September 1894, there were 36 pupils at Castle School. The overcrowding meant that in June 1895 the Deaf classes moved from the basement to the Chapel Schoolroom.
Over four years, the Castle Deaf Classes had four different Head Teachers. In addition to the Head, government inspectors recommended that the school provided three members of staff in total, and when the classes closed in 1898, there were four staff in charge. Details of the children’s education limited, but it is assumed that the Oral method was taught, although school records show that finger-spelling was also taught. May 1895 permission was also granted to allow children to visit art galleries and museums, and to make trips to countryside, and additional staff were brought in to teach woodwork, drawing and cookery.
The Castle Deaf Classes ceased on 9 May 1898, to be replaced by the residential school at Kingsdown Parade. The school itself was destroyed in bombing in the Second World War.