Crosshill National school was built at the same time as St. James’s church in 1844 at a cost of £289 5s 4d and had capacity for 150 boys, 130 girls and 150 infants (these figures are taken from kelly's Directory of 1891 and seem very optimistic. The figures in the reports below are probably more realistic). In 1895 the school was changed to a boys only school with Girls now attending Jessop Street school and Infants attending Mill lane school (Peverel House). In the 1930s, boys reaching the age of 11 were moved to the new Codnor Central Council School (Whitegates school) and Crosshill School continued as a boys junior school until it was closed in the 1960s eventually being demolished in the early 1970s

According to the following two reports the new school had a poor start.

Crosshill School (Codnor & Loscoe) A Report by Rev. Henry Moseley for the Committee of Council on Education
14th May 1845

This school has been opened about one year and a half  before my inspection, and 90 children assembled in it; and subsequently closed for six months, from the misconduct of the master. It was re-opened about a fortnight before my visit. 20 children only were assembled, the fee charge , 3d per week, being probably too high for the population of colliers, for whose benefit it is erected.
                                                                                                                         

Crosshill School (Codnor & Loscoe) A Report by Rev. J J Blandford for the Committee of Council on Education
18th June 1847

Amount of grant for school building                                 £67
Date of grant                                                                         1842
Population of school district                                         2047
Number of children the school can provide for                 130
Children in ordinary attendance                                         35
Children in attendance at time of examination.         25
Number of teachers                                                         1
Children reading Letters and Monosyllables              12
Children reading Easy Narratives                                 12
Children reading Holy Scripture with ease                 1
Writing on Slates, paper. Dictation or memory                 1
Writing on Slates, paper. From copies                         14
Children performing arithmetic, addition                         4
Children performing arithmetic, proportion & practice 1

The population of Codnor & Loscoe is 2000; the average attendance at the school is 35;There is accommodation for 120. The only apparatus belonging to the school is a black board, a few slates and a ball frame (abacus), which I found in the coal hole instead of the school. The school is in a wretched state and there is little probability of improvement under the present master.
                                                                                         

In 1874 the Headmaster is recorded as William Floyd Pine.
In 1891 the Headmaster is recorded as Arthur Floyd Pine and his wife Harriett Pine was Headmistress.
In 1899 the Headmaster is recorded as Arthur Floyd Pine and Miss Fanny Pine was Headmistress.
In 1912 the Headmaster is recorded as Arthur Floyd Pine and Miss Sarah Hindmarsh Headmistress

Fig.1 Crosshill School 1906. Displayed with kind permission of
Heanor & District Local History Society

Fig.2 Floor plan of Crosshill School Circa 1909 

Fig.4 Crosshill Boys 1910. Thanks to Gill Hall for this picture.
Displayed with kind permission of The Ripley & Heanor News

Fig.5 Crosshill Boys 1914. Thanks to Gill Hall for this picture.
Displayed with kind permission of The Ripley & Heanor News

Fig.6 Crosshill Boys circa 1915
The teacher is Mr Severn, the pupil stood in front of him is Thomas Benjamin Henshaw. Fred Bostock front row third from right.

Image displayed courtesy of Carol Henshaw

Fig.7 Crosshill Boys 1920. I have no information for this picture other than Andy Sharpe front row third from left. Displayed with kind permission of Heanor & District Local History Society

Fig.8 Crosshill School Boys 1922
Back Row Left to Right: H Marsden, W Lacey, W Jackson, J Hogg, G Benton, W Madeley, W Kirkham, W Berrisford, J Gillot, M Ratcliffe.
Third Row: A Potter, A Vassey, G White, F Brown, L Madeley, R Pacey, K Hogg, I Murfin, J Langton, R Greenwood.
Second Row: S Sharpe, G Bestwick, Redfern, E Whiteman, E Bestwick, J Jones,  F Waterall, E Benton, A Challands, Brown, C Cresswell, R Ratcliffe.
Front Row: R Lumm, M Sharpe, E Watson, F Whiteman, W Lumm, W Thorpe, J Burgin, J Burgin, J Parkin, M Parkin, G Haige, Murfin.

Displayed courtesy of Keith Benton

Fig.9 Crosshill Boys 1928. I have no information for this picture other than William Musson Second from right front row. Displayed with kind permission of Heanor & District Local History Society

Fig.10 Crosshill Boys 1928. Picture taken across road from the old vicarage.

Teacher: Dorothy King (left) and Head Master Mr W.H.John (Right)
Back Row Left to Right: ?,  Ernest Bailey, Bert Parr, Fred Woollins, Billy Burton, John Hall, Harold Froggart , Lewis Walker, ?, Walter Julian, ?, George Underwood, Walter Cripps.
3rd Row Left to Right: Dick Asher, Arthur Brown, Dick Spence, ?, Morris Thomas, Wilf Brewin, Worthington, ?,?,?,Charlie Whysall, Arthur Hicking.
2nd Row left to Right: Victor Brown, Fred Burgin, John Parkin, Billy Twigg, George Thorpe, Harold Hubball, Jack Roberts, Ken Riley, ?,?,?.
Front Row left to Right: Elijah Cross, Wilf Wilson, Jim Potter, Jim Burgin, Ron Birks, Arthur Farmer, Tom Thorpe, Frank Thorpe.

Displayed courtesy of Paul Birks

Fig.11 Crosshill School Boys 1937
The only name I have for this group is  Kenneth Weston, middle row, left hand side. Born in 1925, he worked at Butterley Ironworks from 1940 - 1983 (apart from a spell in the army) and lived on Brookvale Avenue all of his life until he died in 1995.

Fig.12 Crosshill boys 1942/43
Back Row Left to Right: Ken Brown, Alan Shawcroft, Jack Wassell, Ross Baily, Bert Foulds, Derek Anthony, Barry Whiteman, Geoff Shillito, Michael Hollis, Derek Allen.
Middle Row: Barry Nicolls, Tom Shaw, Reg Challands, Nev Robinson, Peter Brough, Geoff Shaw, Derek Argyle, Peter Bailey, Colin Wiggin.
Front Row: Kieth Woolley, Peter Young, Michael Stenson, Walter Hall, Mr Harry Savage ( Head ), Mrs Brown ( Teacher ), Kieth Watson, Denis Pettit, Trevor Stone, John Smith.
Displayed courtesy of Nev Robinson

Fig.13 Crosshill boys 1942/43 in classroom.
Back Row Left to Right:  Jack Wassell, Ken Brown, John Smith, Dennis Pettit, Derek Anthony, Barry Whiteman, Terry Hibbert, Geoff Shillito, John Clarke.
Middle Row: Peter Young, Walter Hall, Bert Foulds, Rex Hawley, Nev Robinson, Colin Wiggin, Derek Argyle, Peter Bailey.
Front Row: Geoff Shaw, Kieth Woolley, Peter Brough, Mr Savage ( Head ), Ross Bailey, Tom Shaw, Reg Challands.
Displayed courtesy of Nev Robinson

Fig.14 Crosshill Boys 1946
Back Row left to right: ?,?, Brian Strange, Denis Cooper, Ken Goodrum, Barry Allsop, Harold Perkins, Roy Bamford, Brian Clarke, Michael Smith

Middle Row: ?,  Keith Shelton,  John Dunn,  Alan Waterall,  Ken Fowkes,  Tony Redfern,  Barry Daykin,  Donald Hanbury,  Arthur Lacey,  Peter Allsop, Roy Devenport,  Barry Bradley, ?
Front Row: Barry Woolis, ?, ?, Tony Dann, ?, ?, Gren Newton, John Ratcliffe, ?, Alan Colledge, ?
Displayed courtesy of Heanor & District Local History Society
Thanks to Nev Robinson for info for this picture.

Fig.15 Crosshill School Boys 1947

Back Row Left to Right: Michael Stretch, Walter Oliver, Derek Allen, Michael Hollis, Frank Spencer, Barrie Bond, Peter Murfin, Maurice Stanley.
Middle Row: Don Broughton, Lional Stapleton, ?, Michael Stenson, Jimmy Bates, Terry Baker, Jim Watson, Maurice Robinson, Richard Pearson, Geoffrey Bamford.
Front Row: Teddy Holmes, Ronnie calladine, Ernie Hutsby, Alan Shawcroft, Lillian Brown (teacher), Keith Cresswell, Barry Nicholls, Lawrence Hazeldine, Harry Gillott.
Thanks to Gill Hall for this picture.
Displayed with kind permission of The Ripley & Heanor News

Fig.16 Crosshill School Boys 1950
Back row Left to Right: Roger Burns, Norman Annable, Michael McCarthy, Bruce Pritchett, Centre row Bernard Housely, Peter Birks, Bill Allsop, Raymond Curzon, Roy Grainger, Keith Beardsley,
Front row: John Watson, Alan Hutsby, John Millership, John Bunting, Graham Longdon, Brian Gillott
Image displayed courtesy John Millership

Fig.17 Crosshill School Boys 1954

Back Row Left to right: Peter Orchard, Terry Grainger, Terry Ratcliffe, Alan Pearson, Roy Perkins, Steven Miller, ?Hawkins, Ivan Gill, Ross Parkin.
Middle Row: Malcolm Baker, George Searson, Trevor Williams, Allan Richardson, Victor Asher, Tony Noon, John Cresswell John Langley, Malcolm Waterall, Royce Prtchard.
Front Row: Melvin Woodward, John Martin, Kenneth Allan, Melvin Millward, Peter Marriott, Mick Farmer, Brian Hazeldine, Mick Wood, Ralph Walters, Tony Roberts.

Fig.18 Crosshill Junior school for boys pictured in the 1950s. Displayed with kind permission of PictureThePast.org.uk

Fig.19 Crosshill C of E Junior Boys' School - Third Year 1959

Back Row left to Right; Robert Farmer, Michael Benniston, John Hardy, Paul Tissington, Trevor Bowmer, Norman Wright, David Taylor, Paul Palmer, Kenneth Cooper.
Mr King (Third Year Teacher), Mr Gregson (Headmaster).
Third Row; David Wrigley, Richard Joyce, John Bryan, Paul Tyler, Graham Case, Brian Reeves, Terry Wightman, Geoff Clark, Andrew Baxter.
Second Row; Philip Crofts, Dave Woodward, Keith Berridge, Alan Housley, David Cox, Roger Murfin, Dennis Robinson, Derek Gillott, Brian Swain.
Front Row; Geoff Broughton, Alan Weston, Raymond Bradley, Kevin Parkin

Displayed Courtesy of Dave Woodward

Fig.20 Crosshill Boys School 1962

Back row left to right Peter Wardby,Eric Longdon,Peter Todd,Brenand Slater,Malcolm Dooley.
Middle row John Searson,?,Micheal leek,Ronnie Merrit,David Henson,John Hague.
Front row Les Robinson,John Polfreyman,Frank Nicholls,Clive Marriot,Mr Gregson,neil Oates,Colin Eyre,Mervyn Marlow,Malcolm Reeves

Fig.21 Crosshill Boys football team 1961-62

Back row left to right Mr King and Mr Gregson (Head master)
Middle row Albert Thompson,louis Wakefield,Dave Henson,John Searson,Roy Hutsby,Neil oates,Colin Eyre,Mervyn Marlow.
Front row Kenny Shaw,Brenand Slator,Eric Longdon,Ronnie Merrit,Malcolm Dooley,Mick Holmes,Mick Leake.

Fig.22 Crosshill Boys Cricket Team 1962

Back Row Neil Oates,Brenand Slater, Ronnie Merrit, Malcolm Dooley, Micheal Holmes, Eric Longdon, Micheal Leake.
Front row Colin Eyre, Melvin Marlow, Kenny Shaw, Mr King, John Searson, Mr Gregson (Head master), Lewis Wakefield, John Polfreman, Les Robinson.

Fig.24 Crosshill School classroom 1964. 

Information for this page was obtained from the following publications.

The Heritage of Codnor & Loscoe, by Fred S Thorpe 1990
Wrights Directory 1874
Kelly's Directory 1891
Kelly's Directory 1895
Kelly's Directory 1899
Kelly's Directory 1912

Also many thanks to Mr Marshall at Codnor Primary School for providing some of these photos.