WILLIAM Morris succeeded in life as a great entrepreneur and benefactor, despite “irregular attendance” at school.

The creator of the Cowley car industry, who gave millions of pounds to hospitals and other good causes, had a difficult start to his school life after being born at Worcester on October 10, 1877.

When his family moved to Oxford and 12-year-old William joined Cowley St James School in Beauchamp Lane on October 21, 1889, he had fallen behind in his studies. The school log book recorded Morris “had not been taught grammar before coming to this school”.

Later, a master wrote: “I have placed William Morris in the III Standard. He has never been examined in the III, but I tried him in the IV because of his age (12) and size.

“He has attended school very irregularly and has changed from place to place a great deal. Under these circumstances, I think he will progress in the III better than the IV.”

It was a wise decision – in 1892, the boy who was to become Lord Nuffield and a major figure in the British motor industry, was commended and a year later, won the Diocesan Prize.

Absenteeism was a problem at Cowley St James as well as at the schools the young William Morris had attended in Worcester.

The St James’s log book reveals that in wet weather, only about two-thirds of pupils were present.

That was probably because the school covered a wide area and many pupils had long distances to walk to and from school.

Other reasons for absence included fruit and vegetable picking, hay-making, driving sheep to market, going to Oxford, harvesting, minding the baby, cricket and golf.

Many children also skipped classes to attend St Giles Fair, St Clement’s Fair and Cowley Feast, leaving few at school.

School hours were from 9am to 4.30pm (4pm in winter). There was a 10-minute break from lessons in the morning, but none in the afternoon.

School fees were raised from twopence to threepence a week in 1883. Subjects taught were the three Rs, scripture, needlework and singing.

The staff comprised the headteacher, an assistant who was probably unqualified and occasionally a pupil teacher or monitor. One entry in the logbook in 1866 read: “Today 27 infants are under the charge of a girl aged 10.”

Conditions at the school were criticised by inspectors. In 1866, they reported that “the condition of this school is bad – any grant to it in its present state is a waste of public money” and in 1883, “the schoolroom is not properly warmed and is one of the most comfortless rooms I was ever in”.

The logbook also records boys being punished for insubordination and for “climbing on the wall and plucking a neighbour’s fruit”.

* Another famous pupil who attended Cowley St James School is Dame Maggie Smith, whose glittering career has included playing the Dowager in Downton Abbey.