A Short History of Quintin Kynaston School (Page 9)
Schism (1892-1919)
Due to growing numbers of students, separate heads were appointed for the Technical School - originally the Industrial Division - and for the Commercial School (which included the Professional Division). Teacher of shorthand David Woodhall had led the famous school journey in 1886. Charles Mitchell, a sheet metal worker, taught "Geometry, Building and Machine Construction". Neither had any academic qualifications but both men had been among the original pioneers of the Polytechnic Day School. Their appointment in 1892 ensured continuity despite the sudden and unexpected departure of Mr Bulter-Smith, who had been Headmaster of the Day Boys School since its inception. His absence from the Summer Prize Distribution excited much speculation but the reason for his abrupt going was not made public.
Although the two schools managed to come together for morning prayers and on ceremonial occasions such as Sports Day (albeit as competitors) and Prize Day, they effectively operated as separate schools. This was not the intention: they occupied the same building! According to G. E. Dench (who became Second Master [Deputy Head] when the schools reunited), rivalry between the two "sometimes took unpleasant forms". This was sometimes resolved in later life when the "snobbish" Commercials and the "disreputable" Technicals joined the Old Quintians Club.
By 1905, seven staff could boast a B.A. or a B.Sc. - twenty years earlier only the Headmaster had a degree. Other schoolmasters claimed a strange variety of "qualifications" include Lon[don]. Mat[riculation], Inter[mediate] B.Sc., Registered Teacher, Silver Medalist and "Honours Science". Ambiguously, one master's qualification was "Edinburgh University" and another "Trinity College, Dublin". Teachers were, however, extremely poorly paid and far fewer people went to university than now. Frank Matthews, who was one of the few Poly boys to achieve London Matriculation [equivalent to NVQ Level 2] during these early years, was feted on Prize Day in July 1894. He joined the staff in the autumn term on seven shillings a week [35p]. Eight years later he married on a salary of £39 a year. He went on to become B.Sc., Ph.D. and a Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry. There were many examples of exceptionally competent teachers on the staff during this period, whether or not they had formal qualifications.
Readers familiar with pre-Comprehensive days will recognise this pre-echo of rivalries between Grammar Schools and Secondary Moderns.