The problem, as I see it in retrospect, was the comprehensive school concept that mixing the brightest in a class with the downright thick and thuggish, would elevate the thick and thuggish to a higher level by example and association.

This has never been the case, what would happen was that the thickos would dominate and wreck interesting lessons by their behaviour. The inevitable outcome was teachers showing a level of brutality that would never be tolerated these days.
I was hit with canes. [ Francis], bunches of keys,[Ashbees favourite], plimsolls, board rubbers and in one case a javelin. Most of the time I was ignorant of why, and on several occasions set up by the class/house favourite,usually some sporting star of the moment [ I loathed sports, still do].

I was not the delinquent this would seem to be, mostly back chat, talking too much, or truancy [understandable] was my crime. I used to hide out in the little library in the Horniman museum,anyone remember that? Quaint little place, with some interesting reading, I was always a great reader, I can still recall the first book I got from FH library at 6yrs old.
A turning point in my life was the teenage surge in growth, and the realisation I could fight back.

Poor old Nobby Norman I saw reduced to tears a couple of times by bullying from the class thugs. A nice gentle man, possibly gay, who did not deserve to be treated like it.
Funny how its his name thats stuck firmest in my mind.

That wretched swimming pool money was raised by threats and coercion from the staff; "here's a bunch of programmes for the school fete go and sell them all; or we want to know why" parents got really fed up with constant demands for cash or other contributions for one thing or another, I remember one lad brought back an oxo cube. I'd resort to hawking those bleddy programmes door to door, Cliff Richards mum in Catford and Rolf Harris place in SE26 were always good for a few sales; I look back now feeling lucky.

I suppose I sound a bit exaggerated, but in the 1950s the catchment area was undergoing a huge change, lots of east end slum clearance and rebuilding after the war years meant a huge number of families moved out of the east end into new buildings around SE23/6.
A lot of criminal inclined amongst them [Ever wondered why so much crime came out of the Crays and Orpington?

I'm 70 now and spend a lot of time wondering where all these memories are surfacing from, I think I can remember what I had for breakfast today....

Life got lot better after I left, and I never kept in touch with any of my school mates, didn't want to, which is I suppose why some of the posts here have set me off.........I must sound a miserable old geezer.

Spot on, Perryman, but if confronted with any of those teachers or their descendants, I'd still tell them to their face.Fair comment and all that.
My school experiences made life a bit difficult for me in my teens, till I learnt how to overcome the attitude that resulted.

I do have fond memories of growing up in SE26/3 area, my mum lived in Stanstead road till she died; its a lot different these days, I'm glad to be a long way away.