terrible flu epidemic. It was so bad that it almost became a national disaster and by October it had swept through the school and decimated the numbers to such an extent that it was decided to close the school which did not reopen until December. As soon as school recommenced, a day's holiday was given by order of Staffordshire Education Committee to honour the great part played by the 46th North Midland Division in the victories gained at St. Quentin Canal on 29th September and three days later at Ramicourt.
    Besides the hay and corn harvests the children were expected to assist with the potato and damson gathering and with blackberry picking for the Ministry of Food. In order to save on bread the dinner service was extended to cater for children coming from some distance. They were charged 2d a meal. Mrs Porteous remembers the school meals just after the war and things like nut cutlets and len-til stew stick out in her mind.
























                                  
The end of term prize giving was now becoming a major event in the school calendar. It  was att-ended by the vicar and a well-known local person would present the prizes. The children put on entertainment and many parents and friends would come along  to watch. They had to do this from over the school wall because there was not enough room in the playground to accommodate every-one. At the 1921 Speech Day the Chairman of the Staffordshire Education Committee congratulated the managers, Headmaster and staff on the way the school was run and the fact that various Codsall scholars had won scholarships.
    After the war, conditions in the school began to improve. In 1923 gas lighting was  introduced at a cost of £60. The staff offered to find half of this amount! In 1925 annual dental treatment was begun. Through the canvassing of the Roman Catholic sisters in the village in 1931 about 15 children were persuaded to leave the school and attend the Roman Catholic school at Brewood. The school also lost a senior assistant (Mr Wiles) who had been appointed Headmaster of Coven C of E School.