SCHOOL days are reputed to be the happiest days of our lives — or so we used to be told.

Judging by the lovely stories we have been told over the years by our Looking Back readers that old adage certainly rings true for many of you.

Bolton has an interesting educational history and we know many of the schools that used to educate children in the town no longer exist — or now take different forms.

We have picked two interesting old photographs from our archives — these two date back to the 1940s and will, hopefully, bring back memories for some of our older readers.

There is a lovely happy picture of pupils at Kearsley West Council School in the late 1940s.

Mr Harry Pollitt, who was one of the teachers on the picture, sent this photograph in to us in 1994. He sent this photograph to Jack Peers, of Primrose Street in Kearsley when Mr Peers wrote to his former teacher congratulating him on his golden wedding.

He was amazed to hear that Harry had kept a record of every pupil he taught at the school — which must have been some record.

The school, in Primrose Street, is no longer a "council" school but is still named Kearsley West of course.

It is difficult to tell who are pupils and who are teachers on the photograph because in the 1940s children would leave school at the age of just 14. This was an improvement on the original Elementary Education Act 1880 which insisted on compulsory attendance from aged five to 10.

So many of the youngsters who were on this photograph would leave at the age of 14 and then go into the work place some of them becoming what were called pupil teachers.

Pupil teachers also used to be referred to as a senior pupil who acted as a teacher of younger children, which in the 19th and early 20th centuries was a common step on the road to becoming a professional teacher for intelligent boys and girls — often from a less affluent background who were unable to attend Teachers' College.

Our other photograph shows pupils as Fourgates Primary School in Westhoughton who are pictured in 1944 together with the school cat. Perhaps some of our readers will recall having "pets" in school?

Audrey Shields was the girl with the ribbon together with Marian Guest.

It is a wonderfully atmospheric image of a time long gone when children's school days were far simpler but still very much enjoyed.

School uniforms were not compulsory as our picture shows.

The children look incredibly industrious as they go about their designing and building project — watched by the cat.

In the background we can clearly see the enamel bowls and buckets used for the children's daily wash and brush up.

In the 1940s and even beyond this children would not only be required to have a wash in school many would also be expected to go to sleep in the afternoon for a short nap.

School for the younger children was, it would seem, an extension of their home lives and a time for nurturing and being cared for.

Do you have memories of your school days that you would like to share with other readers?

If so do get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk