28 June 1864 - School opened. Mr Edmund Heywood, Master.

17 November 1864 - Wet day – small attendance.

18 November 1864 - Very wet – small attendance.

10 January 1867 - Taught the children to sing the multiplication tables.

17 January 1867 - Several boys punished for coming to school late.

5 February 1868 - Thin attendance this afternoon – Menagerie in town.

21 September 1868 - Great fire at one of the cotton mills in the town. All of the children absent. Half holiday in consequence.

2 November 1868 - Very full school – prospect of tea party.

26 April 1870 - Report of Inspection undertaken by W J Kennedy H.M.I. on 23rd March 1870. “This school is now well attended and the children are very fairly taught. The discipline is perhaps not quite strict enough. The room seems to be very full of draughts (and gave me at least a bad cold). My Lords hope that better casements will be put into the windows.

6 May 1887 - Gave the children a holiday on Tuesday because of the opening of the Exhibition in Manchester, and the coming of the Prince of Wales.

22 February 1889 - Had recourse to the “Dunce Cap” this week which has had a good effect on the dullards in each class.

25 February 1890 - Came into our new buildings today – much pleasanter than the old school.

6 June 1902 - Gave a half holiday in the afternoon (Monday) in honour of the news of Peace from South Africa.

8 May 1903 - Gave out this afternoon notice that no more school fees would be required for children attending this school. Books would also be provided in future free of cost.

16 November 1904 - School also closed during the rest of the week – holding a Bazaar in the Co-operative Hall to clear off the school debt.

14 July 1905 - School closed on Thursday the whole day; the occasion being the King’s visit to Manchester.

7 June 1907 - Re-opened school on Monday with a good attendance, but Sanger’s Cricus coming on Wednesday spoiled the weekly average.

24 May 1911 - The children were assembled at 3.45 this afternoon to have a short address on “Empire Day”.

1 June 1911 - The school closed at 4pm for three weeks, the first two being the usual Whitsuntide Holiday. The third week was granted by the Education Authority to celebrate the Coronation of King George V and his Consort, Queen Mary. Commemorative medals were distributed to the children at the school on Wednesday June 21st. June 22nd the scholars assembled at the school and were marched to the Market Ground where they joined with scholars from other schools in singing the Old Hundredth and the National Anthem.

4 April 1912 - During the holiday dinners were provided at the school for children in distress due to the coal dispute.

13 September 1918 - Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell V.C. a former scholar visited the school and spoke of the deed that won the distinction for him. Each scholar was given a close inspection of the Victoria Cross that had been personally handed to Halliwelll by the King on the previous Wednesday.

11 November 1918 - School closed this afternoon in commemoration of the signing of an armistice with the Germans and the consequent cessation of hostilities. Before dismissal at noon the whole school was assembled and the Doxology, the Soldiers Hymn and the National Anthem were sung.

22 July 1919 - Gift to scholars. Mrs Lees of Middleton Junction, accompanied by Miss Kay and the Education Secretary visited the school this afternoon and presented each child with a new sixpence as a Peace momento.

6 July 1920 - Visit of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales to Middleton: The children, both departments, assembled at 11.30am and marched in procession to the Market Place. They had a magnificent view of the proceedings, and were greatly impressed thereby. Holiday all day.

15 July 1927 - Monday July 11th - On this date, about 8pm, a disastrous flood occurred in Middleton, the River Irk heavily over-flowing its banks as a result of heavy rain and the bursting of the canal embankment near Mills Hill Bridge. The flooded area affected the Little Park and the area between Manchester Old and New Roads. About 60 children of this school, both departments, came from homes damaged by the flood. Feeding arrangements: For children whose homes have suffered from the flood. Commencing Tuesday 12th instant a hot meal will be served each day, and this will be served on Saturday and Sunday, and continued until further notice … the Head Teacher has been appointed Hon Secretary of the Blue Ribbon Hall, a temporary housing centre for women and children rendered homeless by the flood.

20 November 1931 - Attendance very poor – previous to this date and afterwards – epidemic of influenza and bronchitis. During week swing doors leading into J2 have been re-hung so that they now open one way only. This should exclude possible.

5 October 1934 - Introduction of ‘New Milk Bill’ – big increase in number of children drinking milk.

8 August 1939 - Air raid precautions – shelters to be erected under the recreation ground adjoining the school – school can be evacuated in 1 min 30 secs.

19 July 1940 - School’s war effort – children have collected aluminum and other metals in response to the appeal of the Government.

12 September 1940 - Air raid alarm at 10.50am Children taken to shelter. All clear at 11.25. First experience of an actual alarm during school hours – children’s behaviour very good.

27 January 1941 - Superintendent Jones and a squad of firemen gave demonstration of senior children in infants yard of how to tackle an incendiary bomb. The children actually tackled the fires. From 3-4pm the same children had further practice in the use of the Stirrup Pump.

7 April 1942 - Heavy gale, and the chimney stack at the south east end of the school collapsed and crashed through J4 classroom. Children were in the room but luckily only one boy needed medical attention – school closed until Monday 12th April.

12 April 1942 - School opened – J4 in with J3 – overcrowded!

8 May 1945 - V.E. Day – school assembled and proceeded to Church for short service of thanksgiving. Children then dismissed for two days holiday.

5 August 1947 - Today marks the end of Parkfield School as an “All Standard School”. When the school re-opens it will be a Junior School.

8 February 1952 - The Proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen, from St James’ Palace, London was listened to by the children.

21 May 1953 - This afternoon the children were given a Coronation party. Afterwards Coronation Spoons were presented to the children.

5 June 1964 - This weekend Parkfield parishioners celebrate the centenary of the opening of the first Parkfield C.E. School in June 1864.

13 February 1967 - The architect and the Vicar (visited) to discuss sketch plans for the proposed new school.

6 January 1969 - New Infants School – transferred.

10 June 1969 - An exploratory meeting to discuss the formation of a Parent-Teacher Association was held in school.

17 May 1971 - Thirty four children left school early to prepare for a trip to the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall Hall in Shropshire. This was a “pilot scheme” run with the approval of Mr. J. Lane and J.P. the Director of the Centre as children of our age-group have never before been admitted to the Centre on a residential basis. At the end of the visit he was so impressed by the children’s behaviour and the obvious benefit that they were gaining from this experience that he offered us future dates on a yearly basis.

18 April 1972 - Last night’s Education Committee meeting confirmed that Parkfield had been put on the preliminary list for 1972-73 by the Department of Education and Science. This means that new premises should be started during the 1974-5 financial year.

27 October 1972 - Thirty seven fourth-year children accompanied by the Head, Mr Whitfield, Mrs Whiting and Mrs Parkinson visited Carter’s Charity School, Preesall, near Knott-end-on-Sea. The aim of the visit was to carry out some marine studies on the beach, then to dine with our hosts, after which a whole series of inter-school football matches were played. A most enjoyable day was concluded with a visit to Blackpool Illuminations before returning to Middleton at about 9pm.

29 March 1974 - The close of the school today marked the end of a long and highly satisfactory association with Lancashire County Education Committee. We re-open on Monday (1st April) as part of Rochdale Metropolitan Borough. It is hoped that this new set-up will be as satisfactory from the point of view of the teachers and as beneficial to the children as that enjoyed under the county.

26 May 1977 - A party was held today in the Junior Department to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of H.M. the Queen, Each child received a gift of a newly minted Jubilee Crown as a souvenir of this occasion.

15 September 1978 - Head out-of-school from 9.00am to 11.30am attending a meeting at the Borough Architect’s Department to discuss modifications to the proposed plan for the completion of the school on the Harold Street site.

23 October 1979 - Work commenced in earnest today on the completion of the school which has been anticipated (with ever increasing resignation and cynicism!) since January 1969. If the project is completed for the agreed date we shall be installed ready to start the school year 1980-81 on Wednesday 3rd September 1980.

12 November 1980 - Six children from J3 took part in a discussion on “Patriotism” which is to be broadcast on B.B.C. Radio Manchester tomorrow.

Wednesday 15 July 1981 - Children and some of our equipment transferred to the new Junior Department in Harold Street, thus ending over twelve years of split-site working. Two assemblies held today, one just prior to leaving the old premises in Cross Street and the other at the start of our life in the new building. The children are naturally very excited by their new surroundings and, though this last week of term will be rather chaotic, the staff look forward to continuing the good work carried out over the last one hundred and sixteen years in the old building.

Phase I of the new school, i.e. the infant department, was built during the summer and autumn of 1968 ready for occupation on 6th January 1969. This building, which was designed by Desmond Williams, included many suggestions put forward by Mr. Cathcart, who was Head of the junior school at that time, and his staff. Although this is one of the earliest “open-plan” buildings, the most frequent comment heard from the dozens of visitors that we had in the years immediately after its completion was about the quietness of the unit. 

This is equally true today and is due to two factors: the staff’s ability to maintain a good, controlled learning atmosphere and the design features incorporated into the three teaching areas and their associated home bays. These features include the use of ground cork wall finishes, and soft vinyl floor tiles all of which combine to absorb sound and reduce it to a comfortable level. These finishes are in marked contrast to those used in the “wet” resource areas, the toilets and the cloakrooms, where vinyl wall coverings combined with formica laminates produce areas that can be kept clean and free from infection relatively easily. 

Another outstanding feature, not always immediately apparent even to the professional visitors, is the planning of the “sight lines” in order to allow every part of the unit to be supervised with a minimum of staff. This is one of the features that we have tried to incorporate into the new building so that a flexible approach to the children’s needs can be adapted with maximum effectiveness. As you look around the junior department you will notice that although the design is by no means open-plan, every teacher has an uninterrupted view across the joint cloakroom/resource and library areas. 

1st September 2008 - New Headteacher - Mrs C Palfreyman

2009 - Recognised as an extended schools provider by RMBC by increasing out of hours provision & experiences

2009 - New state of the art computing software & hardware purchased

2009 onwards - All classrooms  & public areas remodelled & updated including major building works to create new offices, admin space & facilities to accommodate increasing staff numbers

2009 - Rights Respecting School is awarded

2009 onwards - Teaching school established with Manchester University

2010 - Whole school re-roofed & rewired

2010 onwards - School council & Eco Council are created & win awards including the Silver Award & a Green Flag

2010 - The first school in Rochdale to achieve the Leading Parent Partnership Award

2011 - Our commitment to achieving a Healthy School status is recognised

2012 - Reduced PAN from 35 to 30 to allow teaching & learning in single aged classes

2013 - Sport teams re enter Middleton schools & become St Anne’s Cup winners

2015 - Blue Room created to facilitate community links & additional learning resource area & kitchen fitted

2016 - KS1 & KS2 cloakrooms & toilet areas refurbished

2016 - A new choir enters the Rochdale Music festival and distinctions are awarded

10th June 2016 - Whole school wears red, white and blue to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II

2017 - New outdoor classroom gazebos for whole school

2018 - New purpose built extension for EYFS  outdoor learning & fixed gym equipment

2018 - New kitchen fitted in KS2 to allow cookery to be taught

2018 - New disabled toilet & changing facilities built to accommodate the increasing demand

2018 - Parkfield becomes a founder member of PiraMidd the new collaborative of schools in Middleton

2018 - New Early Birds & Busy Bees before & after school clubs established

2018 - School closed due to flooding. Repeat flood caused by water coming through toilets in Y4/6. KS2 classes taught at St. Anne's academy for a period of one week whilst work is complete at Parkfield to refurbish classrooms with new carpet and furniture. 

2019 - Polytunnel built on the school playing field to increase the amount of learning outside of the classroom.

1st September 2019 - New Headteacher - Mr M Kemp

October 2019 - Group of parents, pupils and staff help open up the friendship garden by clearing old decking and trees/bushes. The area can then be used as a forest school area and further promote learning outside the classroom.

23rd March 2020 - School closes to all pupils, except keyworkers and vulnerable children, due to national lockdown in place. Lockdown was introduced by the government due to the high number of coronavirus cases.

30th March 2020 - Due to limited number of staff, Parkfield closes and uses Little Heaton Primary as base to provide support for keyworker and vulnerable pupils. 

1st June 2020 - Parkfield re-opens its doors to a larger number of pupils as new measures are introduced to reduce the spread of coronavirus. New measures include, children working in consistent 'bubbles' of no more than 15 children. 

August 2020 - A new computer suite is completed allowing whole classes to access. The old computer suite is replaced with a revamped library area.

1st September 2020 - Parkfield fully re-opens to all pupils and staff with continued measures in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

6th January 2021 - Due to a third period of a national lockdown the school only opens to a limited number keyworker and vulnerable pupils. Teaching becomes a blended learning approach with live online lessons for those pupils that remain at home.

8th March 2021 - School reopens to all pupils in line with new government guidelines throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

August 2021 - The Reception classroom and outdoor area is ‘re-vamped’ for the new school year - with new flooring, decorating, displays and the removal of a few walls to open up the space.

26th May 2022 - All pupils and staff wear red, white and blue to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - 70 years

24th September 2022 - The school celebrates the 40th birthday of the current building by having a 1980's themed day

August 2022 - Building works include the revamping of the school offices, improvements in storage in the stock room and the updating of the 'Resilience' room so that larger groups of pupils can comfortably be taught.

19th September 2022 - Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. School closes for a National Bank Holiday so that the country can pay their respects.

October 2022 - New climbing frame built on the KS2 yard - funded from the PTA

8th May 2023 - School closed for an additional bank holiday due to the Coronation of King Charles III. 

October 2023 - School opens the 'Cherry Tree Room' as an internal inclusive provision for a  small number of pupils with SEND.

2nd June 2025 - School is closed for three days due to a flood caused from a burst pipe. Extensive repairs have to be made across KS2 and shared areas.

September 2025 - School re-opens for the new term following a range of building works including: two new kitchen areas for pupils, new library, sensory room built in the school's Cherry Tree Room, new fencing in the EYFS area.