It was not compulsory for children to go to school before 1870. During the early Victorian period it tended to be only the children of wealthy families that went to school or that were taught at home by a governess. Some children from poorer families would attend Sunday schools where they would learn very basis skills but most would have had to earn money to help support their family. In 1870 a law was passed that led to the setting up of 'Board Schools' in each area for children between the ages of 5 and 13. However, these schools were not free which caused problems for some poor families. |
Illustration of a ragged school for poor children. Image courtesy of www.eriding.net (Click on image to enlarge.)
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Extract from the 1871 Census for Durham showing the entries for a school mistress and some of her pupils. Image courtesy of The National Archives, ref: RG 10/4966. (Click on image to enlarge.)
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There were many types of school, including: ragged and Sunday schools where poor children would pay a few pennies to attend; dame schools run by women in their own homes;and public schools where boys from richer families would board. There were two schools on the Bailey in Durham attended by children from Durham City and further afield. We know that the children from some families on the Bailey were sent away to school. |
| In 1880 a law was passed making it compulsory for all children under the age of 10 to attend school but it was not made free until 1891. The classrooms in many of these schools were very large and would hold up to 80 children! The desks would always face the front of the room with the children sitting in rows. The teacher would write lessons on the board and the children would practice their writing using slates. Very little work was done on paper until the children were much older.The teachers were very strict and a cane was often used to punish naughty children. |
Extract from a Report into the State of Schools in Co. Durham, 1859-60. DUL Ref: XL 080 BAR/18 (Click on image to enlarge.) |
