Until the Elementary Education Act of 1870 schools in England and Wales were controlled by charities, religious organisations mostly connected to the Church of England, and private individuals running schools as a business. The Act did not make schooling compulsory (that did not happen until 1880) but committed the state to the building of government-funded “Board” schools managed by locally-elected School Boards to which women were eligible for election. Existing schools were not merged into the new system but could qualify for government-funding for half their running costs. As a result, the voluntary sector actually expanded significantly after the Act was passed and the dominant Anglican "National Society" added about 6000 schools to its portfolio between 1870 and 1885; in 2026 such schools constitute a significant part of a supposedly “state” system, the schools now receiving most of their funding from the state but retaining semi-independent status as “voluntary aided” or “voluntary controlled”; most are Church of England or Roman Catholic denominational schools with a scattering of other denominations and religions, now including Islam and Judaism. In many parts of England and Wales, and especially at primary level, parents will find themselves without a local non-denominational school despite the collapse of organised Christianity. As of 2026, no Westminster government has shown any interest in changing this anomalous situation.
The
pioneers of elementary education for the lower orders or working classes in
England and Wales were two Anglican societies: the British and Foreign School
Society (founded 1808) and what became the dominant National Society for Promoting
the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church (founded
1811). Both societies adopted what are called monitorial systems of instruction
which employed proficient pupils as instructors. The British and Foreign used what came to be known as the
Lancastrian system (after its originator Joseph Lancaster) and the National
Society used the Bell system, named for Dr Alexander Bell. Both methods kept down
costs but eventually gave way to ones dominated by more costly trained adult
teachers.
The
early schools were often called “Sunday Schools” but as this letter indicates
did not necessarily meet on Sundays, making it possible for the Boy Wilson to
instruct in several schools in the course of a week. And some schools met
several times in the week depending on the supply of teachers and the demands
of parents who usually had to pay something, however nominal.
The
history of the National Society’s school in North Walsham has been documented; I
quote from the online North Walsham Guide:
“A
'National' Sunday School had been set up in North Walsham by 1813……The school
was held in a large room in the workhouse superintended by a Mr. Hay. There
were 150 pupils on the register made up of 67 boys and 83 girls. By 1815 the
school also met one day during the week but the number attending was now only
89-51 boys and 38 girls. The school was described as extensive by 1818 and was
meeting two days in the week to teach the girls needlework, in addition to
Sundays. The Vicar, the Rev. W. F. Wilkinson felt that the poor of North
Walsham were not ' without means of education'. By 1827 the school was meeting
in the parish church and in addition to the Sunday school sewing was taught on
three half days each week. There were two teachers, William Moyes and Susanna
Pope to manage 33 boys and 45 girls. The youngest children at the school were
five years old and the eldest 12 and 14 years of age”.
I
cannot discover how old or how well-schooled was Wilson, “the Boy” who is being
despatched to North Walsham but it is clear that he is not being appointed in
any regular manner or has much choice in the matter. He is in the hands of the
Reverend Dr Charles Sutton (1756-1846), who as well as being a long-serving
Norwich vicar held an administrative post in Norwich Cathedral and this letter
is directed to him at the Cathedral’s Close – the Close being the group of administrative
and residential buildings which always surround a Cathedral.
The
Mr Spurdens who is giving up one secretarial post is probably the Rev. William
Tylney Spurdens, headmaster of Paston Grammar School in North Walsham from 1807
to 1825, and if not him then a relative of his.
Following
the Education Act of 1870, North Walsham acquired a purpose-built Board School
in 1874 able to accommodate 500 boys and girls aged 5 to 13 and charging a penny per week.
Transcription
Addressed
to: The Revd. Dr Sutton The
Close Norwich
Datelined:
North Walsham January 3d 1814
Postmarked
NORTH WALSHAM and endorsed Post Paid, 4d.
Docketing
note: North Walsham
Dear
Sir
Mr
Hepworth at my request had the goodness to enquire at what time, a Boy
qualified and accustomed to train schools on Dr. Bell’s system would be at
liberty to come to North Walsham. He has informed me that Wilson, the Boy who
has been at Harleston is returned and can now be spared to come here. I would
therefore request that you would allow him to be sent next Wednesday &
should recommend his coming by Moneyment N Walsham Carrier from the Pope’s
Head, in the Upper Market. He has a good covered caravan, leaves Norwich, I
think about three o’clock and arrives at N.Walsham, usually about ten O Clock.
Moneyment will inform him where He is to board, or if Wilson would call at my
House, as soon as He arrives on Wednesday, He shall receive proper directions.
Mr Spurden has already corresponded with you upon this subject, & from him
you would hear that there are other schools in this neighbourhood, which are
desirous to avail themselves of Wilson’s assistance. It was at first intended
that the Boy sent should instruct this Sunday School and one or two
other in the neighbourhood in the course of each week but it ow seems
preferable that He should continue here to train the Boys & Girls Schools
at North Walsham for a fortnight or three weeks as may be found necessary (a sufficient
number of children with the Master & Mistress having engaged to attend
every day) and after this school is enough instructed that the Boy should
proceed to others, in the Dean’y [Deanery?] which may require his aid.
As Mr Hepworth made use of my name in his application to you, I trouble you
upon the subject myself, otherwise I should have begg’d Mr Spurdens as
Secretary to have written to you on the business.
I
am, Dear Sir, with much respect, Your faithful Humble Servt. T. [or J.] Hay
PS.
As you are already probably informed, Mr Spurdens (retaining the situation of
Secretary to our District Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) has
desired to resign the Secretaryship to the School Committee here, but Mr
Gur…. [seal broken here; likely name
would be Gurney] has kindly offered his assistance to supply his place.
Till our next Committee Meeting Mr Spurdens handsomely promised however to
continue to be our Secretary. The next meeting is appointed for the 25th
of his month.
References
https://www.northwalshamguide.co.uk/chapter-11-education-in-north-walsham
Wikipedia:
Monitorial System
Wikipedia:
National school (England and Wales)
Wikipedia: Elementary Education Act 1870
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