History Extra podcast Victorian schools: everything you wanted to know
Nov 17, 2024
Rosalind Crone, a Professor of History at The Open University, delves into the tumultuous world of Victorian education. She reveals how compulsory schooling transformed literacy in Britain, yet left many working-class and female students behind. Crone discusses the introduction of the Pupil Teacher Scheme, offering insights into how it redefined teacher training. Harsh discipline like corporal punishment is examined, alongside the shift to a more secular curriculum, illustrating the complex legacy of this pivotal era in education.
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Class Defined Childhood Education
- Education in 1837 varied hugely by class, gender and place, shaping very different childhoods.
- Middle- and upper-class boys had regular formal schooling while many working-class children had irregular or no schooling.
Voluntary Schools Filled A Gap
- England and Wales lacked universal elementary schooling and relied on church-backed voluntary schools funded by modest grants.
- These schools charged fees and often conflicted with working-class life because of attendance and religious demands.
Professionalise Teaching Through Apprenticeship
- Use formal training pathways to professionalise teaching and raise pay and status.
- The 1846 pupil-teacher apprenticeship provided certificates, pay additions and a pension after service.
