The Beginnings of Elementary Education in Barrow upon Soar

In the nineteenth century national government became aware of the need to establish a national system of education which would cater for all children in the country.  Until that time there had been a variety of schools available: some were developed by the churches, others were small privately run schools. National government was already providing some funding for education but it was ad hoc and therefore patchy. The government realised that in order to compete in the developing industrial society they needed a better educated work force.

 

The 1870 Education Act

The Elementary Education Act of 1870 was designed to fill the gaps in the provision which already existed. Parishes where there were not sufficient places for all the children to attend school were required to establish a School Board which would be responsible for making sure that each parish had sufficient school places for all the children . The members of the Board were to be elected by the ratepayers: women, who qualified, as well as men were qualified to vote and serve on the Board. The School Boards were the forerunners of the Local Education Authorities which replaced them in 1902.

The Barrow School Board

In 1870 in Barrow the largest and best established school was the National School set up by Rev. Newham the vicar of Holy Trinity in 1859. There was also a small Catholic school held in the church building as well as a few dame schools. There was not adequate provision for all the children living in the village so a School Board was established.

We are fortunate to have a full record of the Board meetings from 1875. The Minute books are available in the Record Office for Leicestershire and Rutland at Wigston. The first meeting was held on March 18th 1875. The elected members were Revd. William Leighton Newham, Mr William John Woolley, Mr Charles Cross, Mr Ephraim France and Mr Joseph Johnson. Revd. Newham was appointed Chairman and Mr Woolley vice chair. The clerk was Mr William Bryan at a salary of £10 per year and E.E Middleton of Loughborough Bank was appointed to be Treasurer. The Minute Book covers the years from the establishment of the Barrow School Board to the transfer of the school from the control of the Board to the newly established Local Authority in 1902. The funding for the school was provided by the Board of Guardians, who were responsible for the poor of the village and who were therefore entitled to collect rates. Parents were expected to pay 3d a week towards their children’s education. There are regular entries in the minutes concerning parents who approach the Board to ask for a remission of fees as they have no work. The fact that the children were obliged to attend school would have put some financial strain on the families as previously children would have worked and contributed to the family budget.

To read more click on the headings below.

Members of the First Barrow School Board 

Preparations for opening the school

1880-1 The School Board 

Barrow-Upon-Soar Adult School Movement