Victorian Schools: Life and Learning in the 19th Century

During the Victorian era (1837-1901), schools in Britain were quite different from those today. Education varied widely depending on class and gender. Wealthy children often attended private schools or were taught by governesses at home, while poorer children went to charity schools, known as "ragged schools," or worked instead of receiving an education.

In 1870, the Education Act made schooling available to all children between the ages of 5 and 10, although attendance was not mandatory until 1880. Lessons in Victorian schools focused on the "three Rs": reading, writing, and arithmetic. Discipline was strict, and corporal punishment, such as caning, was common for misbehavior.

Classrooms were often overcrowded and had limited resources. Students used slates and chalk instead of paper, and teachers relied heavily on rote learning and repetition. Despite these challenges, education during the Victorian era laid the foundation for the modern schooling system.

R - What was the focus of lessons during the Victorian schools?

I - Why might classrooms have been challenging places for learning?

C - What does 'the foundation for the modern schooling system' mean?