Beginning of 19th century- weren’t required to have an education

1891- Free education was introduced to ages up to 11 by the GOVERNMENT.

1899- School leaving-age raised to 12 YEARS OLD.

Many poor Victorian children didn’t have the chance to go to School- › Forced to work to earn money for their families.

Attendance became compulsory for ages 5-13 because of the Act of 1870.

Queen Victoria came to throne in 1837:› Only Schools for poor kids= Charity/Church (dame) Schools Set up by teachers within their own homes

1844- 200 ragged Schools for over 300,000 students/kids (NO OTHER PLACE TO GO)

Depended on the wealth of the child’s family› Rich children- could be tutored

Could go to boarding School, or a private academy

Emphasized on: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Bible Study› Mixed into industrial and commercial subjects in many schools

Assembly hall› Morning and Afternoon

With singing/hymns. Science classes, Wood work shop (for boys) and cookery class (for girls) was also included

Classes were large- up to 60 pupils in each class

Kids aged 5-13 paid 1 pence a week for their education

1870- Government introduced system of education that let local authorities set up Schools paid for out of the rates or taxes

 'Londoners over the border', from Household Words, a weekly journal

conducted by Charles Dickens. Issue No. 390, 12 September, 1857.

Hader, Suzanne. “The Bildungsroman Genre: Great Expectations.” The Victorian Web: An Overview. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. <http://

www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/ge/ br.ge.html>.

“London’s children in the 19th-century.” Museum of London- English. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. <http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/Learning/Learningonline/ features/wc/world_city_6.htm#6>.