SCHOOL At last I have a name for the school - Well National School (as the saying goes - it does what it says on the tin) Well National School log book Reference Name WELL PAR/16/1 Physical Description: Unbound volume, identified from internal evidence. Date: 1873-1902 Correspondence Reference Name WELL PAR/16/2 Extent: 5 items Date: 1886-1900 Information held at Lincolnshire Archives Anglefish (Rootsweb) There is a school shown on this map of 1888, shown below, still there on a 1930 map. Genuki says it was a public elementary school, no name given. Added: probably built as a result of the elementary education act of 1870 Mike (DCB (Rootsweb) The Education Act in 1880 made education compulsory from 5-10. In the 1881 Census Well Parish had 19 children win that age group. Map (National Library of Scotland) It looks like the school was operational from 1873 to 1902. ROBINSON, Miss Edith, single, schoolmistress in Well in 1912. (from Genuki list of school teachers in Lincolnshire). Do you know anything about other teachers at the school? History of Education In the 1830s the public starts to demand more secular "general education". Many of the Church of England schools became part of the state system, either as voluntary aided or voluntary controlled schools. There was also the British and Foreign School Society which set up schools (British Schools) which were supposedly non-denominational, but which were in fact non-conformist schools. Most schools at this time used the Monitorial System, there was no direct instruction from the teacher. Older children, often teens, were Monitors who did the actual lessons and testing. There were no "grades" or "levels" - all ages performed the same work. In 1834 the Poor Law Amendment Act was passed. It attempted to ensure daily instruction to pauper children. It proposed the establishment of district schools away from the workhouse premises, bringing together children from workhouses in different parishes. By 1859, only 6 such schools had been founded. In 1846 the Pupil Teacher System was introduced. Pupil teachers were appointed for a five year period at the age of 13. If they completed their term successfully they could go on to college to qualify as certified teachers. In 1847 an inspection of 41 workhouses in the northern counties found their internal schools being taught by teachers who were themselves paupers. Most of them were barely literate, lacking basic reading skills and unable to write at all. Circa 1850, a list of "Certified Teachers" was recorded. This list is available at the Public Record Office. In 1861, a Royal Commission on the Present State of Popular Education in England reported that many elementary subjects were badly taught; that attendance in the rural schools was extremely irregular, many children not attending at all; most boys left school at the age of ten or eleven; and there were insufficient places for all children in the country. In 1869, the Endowed Schools Act led to a reorganization of the schools governing bodies, revision of charities providing schooling, and included the extension of education to girls. In 1870, the Elementary Education Act was a milestone. It divided the country into about 2,500 secular school districts; established School Boards elected by local ratepayers; allowed School Boards to build and maintain schools out of the rates (local taxes); let School Boards make their own by-laws which would allow them to charge fees or, if they wanted, to let children in free; allowed women to vote for and serve on the School Boards. In 1871, The Code of Regulations created an infant stage for the 5-7 age range, so seven became the age of transfer from the infant school or department to the Elementary School. In 1876, the school-leaving age was fixed at 10 years. In 1880, Mundela's Education Act made attendance compulsory. In 1891, the school-leaving age was raised to 11 years. In 1899, the school-leaving age was raised to 12 years. The 1902 Education Act abolished School Boards, replacing them with Local Education Authorities. In 1918, the school-leaving age was raised to 14 years and Elementary education was made free in law. In 1944, Butler's Education Act raised school leaving age to 15. About 1970, school-leaving age raised to 16. From Genuki Schools page.