Until the 1880s there was no Government Department responsible for Education in England and the poor received very little instruction, other than skills needed to support their families.
In 1833 the first Government Grant of £20,000 was made for the erection of school buildings and grants in aid of public subscription. The grant was channelled into the country by 2 large rival organisations –
- The National Society for Promoting the Poor in the Principles of the Established church and
- The British and Foreign School Society. (see separate page)
The attitude of the National Society was, on the whole, an uncompromising one during the period 1830 to 1850.
Those who attended the National Schools were instructed in the Liturgy and Catechism of the Established Church of England.
On March 13, 1837 a meeting took place of The Friends of Education in Stoke at which members of the Church of England were present, when it was agreed that “a school should be established”
In 1838 an application was made to the National Society for a grant towards the erection of a schoolroom, allowing 6 ft. per child
The Society donated £60 and the Treasury £72. A temporary room was used from autumn of 1837 until the permanent School House could be built. The building shown below was started on October 1, 1838.
Stoke Goldington Primary School
On 16 June 1845, the rival British School closed and the children were received at the Church National School, by permission of the Rector, Rev. Fiennes Trotman
The SGA Archive holds copies of the following School documentation:-
- Registers
- School Logs
- School Inspections
- Photos of events