A History of Secondary Education in England, 1800-1870

John Roach's welcome new book concentrates on schools attended by the children of the middle classes during the years between 1800 and 1870, whether grammar schools or private schools, and to some extent the great public schools. The author uses the term secondary to describe the education of boys and girls between the ages of eleven and eighteen, and he looks briefly at the education of younger children. More and more careers were opening to public competition throughout these years, and Professor Roach clarifies the corresponding increase in the desirability of a good education. School registers, reports of commissions and select committees, records of endowments, fees and free places, curricula, university links and details of scholarships are among the many differing sources Professor Roach has consulted to produce his fascinating study of education in nineteenth- century England.The ancient grammar schools met with steady criticism throughout these seventy years, though Professor Roach reveals that they had undergone more reform than is often appreciated. Linked with grammar schools were public schools, which within the first half of the nineteenth century separated themselves as a distinct group and provided the ideal of secondary education for those who could afford their fees. Private schools were very important at this time, and the best of them achieved a great deal. They have often been seen through the eyes of their detractors; here Professor Roach redresses the balance and brings out both the great variety of institutions described under the general name private school , and the generally undervalued contribution of private tutors. These schools also provided much of the education available for girls.