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After the passage of the Education Forstrer Act a wave of school building constryction followed. The Government was not yet aware of the most suitavle buildings for schooling. The major concern was cost. And it was less expensive to build one large building thn a number of smaller schools. The large 'triple deckler' was an all age school at the time of its build, so for children 5 to 14 year olds. The younger primary pupils were on the ground floor, older girls middle floor, older boys up top usually. The marked expansion of education provision across England came from the 1870 Act (and subsequent Acts). London County Council being in the vanguard of building many schools over about 30 years (1880s - 1910s). Apparently built by direct labour forces of sometimes 200+, these splendid buildings were often completed in 4 months. Some are still being used. Here is the one built in Lambeth (figure 1). Eventually it was understood that smaller schools are better qyuipped to meet the educational needs of younger children. And that it was a good idea to separate younger and older primary-age children. An English reader tells us, "The Kennington School triple decker had a smaller building behind the main one ehich was exclusively for older girls (i.e. 10 - 12 year olds) who went there for laundry classes, while boys had woodwork at the other end! My mother and father experienced that in their schools in south London around the late-1910s/early-1920s. I understand that younger pupils (5 - 9 year olds) used one playground , older boys had one and older girls another playground." Eventually we see smaller, often red brick schools like the school here in North London (figure 1).
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]
