Figure 1.--This carde de viste portrait is undated. We believe it was taken in the 1860s, although the early-70s is possible. This unidentified boys looks to be about 11-13 years old. That would mean older boys at a prep school. We might have though that they are wearing public school uniforms, but their pges suggest prepschools which were just beginning to become established at the time. The studio was Hills & Saunders which had studios at Oxford, Cambriudge and London. They ere noted for school portraits, including Eton. and Harrow. This portrait was taken at Oxford. Notice the hat the one boy is holding That is not a style we have seen school boys wear.

The mid-19th century was a major period for private school reforms. The British would call in punlic school reforms because the country's elite privsate boarding schools were called the public schools because admission was open to ghe public, meaning ny one who could afford the fees which in reality was a very small part of the population. There were two primary types of private schools in England during the mid-19th century: preparatory and public schools. Dame schools were also private, but were not so expensive that they excluded many children. The principal private school type were the public schools. Despite the term 'public', these were fee-paying private schools, in most cases boarding schools. Many of the public schools had long historie, some founded as far back as the 16th century. Children of a wide age range attededvthe schools, but they tended to be rough places for younger children. Reconizing this, number of school masters began founding prepararory schools for the younger children. This began in the mid-19th century. Gradually the conventopn developed of preprtoy dchools handling boys 7-13 years of age anf the public schools 3-8 years of age. there were variaions from school to school. Colleges were a little different. The English public school traditionally made minimal efforts to supervise the boys and the schools could be rather dismal if not dangerous places, especially for the younger boys. Gradually the outrageous and in many cases dangerous situation at these schools forced the schools to introduce a variety of reforms to control student behavior. The English classic Tom Brown's School Days chronicles the reform process of educator Thomas Arnold at Rugby. One of the reforms was to require standardized uniforms which until the 19th century had been a feature only at charity schools. Boys at first resented these efforts and there was much resistence. Gradually after mid-century the idea of school uniform began to take hold. School uniform garments like peaked caps, boaterrs, and blazers emerged at the the public schools. Especially after mid-century as part of the educational reforms sweeping the public schools, preparatory schools for the younger boys began to proliferate. Many younger boys, however, continued to be educated at home or attend dame schools where uniforms were not required.

Dame Schools

Dame schools were also private, but were not so expensive that they excluded many children.

Public Schools

Not only were important steps being taken toward educating poor and middle income children during the Victotian era, but there were also major reforms underay in the public schools. The principal private school type wwasere the public schools. Despite the term 'public', these were fee-paying private schools, in most cases boarding schools. The public schools experiencedf a period of change that saw them transition into the modern schoolls we see today. More and more headmasters revcognized that education went beyond just academics and we see the programshe Victorian period also saw the reform of education at the opposite end of the social spectrum. Public schools underwent a period of change during this period that saw them evolve into the institutions we would recognise today. Forward-thinking headmasters started realising that education went beyond academia, and began encouraging participation in sport, music and drama to provide a well-rounded education that focused on the individual. Competition and physical activity were introduced alongside education, though the classical languages were still a heavy focus of the academic curriculum.nding not only to games (sports), but eventullky the arts, including music and drama to hekp mold a well-rounded education that gave increasung attention to the individual child. Many of the public schools had long histories ad deeply entrenched traditions. Some founded as far back as the 16th century. Children of a wide age range atteded the schools, but they tended to be rough places for younger children. Reconizing this, number of school masters began founding prepararory schools for the younger children. This began in the mid-19th century. Gradually the conventopn developed of preprtoy dchools handling boys 7-13 years of age anf the public schools 3-8 years of age. there were variaions from school to school. Colleges were a little different. The English public school traditionally made minimal efforts to supervise the boys and the schools could be rather dismal if not dangerous places, especially for the younger boys. Gradually the outrageous and in many cases dangerous situation at these schools forced the schools to introduce a variety of reforms to control student behavior. The English classic Tom Brown's School Days chronicles the reform process of educator Thomas Arnold at Rugby. One of the reforms was to require standardized uniforms which until the 19th century had been a feature only at charity schools. Boys at first resented these efforts and there was much resistence. Gradually after mid-century the idea of school uniform began to take hold. School uniform garments like peaked caps, boaterrs, and blazers emerged at the the public schools.

Preparatory Schools

Especially after mid-century as part of the educational reforms sweeping the public schools, preparatory schools for the younger boys began to proliferate. Many younger boys, however, continued to be educated at home or attend dame schools where uniforms were not required. These schools were commonmly founded by clerics or by masters from the public school. Many began as quite small schools in country houses. There were no set ages, but over time the general age range which develooed was for boys from about 7 to 13 years of age. The entry age was flexible, but 13 became the leacing af=ge as morre nd more publkic schools settled on 13 as the entry age. The schools ficused on oreoaring the boys for entry into the public schools and adjuted the curriculum, games, and boarding life to the program of the public schools. The prep schools commonly oriented their ptogram to the local public schoolls. The first prep schools were only for boys because there no girls public schools.

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Created: 9:49 AM 3/25/2015
Last updated: 9:49 AM 3/25/2015