Figure 1.--Here we have private school children at a major transition, they look to be about 13 years old. We are not sure if they are the senior boys at their prep school or the junior boys at the public school. It is an undated postcard back portrait. It looks to have been taken about 1930. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the group. The boys here wear suits, not uniforms, there are differences with the suits. We are not sure why the one boy wears long poants. There amy have been a medical reason. Notice the boys are all wearing what look like house ties--all the same solid color. As gthey are all about the same age we do noy indertand this.
English schools are sponsored by both the state and private groups. State schools around the world are usually called public schools, but this is a little confusing in England, as the primary private schools are kniown as public schools. They came to be called public schools because they are open to the public--at least the well heeled public which could afford the fees. A private school when the public schools developed schools orh=ganized by privare induvuduals on their own property for their own children. Affluent English parents had the choice either to employ a tutor/governess to educate their children privately or sending them to a public school (Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester, ect.). The British school system was a largely fee-paying private (including the public schools) until the 19th century. There were all kinds of different types of schools, but the government played a limited role until the 19th century. And even in the 19th century did not move to establish a major national systen until late (1870s). Both America and the Germans had begun buillding state education systems much earlier. That was a primary system. The English began with a tripartate state system. The Conservatives began to plan the expansion of the secondary system at the end of World War II which was carried out after the War by a Labour Government. Some in the Labour Party wanted to close private schools, vut they decided against that, thinking that they could create a state system so excellent (as was the case in Gernany) that no one would want to the send their children to a private school. This they failed to accomplish, but they did open up education to British children of all classes. The core of the education system for several centuries had been the curiously named public schools--actuallly elite private boarding schools, some dating to the 16th century. Public schools accepted very young children at first, but began opening new preparatory schools for the younger children (mid-19th century). The preparatory known as prep schools thus took on the role of preparing the children to enter the public schools at about age 13 years. For some reason, the girls commonly entered their public schools earlier--age 11 years. Churches also played a role in sponsiring schools, especially the Catholic and Anglican churches.
Private schools were often owned by individuals. This was especially the case for prparatory schools. Over time ownership has shifted to charitable trusts. It should stressed that the chairitable trusts were not charities to assist poor childrem, but rather tax devices to provide for the long term operation for these schools. They were fee paying scgools beyond the means of the wirking-class. State schools around the world are usually called public schools, but this is a little confusing in England. The primary private schools, including world famous schools, are kniown as public schools. They came to be called public schools because they are open to the public--at least the well heeled public which could afford the fees. A private school when the public schools developed were schools organized by privtre individuals on their own property for their own children. Affluent English parents had the choice either to employ a tutor/governess to educate their children privately or sending them to boardung schools, a public schools (Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester, ect.). This was not an obvious choice. These schools tended to be rough places and weaker or non-athletic boys could have a rough time. Thgrough the mid-19th century quite young boys attended these schools. This obky changed with the development of the prep schools. At the public schools there was a substantial degree of boy management. The older boys appointed as prefects played an important role in supervising the student body. This issue was most famoully addressed in a novel about schoolife at Rugby (1857). [Hughes] The author was a former student at Rugby and His book gave a boost to the developoment of preparatory schools. The British school system was a largely fee-paying private (including the public schools) until the 19th century. There are two primary components, the preparatory schools for the younger boys and the public schools for the older boys. There are also colleges which offer a combined program for the children. In recent years, any preparatory schools have added preprep schools. And have have expanded day boy enrollment. Many of the boys schools have shifted to coeducation. Private schools were mostly single gender schools until recently. The trend toward coeducation began (1970s). Many of the schools are now coeducational. The smaller number of girls prep and public schools have tended to remain single gender schools.
The state system in Englsnd and Wales is essentiallybthe same. There are, however, difference with the schools in Northern Irelabd abd Scotl The state schools are primarily run by local authoriies. The national Government provides funding and curiculum and ither guidelines. There were all kinds of different types of schools, but the government played a limited role until the 19th century. And even in the 19th century did not move to establish a major national systen until late (1870s). Both America and the Germans had begun buillding state education systems much earlier. That was a primary system. And tge English primary system was fully functioijing by the turn-of-the 20th century and educated children to about 13-14 years of age. The secondary systemm was more limited. It basically was for middle-class children. Few working-class children attended secondatuy school until after World War II. The English began with a tripartate state system. This included 1) selective grammar schools, 2) secondary moderns for the less talented acamically, and 3) technicl schools. The third leg of tripsatrte system never got off the ground. It was far more expensive to equip one of these technical schoolyssm a grammsr or secondary modern school. Academic paths were determined by the 11-Plus exam taken at age 11 which the children were still in primary school. It was not an intelligence test and social class factors regustered. Which is why so few working-class children enbtered the grammar vschools. The Conservatives began to plan the expansion of the secondary system at the end of World War II which was carried out after the War by a Labour Government. Some in the Labour Party wanted to close private schools, but they decided against that, thinking that they could create a state system so excellent (as was the case in Germany) that no one would want to the send their children to a private school. They had the votes to do whtever they wanted in 1945. They decided, however, not to eliminate the private schools. This they failed to pursue, but they did open up education to British children of all classes. Gradually England moved toward cokprehensive secindry schools. Some grammar schools still exiust. These include schools which retained the old name, but there still are selective grammar schools. Call of this is determined by the local authorities. Currently all boys and girls must attend full-time school until the age of 16 years. The Government introduced a National Curriculum (1988). This provides a framework for education between the ages of 5-18 years. All state schools are required to adopt it.
Churches, especially the Church of England (COE) played a maotr fole in the English school system. Presumably there were schools in Britain during the Roman Era (1st-4th century AD), but we know nothing about them. The first English schools were schools organized in cathedrals and the monastaries that developed in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (6th century). For the next millenium, the Church had a monompoly on education. At fiurst it was the Roman Church, but when Henry VIII broke with Rome (1530s), it was the independent COE that took responsibilities for education. And for two cebtury Roman Catholocism was supressed. It was the COE and other Protestant churches that began to buld a modern school system with the National schools (early-19th century). Parliament began providing partial funding for the National schools, despite their religious foundation (1830s). At the same time Catholics were begimning to regain their civil rights, including the right for relgious education. The Bishops of England and Wales (vicars apostolic) found the Catholic Poor School Committee (1847). (this was the forerunner of the modern Catholic Education Service.) Pariament restored the Catholic hierarchy (1850). The Catholic Church assigned a priority education, often building schools before churches. Parliament only began the creation of state (board) schools with the Education Act (1870). Many of the National Schools evolved into Anglican schools. Some became associated with the non conforming sects (Baptists, Methodists, and others). Another Education Act began preparing England for the post-World War II era (1944). Among the many changes, most Catholic schools became ‘voluntary aided’ schools. This meant they faith schools (including the Catholic schools) were for the most part ansorbed into the state system, assuring funding, but retained their distinctively Christian. These schools are today a major component of England's education system. Therea were nearly 7,000 such insitutions (2012). That meant a third of all maintained (state) schools and nearly a quarter of all academies (private schools). [DOE] The numbers appear to have fallen somewhat (2017). [COE-Types] By far the COE is the dominat firce in faith schools, something like a quarter of all English primary schools. {COE-Church] The availability of faith schools and the tolerance for religious activity in state schools (in sharp contrast to America), the private Christian schools common in the United states are a relative rarity in Engkand, but a few do exist throughout the country. At first the faith schools were all sposored by Christisn (Mostly COE] churches. Today there are also Jewish and Muslim sponosored schools. Faith schoolstoday are very imprtant part of English education, including the state system.
Sources
Church of England (COE). "Types of Church School" (2017).
Church of England (COE). "Church Schools and Academies Information" (2017).
Department for Education (DOE). "Maintained faith schools" (2012).
