Contrary to belief the Elementary Education Act of 1870 did not establish either free or compulsory
education. W. E. Forster was the author of the Act and it was based on the principal that there should be
adequate school places within districts and that regular and punctual attendance should be ensured.
During the 1870s there were many changes around the provision of education and the teaching of a wider
range of subjects encouraged and in 1873 the Agricultural Children’s’ Act was passed. We see the first
mention of an Education Committee and an Attendance Officer in 1878.
1870
Entries with reference to education and attendance at Church
The most common entries still relate to the attendance and the usual work being done although this year
Peter David refers to object lessons being given. Occasionally the logs mention the children being examined
in the Standards by Peter David:
The ordinary progress made to-day. Lessons given according to time-table.
Jan 5th
Jan 7th
The usual routine of school-work done.
th
Jan 27
Numbers have increased this afternoon. The ordinary routine altered in order
that an object lesson may be given.
(An object lesson was a lesson given using a material object as the basis of the teaching and is
available to be inspected)
Feb 23rd
The usual lessons have been slightly altered that an object lesson may be given.
nd
April 22
The usual work done. Children examined in the different standards.
April 28th
The III, IV & V standards examined to-day the ordinary work done with the
others.
H.M. Inspection in August this year whereas it was in November in 1969:
Aug 1st
(Signatures here) Peter G. David Certified Teacher
2nd year 2nd Division
W.W. Howard
H.M. Inspector of Schools
School examined by H.M. Inspector in the morning holiday in the afternoon.
A log in September says that the report had been from Her Majesty’s Inspectors but it is December before
the report is logged:
The usual routine followed. Received to-day the Report of H.M. Inspector on the
Sept 14th
Exam.
The school seems to rely on the lady visitors to inspect the sewing and the logs also record visits by the
Diocesan Inspector:
April 4th
The ordinary number of scholars present at both meetings. School visited by one
of the Ladies who inspected the needle-work.
March 9th
A lady visited and inspected the sewing of the girls.
Jan 10th
School very fairly filled at both meetings. The Revd the Diocesan Inspector
visited the School this afternoon.
th
Nov 25
A very fair attendance to-day. The Diocesan Inspector visited the School to-day.
Reports by the Diocesan Inspector and Her Majesty’s Inspectors
It seems that the Diocesan Inspector visits to inspect the school without the required advance notice:
School examined without due notice given, a great improvement manifested
June 21st
in Standard II only 2 present in Standards V and IV. The whole school affected by the
intense Heat of the weather.
Help needed with the very young children.
(Entry was signed) W.H. Hitchcock D.I.
Dec 16th
Summary of the Inspector’s Report on the School
This school seems to be doing fairly on the whole.
Arithmetic is weak throughout the classes.
Reading is very fair.
Writing requires more care among the younger children.
Sewing and knitting are fair.
Religious Knowledge is fair.
Church Catechism is rather wanting in accuracy.
Ventilation is very unsatisfactory.
Improvements will be looked for another year in Arithmetic
Article 52(a).
My Lords trust the Managers will take some means of improving the ventilation.
(Article 52(a) refers to the Elementary Education Act and Payment by Results)
The children continue to attend Church regularly:
The Feast of the Epiphany Children attended Divine Service at the Parish Church.
Jan 6th
Numbers fair.
Feb 24th
Children attended Divine Service to-day (St. Matthias).
March 25th
Children attended Divine Service being the Feast of the Annunciation.
May 2nd
The Feast of St. Philip & St. James, children attended Divine Service at the Parish
Church.
May 26th
Ascension Day children attended Divine Service. Half holiday in the afternoon.
Reasons for non-attendance, holidays and admissions
Although there is now an Admission Register there are still entries relating to children being admitted to
the school:
The school work resumed after the holidays . Three names entered on the
Jan 3rd
Admission Register.
Feb 14th
The week opened with a poor attendance. One girl admitted to-day.
th
March 18
Two children- a boy & a girl –left school to go to service this week.
June 7th
The ordinary routine followed to-day – numbers increased; one fresh scholar
admitted.
th
June 13
The school opened this week with a fair number of scholars in attendance. One
boy admitted to-day.
th
June 14
The ordinary attendance to-day the usual lessons were given. One girl admitted
to-day.
Oct 17
Numbers low the usual work done. One girl admitted to-day.
The weather is still mentioned regularly in relation to the attendance, some of the entries are:
Jan 11th
The very wet weather has caused a decrease in the numbers to-day.
(The numbers remain low for a few days)
Jan 17th
School was well filled to-day and the work was briskly done.
(There was a fairly good attendance for a few days)
Feb 2nd
The numbers have been very small to-day owing to the severe weather.
Feb 15th
The weather has prevented many of the children from attending.
Feb 28th
The cold weather keeps the numbers small.
May 31st
The rain has caused the numbers to be less to-day. Usual progress made.
July 5th
The numbers slightly diminished on account of the rain.
Aug 3rd
School work done as usual the rain has caused a diminution in the numbers this
afternoon.
Oct 12th
The unusually boisterous weather has diminished the numbers considerably.
th
Oct 25
The unusually boisterous and rainy weather has caused the numbers to fall.
Nov 21st
The very stormy wet weather has occasioned a diminution in the number of
scholars attending.
Nov 22nd
Numbers have increased to-day although the weather still hinders some children
from coming.
(From Nov 25th the attendance is good for the rest of the month)
Dec 13th
Work done as usual, the very wet weather has prevented many children from
attending.
Dec 14th
The state of the weather kept many away this morning. Numbers larger in the
afternoon.
The average attendance is not mentioned this year but some of the other references to attendance are:
Feb 21st
A full school to-day the lower classes very full.
st
March 21
School began with a moderate attendance the afternoon’s numbers were better.
April 18th
Both meetings have been well attended to-day.
April 25th
There has been a better attendance at Monday’s meeting to-day than generally.
Nov 3
The ordinary lessons given. Classes full.
Nov 29
School very full to-day the work was done according to T.T.
Dec 19th
School opened with a very fair attendance considering the state of the weather.
The same local events as in 1869 affect the attendance:
June 6th
Numbers very small to-day from the fact that a Fete was held in the Castle of
Totnes.
th
July 26
The attendance this afternoon was small owing to the Regatta at Totnes.
Children, especially boys, are absent due to rural activities. Hay and corn harvests again affect the
attendance but now we also get references to collecting acorns and picking apples. The acorns were probably
sold to the farmers as pig food and the children would have been employed by the farmers to pick the
apples:
The numbers rather small owing to harvest having set in.
June 21st
th
June 27
The hay harvest having set in the numbers are beginning to lessen. The usual
work performed.
th
July 11
Many of the children away to-day hay-making the lessons have been given as
usual.
July 19th
The work done as usual the attendance very fair taking into consideration that
the hay harvest has set in.
July 28th
Numbers small in all classes the cause being the corn harvest having commenced.
th
July 29
The attendance still very small, the cause being that specified yesterday. Lessons
as usual.
Oct 7th
The attendance to-day and all this week has been very small, the children being
kept at home acorn gathering.
Nov 11
The ordinary work done. Several children absent picking apples.
Other reasons for absence logged include:
Feb 4th
Some of the older boys away on errands for their parents, work as usual.
The ordinary work done. Attendance not very good owing to sickness of several
Sept 13th
families in the village.
Holidays
There are very few holidays. A couple of half holidays are mentioned, e.g., after the visit of Her Majesty’s
Inspector, otherwise the only holidays mentioned are:
Good Friday was still the only holiday for Easter:
Good Friday.
April 15th
The harvest (Summer) holiday lasts for five weeks in 1870, two weeks longer than in 1869:
Aug 5th
The usual work done.. Small school. Vacation commenced in the afternoon.
Sept 12th
School opened and work resumed after the holidays. A fair attendance.
When the school was used for other activities there was a half day’s holiday:
Dec 6th
A half day holiday given in the afternoon; a Lecture on Church Music being given
in the School-room.
Apart from when the attendance is too low to open the school the only other holiday was for Christmas.:
Dec 23rd
Being the time of Christmas numbers have fallen off. A week’s holiday given from
to-day.