14 August 1870
Elementary Education Act

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State education begins. Before 1870, the only formal education available for young children has been in Church schools (both Anglican and Nonconformist) and in 'ragged schools', which give poor children a basic education with practical skills. However, many receive no teaching at all. Industrialists and politicians see this as hampering Britain's economic prospects, and call for a change. The National Education League has been campaigning for the state to provide free, non-denominational schools for children aged 5-11. It also wants attendance to be compulsory. The Churches want schools to remain under their control.

The Act introduces a 'dual system': the Churches continue to run schools and new, non-denominational schools open alongside them 'to fill in the gaps'. The state schools are known as board schools, because they are run by locally elected school boards. They are funded by a combination of local rates and government money, and charge a small fee per pupil. In poor districts, school boards can set up free schools, which may be run by philanthropic organisations or Churches, with state backing.

Church schools continue teach the religion and rites of their denomination. However, to avoid conflict between different religious traditions, board schools may only teach directly from the Bible. Some parents opt to take their children out of board schools for special religious teaching. To make this easier, all schools timetable religious lessons for the same time, at the end of the day.

The act marks a huge step forward, but many are disappointed that the schools are neither compulsory nor primarily free. In Scotland, where education is already recognised as valuable to all, the measures have a wider scope. A Scottish Act of 1872 sets up boards to provide elementary education up to the age of 14. In the same year, education is made compulsory in Scotland up to 14.

In England and Wales, the National Education League continues to campaign and further reforms follow. Education to age 10 becomes compulsory in 1881 and state education becomes free in 1890.

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