Schools and schooldays in nineteenth-century Harrogate

The story of education in Harrogate is a fascinating one. The nineteenth century was one of huge development and change in education, with the 1870 Forster Act aiming to create a school within reach of every child. As with so many aspects of life even now, class, religion and gender largely determined the type and quality of the provision of learning. Harrogate was no exception, and Paul Jennings examines all of these factors in this important new book. But in addition, Harrogate’s health resort status also led to the creation of an unusually high number of private schools, as fee-paying parents were assured that their children would benefit from the especially healthy surroundings. For all types of school, the author covers topicssuch as the patterns of the school day, meals (or lack of them), segregation of the sexes, punishments and the changing curriculum. The result is a comprehensive and readable volume that will appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of both education and the town of Harrogate.

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