What was schooling like in Victorian times?

At the start of the Victorian era, very few children actually attended school. Children from rich families would be educated at home by a governess (a female teacher). At the age of ten, boys would go to public schools, such as Eton or Harrow, and girls would continue their education at home.

What was school like for poor Victorians?

Teaching was mainly by rote, with children learning things by simply repeating and memorizing what was said by their teachers. There was little room for creativity or developing talents; an emphasis was placed on learning to read and write. (The Victorian School).

What are the different types of Victorian schools?

Victorian Britain

• Ragged schools originated in the Sunday School founded in 1780 by Robert Raikes in Gloucester, who taught children to read so that they could read the Bible.
• Parish schools.
• The public schools.
• Education for girls.
• State intervention.
• The universities.

What age did Victorians leave school?

The leaving age was then increased to 11 in 1893 however parents and employers of working children still prevented some of them from going to school as they were making money in the workplace and this is what they wanted.

What were Victorian classrooms like?

Classes were often very large (over sixty pupils) and contained children of different ages. Education focused on the three Rs (Reading, wRiting and aRithmetics). Children were taught by copying things down, writing and often chanting things.

What would a Victorian school girl wear?

They usually wore their everyday clothes to school with a starched white pinafore over the top to protect the clothes from ink and other stains. Girls wore dresses and pinafores to school while boys wore trousers and a shirt, and sometimes a waistcoat or pinafore. Victorian children did not have many clothes.

Did Victorian schools have toilets?

The toilets were outside. In the first 32 years of St Thomas School there were 11 head teachers and almost twice as many assistants. Of the head teachers, the shortest stay was only three months.

What were the 3 R’s in Victorian times?

The most important lessons were the ‘three Rs’ – reading, writing and arithmetic (maths). Pupils had to chant things (the times-table facts, for example) out loud until they could do it without making a mistake. Victorian pupils also received lessons in history and geography.

What time did Victorians go to bed?

In the Victorian era the public would typically fall asleep at 7pm when the sun disappeared, however this dramatically moved to 10pm in the Edwardian era, finally settling at 12pm in the modern age. Although our bedtime has become later throughout the years, we’ve continued to wake up around a similar time.

What did boys do in Victorian schools?

Lessons were taught by reading and copying sentences down from the teacher’s blackboard, or chanting things till they were perfect. There was no group work or chance to ask questions. PE lessons took place in the playground and were called drill. After lunch the boys were taught woodworking and other skills.

What were the Victorian school punishments?

Boys were usually caned on their backsides and girls were either beaten on their bare legs or across their hands. A pupil could receive a caning for a whole range of different reasons, including: rudeness, leaving a room without permission, laziness, not telling the truth and playing truant (missing school).

What would a rich Victorian child wear?

Over these basic layers, he would wear a shirt that tied at the neck in front, a petticoat and a long white dress. Both boys and girls wore long dresses. The richer you were, the longer the skirt! As the baby got older, his hem would be shortened to encourage crawling.

Why choose a class visit to Gunnersbury?

A class visit to Gunnersbury provides the opportunity to participate in a wide range of thought-provoking and creative activities, including immersive drama-based historical workshops, object handling and outdoor learning. Our team of learning specialists will create an enthralling atmosphere so that the children are immersed in history.

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What happens at Gunnersbury museum workshops?

The workshops take advantage of Gunnersbury’s history, collections or parkland to create a relevant and memorable learning experience. We have dedicated spaces within the museum that support our learning programme, including classroom facilities and practical spaces where you can eat lunch and store belongings safely.