Education in History

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Shrove Tuesday Football tempts children away from school

Early Provision

The earliest record of education provision in Kingston dates from 1364 in a letter written by the Bishop of Winchester.  This refers to a "public school" in Kingston.  Early schools were often associated with chantry foundations and we know that there was a Grammar School associated with the Lovekyn Chapel.  Chantries were abolished after the Reformation but, following a petition to Elizabeth I, a Grammar School was re-established in 1561. The school was endowed with land for its maintenance and was run by Kingston's Bailiffs who became governors.

Local Benefactors

Many local benefactors gave bequests for the education of poor children.  For example, children educated by the money left by members of the Tiffin, Belitha and Brown families (administered by the Borough) looked distinctive in their blue and green outfits provided for them.  Thomas and John Tiffin left money for the apprenticeship and education of "poor men's sons" in their wills.

Thomas Tiffin's will, made in 1638, leaves his brewhouse to his relative, William Cleeve, another local benefactor.  He also leaves £50 to Kingston Corporation to buy property to educate poor men's sons in school and then bind them apprentice.  He leaves £5 to the poor and a gown and 12 pennies each to 10 poor people who are 'weekly relieved' at his door.  John Tiffin, whose will is dated 1639, also leaves all his property to William Cleeve but wills £100 to Kingston for educating poor men's sons.

Growing Concern

The 18th and 18th Centuries saw the growth of private academies and dame schools of variable quality.  Growing concern over the education of poor children in Kingston led to the establishment in the early 19th Century of a public subscription school in the Richmond Road in 1818 by 'the Kingston Association for improving the conditions and morals of the poor'.  later in the century, a 'Ragged School' for very poor children was opened near Kingston Bridge in 1853.  As the century progressed elementary schools were set up by the British and Foreign Schools Society (nonconformist) and the National Society (Church of England).  Log books were kept from 1862 and now provide detailed insights into the day-to-day life of the school: what the children learned, how they played, when they were ill and what affect the weather had on their schooling.  School attendance was not compulsory until 1876 and absenteeism was common, especially when exciting events were happening in the Town, like the annual unruly Shrove Tuesday Match.  After 1876 the Borough appointed a School Attendance Officer who would walk about the streets to catch truant children.

In 1874 the funds of many of Kingston's educational charities were amalgamated and the Tiffin Schools were established, the name commemorating the two generous benefactors of the 17th century.  Under the Education Act of 1902, Kingston set up an Education Committee and one of the first things it did was establish Bonner Hill School with all modern conveniences.

The 1918 Education Act provided education for children up to the age of 14 if funds allowed.  In Kingston students could then progress to employment or attend the technical institute.