Official documents

Extract from a Report into the State of Schools in Co. Durham, 1859-60. (DUL Ref: XL 080 BAR/18)

This source is an extract from an official report on schools in County Durham that were inspected by two of Her Majesty’s Assistant Inspectors between 1859-60. What can this source tell us about schools at this time? Look carefully at the source and then answer the following questions to find out. An enlarged version and a transcript are available.

1. Make a list of the things that the inspector was not happy with in the schools.

2. Which school has the largest amount of pupils in average attendance?

3. Look at school number 4 on the report – Barnard Castle. In the general observations column is says that ‘This school is not progressing as well as it should.’ By looking in the columns relating to staff numbers for the school, can you suggest any reasons why this might be the case?

Finished? Move on to what personal papers can tell us.