Catalogue description Board of Education: Practical Instruction, Local Education Authority Files

By counties including Part III Authorities and county borough order for England and Wales followed by the Isle of Man.

Section 18 of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, (and subsequently Section 3 of the Education Act, 1902) conferred on School Boards and Local Education Authorities the power to make provision for practical instruction in elementary schools. Instruction in domestic subjects e.g. domestic economy and cookery, preceded practical instruction in a wide range of subjects and payment of grant was authorised under the Code of Regulations for Elementary Schools, 1875.

The Code of Regulations of 1906 introduced new provisions for the teaching of domestic subjects in elementary schools; rules for the instruction of 'Special Subjects' were revised and grant awarded in respect of each course of instruction in place of the system of 'per capita' grants. Syllabuses had to be submitted to the Board of Education before a course commenced and additional women H.M. Inspectors were appointed to ensure systematic inspection of practical instruction centres.

Under Section 2 of the Education Act, 1918 (re-enacted as Section 20 of the Education Act, 1921) it became a duty for Local Education Authorities to make provision for practical instruction in elementary schools and in the years following the publication of 'The Hadow Report on the Education of the Adolescent' it was a general principle that the provision of practical instruction should as far as possible, be an integral part of a senior school with the head teacher in control of the practical instruction staff.

Part III Authorities are Boroughs with a population of over 10,000 and Urban District Councils with a population of over 20,000 defined in Section I of the Education Act 1902 as a local authority for the purpose of Part III of the Act.