Bishopstoke National School in the 1860s - Early Schools

Before the Education Act of 1870 made schooling compulsory, there were few opportunities for the children of poor families
to receive an education. Wealthy families acquired an education for their children by employing a tutor or governess, or by sending
them to fee paying schools. Indeed it was often considered wrong to educate the working classes, which might give them "ideas above
their station". Children were needed to help in the home, or do work which would earn a few extra pence for the family.
In Bishopstoke there are records of a fee paying school at the Manor House in the 1820's.

An advertisement in "The Southampton Herald" Of the 12th July, 1824 reads:- "Mr. A. Colson returns his sincere thanks to his friends for
the encouragement he has received since he opened his school and begs to inform the public that the business of the same will recommence
on Monday, July 26th." There may also by this time have been a "Dame School". These were run by local women with a little knowledge of reading and
writing usually -in one room of the house, where, for a few pence a week, children would be given a very rudimentary grounding in
the three R's.