| AdminHistory | St Thomas's National School was built c.1851, although the mother church of St. Thomas's was built in 1848 within the civil parish boundary of St. Matthew's, Bethnal Green.
St. Thomas's, like all National Schools, emerged via the National Society for Promoting the Education of The Poor in The Principals of The Established Church in England and Wales, founded in 1811. The Society believed that religion should be the foundation of the education system, and 'the first and chief thing taught to the poor' (1). Historically these institutions competed with schools run by the non-Conformist-inspired British and Foreign School Society. Both organisations used the monitorial system, where paid teachers worked with older children who then taught younger children.
The Society blamed lack of education for the 'demoralisation of the lower orders' (2). Another reason it promoted National Schools was to pre-empt the influence of Dissenters. Lines of dispute were being drawn between Anglicans and Non-Conformists over the place of religious instruction in schools. Anglicans wanted the liturgy and catechism to be taught in schools. Followers of the Non-conformist tradition advocated a non-denominational approach (3). By 1846, ten parishes accommodated National Schools, many of which were used as day and Sunday Schools (4).
The curriculum at St. Thomas's was probably based on the three Rs. Despite objections that children might be educated above their station, many schools taught history, geography, and grammar (5). The introduction of The Revised Code in 1862, obliged teachers to concentrate on basic subjects.
The buildings which housed the church and school were damaged during WW2, and later demolished. More recently the Arbour Street Youth Centre was established on the site of the school and closed in 2018.
Sources of information
1. 'National Schools' in victorianschool.co.uk
2. 'Bethnal Green: Education' in british-history.ac.uk
3. L. Louden (2012) : Introduction in 'Distinctive and Inclusive - The National Society and Church of England Schools 1811-2011'
4. 'Bethnal Green : Education ' (Ibid)
5. The Education of The Working Classes to 1870' in british-history.ac.uk |