National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the established church British and Foreign School Society

National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the established church British and Foreign School Society

Prior to the 1870 Education Act, most elementary education was in the hands of religious societies and reflected the rivalry which existed between the established church and the non-conformists. In 1815 the two most important societies were the "National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the established church" (founded in 1811) and the "British and Foreign School Society" (founded in 1814). The former taught the liturgy and the catechism of the Church of England, the latter enforced bible reading, but excluded denominational teaching.

The earliest entry by the state into the field education was in 1833 when Parliament voted £20,000, "for the purposes of education", thus initiating the system of the annual grant voted by Parliament. The funds were to be confined to the erection of school buildings and to be administered through the National, and the British and Foreign School Societies. Preference was given to schools in large towns and the grant was available only in cases where voluntary contributions met half the cast of the new school.

The funds granted by Parliament were administered by the Treasury between 1833 and 1839 and subsequently by the Committee of Council on Education until statutory provision for building grants cased in 1870. After the passing of the 1870 Education Act building grants were continued temporarily for those who applied before 31 December 1870.