We don’t need no education: the value of education in 19th century Stoke-on-Trent, UK

In the mid-17th century A.D., the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent (UK) became more commercialized and started to grow exponentially as ceramics were increasingly seen as luxury goods. Akin to many industrial centres in 19th century Britain, children played an important role in the workforce and started employment from an early age. By 1861, 19% of Potteries workers were under 15 years old. Consequently, few children attended full time education. In 1841, the Child Employment Commissioner noted that 75% of the population in Stoke-on-Trent could not read or write. This paper aims to shed new light on the value and extent of education available to children in 19th century Stoke-on-Trent. Census data, testimonies, and written reports will be used to identify any demographic and geographical trends within Stoke-on-Trent as a means of understanding who was attending full- and part-time schooling. The attitudes of both children and adults towards education will also be explored alongside the presence of any links between the pottery industry and educational establishments in this area. It is hoped that this research will paint a clearer picture of the educational system within Stoke-on-Trent and the value it held to children during this period.