Education Records
The primary source of education in early part of the nineteenth century came in the form of the National Society which was set up to teach the poor in the principles of the Anglican Church. The British & Foreign Society promoting non-sectarian education followed. Finally by 1833 the Government had decided to fund the schools and by 1870 there were 300 British Schools in Wales and over 1,000 National Schools. The Education Act of 1876 made it compulsory that all children should receive some sort of education and 1880 Act made it compulsory up to the age of ten. In 1893 it had risen again to eleven and finally in 1889 it had become twelve. In 1891 Elementary Education became free of any charge and the school system had finally arrived.
The importance of school records with regard to family history cannot be understated.
The ADMISSION REGISTERS contain such information as:-
Date of admission
Date of birth
Address of child
Parent or Guardian (normally fathers name)
Fathers trade
Last school attended (indicates families prior town)
Classes attended (standard 1,2,3.etc)
Leaving date and reason (sometimes mentions where
family are moving to)
Admission Registers transcribed by E.G.G.R.A
Abersychan, British School, 1893 to 1895
Cwmbran, St Dials, 1899 to 1906
Garndiffaith, 1873 to 1950
New Tredegar, Bedwellty, 1871 to 1891
Pontnewynydd, Snatchwood, 1904 to 1924
Pontypool, George Street, 1879 to 1919
Pontypool, Park Terrace, 1898 to 1907 (Infants)
Pontypool, Park Terrace, 1903 to 1923 (Juniors)
Pontypool, Tranch, 1927 to 1936
Pontypool, Twmpath, 1899-1926
Varteg, 1887 to 1925
The Admission Registers transcribing is an on-going project by E.G.G.R.A and will finally entail ALL the registers for our area of expertise.