On This Day
09 August 1870
Forster’s Education Act receives the Royal Assent
The act named after its author, Liberal MP W. E. Forster was the first attempt by a British government to provide some level of universal elementary education by filling the gaps in education not covered by ragged schools, private schools, church schools and so on. Education was not free, but it was not compulsory if the fees could not be met and school boards were empowered to pay the fees of the poorest children.