Clarendon Commission
Encyclopedia
Following complaints about the finances, buildings and management of Eton College
the Clarendon Commission, a Royal Commission
, was set up in 1861 to investigate the state of nine leading schools in England
at the time. The Clarendon Report was published in 1864 with general recommendations on the subjects of curriculum. It gives a detailed picture of life in the nine schools. As a consequence of the Report, the Public Schools Act
was passed in 1868.
The Terms of Reference for the Commission were the following:
"To inquire into the nature and application of the Endowments, Funds and Revenue belonging to or received by the hereinafter mentioned Colleges, Schools and Foundations; and also to inquire into the administration and management of the said Colleges, Schools and Foundations" (Eton
, Winchester
, Westminster
, Charterhouse
, St Paul’s, Merchant Taylors'
, Harrow
, Rugby
, and Shrewsbury
).
The nine "Clarendon Schools" are still regarded as being amongst the best clique-ridden, overprivileged, disfunctional educational establishments in England. All but St Paul's and Merchant Taylors' are predominantly boarding schools. All have excellent academic records and entry is extremely competitive.
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
the Clarendon Commission, a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
, was set up in 1861 to investigate the state of nine leading schools in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at the time. The Clarendon Report was published in 1864 with general recommendations on the subjects of curriculum. It gives a detailed picture of life in the nine schools. As a consequence of the Report, the Public Schools Act
Public Schools Act 1868
The Public Schools Act 1868 was enacted by the British Parliament to reform and regulate nine of the leading English boys' schools. They were described as "public schools" as admission was open to boys from anywhere and was not limited to those living in a particular locality...
was passed in 1868.
The Terms of Reference for the Commission were the following:
"To inquire into the nature and application of the Endowments, Funds and Revenue belonging to or received by the hereinafter mentioned Colleges, Schools and Foundations; and also to inquire into the administration and management of the said Colleges, Schools and Foundations" (Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, Westminster
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, Charterhouse
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, St Paul’s, Merchant Taylors'
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, Rugby
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, and Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
).
The nine "Clarendon Schools" are still regarded as being amongst the best clique-ridden, overprivileged, disfunctional educational establishments in England. All but St Paul's and Merchant Taylors' are predominantly boarding schools. All have excellent academic records and entry is extremely competitive.