woodlands primary school homework help victorians

Schools were not free until 1891. Up until then children had to pay to go to school.

Queen Victoria's reign brought many improvements to the education of children, especially for the poor children.

The Victorians came up with the idea that all children should go to school, and they checked to make sure the schools were up to scratch too. They were the first people to ask whether it was right to allow children to work. They introduced laws saying what you could and could not expect children to do.

(Stretton Handley Primary)

In England, most children never went to school at all and grew up unable to read or write. Instead they were sent out to to earn money for their families. Only the upper and middle class children went to school.

Children from rich families were taught at home by a governess until they were 10 years old. Once a boy turned ten, he went away to Public schools like Eton or Harrow. There were very few schools available for girls, however, until near the end of the Victorian time.  Wealthy girls were mostly educated at home.

Poor children went to free charity schools or ' ' schools (so called because they were run by women) for young children. They also went to which were run by churches. There they learnt bible stories and were taught to read a little.

The Victorians soon realised that it was important for people to be able to read and write and education became more important. The Church of England became active in the field and erected ' ' which taught children reading, writing, arithmetic and religion.

When did attending school become mandatory?

It wasn't until 1880 that schooling became mandatory. All children had to attend a school until they were 10 years old. In 1889 , the school leaving age was raised to twelve, and in 1891 , the school's pence fee was abolished and schools became free.

What were the schools like?

There could be as many as 70 or 80 pupils in one class, especially in cities. The teachers were very strict. Children were often taught by reading and copying things down, or chanting things till they were perfect.

In many Victorian schools pupil-teachers helped with the teaching. The pupil-teachers were boys and girls of 13 and over. After five years of apprenticeship they could themselves become teachers.

What did the schools teach?

Typical lessons at school included the three Rs - R eading, W R iting and Dictation, and A R ithmetic.  In addition to the three Rs which were taught most of the day, once a week the children learned geography, history and singing. The girls learned how to sew.

Schools did not teach music or PE in the way that schools do now. Children sometimes did 'drill' in the classroom. Drill was a series of exercises that were done by the side of a desk.

For maths lessons, children used frames with coloured wooden beads, much like an abacus.  Children learned how to multiply and divide using this apparatus. 

What was a Victorian school day like?

The day usually began with prayers and religious instruction. Morning lessons ran from 9a.m. to 12p.m.  Children often went home for a meal, then returned for afternoon classes from 2p.m. to 5p.m.

Why did Victorian children write on slates?

Paper was expensive. Children usually therefore wrote on slates with slate pencils. After a lesson was completed, and the teacher checked their work, the students cleared their slates for the next lesson. 

Did Victorian children use pens?

Older children learnt to write on paper. An 'ink monitor' distributed ink to the children, who used pens made out of thin wooden sticks with steel needles.  The pen had to be dipped every few words or it would run dry.

Other websites

School Life In The 1800s . Web Quest

What were Dame Schools?

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Mission Statement

At St. Petersburg Primary School, we nurture curious minds through play-based education and joyful exploration. We develop confident and compassionate children within our welcoming, faith-based community.

SPPS Core Values & Teaching Model

From Ashley Hardy, Head of School:

Saint Petersburg Primary School (SPPS) serves families who are seeking a faith-based primary school education for their children.  Our low student-teacher ratios and our experienced faculty facilitate exploration, curiosity and problem solving. 

In our preschool program, children learn to work independently as well as cooperatively with their peers, while developing strong character traits such as empathy, perseverance and responsibility. Early literacy and mathematics foundations, as well as each child’s social and emotional growth, are cultivated through a play-based, thematic curriculum.

In our elementary program, students expand their skills as they explore engaging and complex units of study with an emphasis on the learning process, rather than simply memorizing content. 

Play-based learning is active and interactive, giving students opportunities to explore their acquired knowledge through hands-on, engaging projects. Our students become independent thinkers who know how to seek knowledge, question and interpret it, and develop conclusions that are evidence-based. 

Character development continues into our elementary program, expanding upon the social-emotional skills learned in preschool to include generosity, respect and appreciation for yourself and others, diligence, global citizenship,

personal reflection,  and a growth mindset.

Cultivating a strong sense of community within our school is one of our core values. Parent Socials, Family Movie Night, Monthly Chapel Services, Playtime on the Playground, Halloween Costume Parade, and our Annual Art Show are a few of the ways our community stays strong and connected. Parent involvement is encouraged through active participation in school events, fundraisers, field trips, holiday parties and more.

When your child enrolls in our school, your family becomes a part of our loving school community

and we become partners in your child’s education.

-Ashley Hardy, Head of School

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Administration

Head of School

Ashley Hardy

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Director of Teaching and Learning

Rebecca Ramu

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Director of Finance and Operations

Jody Marley

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Director of Admissions and Marketing

Noah Miller

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Registrar and Office Manager

Vivian Williams

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Programming Coordinator

Alayna Itric

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Board of Directors

Brandon Rutstein

Brandon Rutstein is a director in Walmart’s Health & Wellness business. His role focuses on leading a team of healthcare professionals to optimize healthcare outcomes for the communities they serve. He graduated from UCF with a degree in Biochemistry and went on to graduate cum laude at Mercer University with a dual degree in a Masters of Business Administration and a Doctorate of Pharmacy.

Vice President

Elizabeth McCrillis Loh

Elizabeth McCrillis Loh is an attorney and is active in the local community. A graduate of Stanford Law School and The College of William and Mary, she spent seven years practicing law at the Washington, D.C. offices of a leading global law firm. Her focus was on white-collar defense, internal investigations, and both U.S. and foreign government investigations. In addition to serving on the SPPS Board, she is Chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County and a member of the St. Petersburg Civilian Police Review Committee. Elizabeth lives in St. Petersburg with her husband and four young children.

David Schintzius

Prior to co-founding Two Bays Audit and Risk Solutions, David was the Director of Finance and Operations at Tampa Preparatory School from 2018 to 2023. In 2016, David joined Tech Data Corporation as Vice President, Finance to lead the re-launch of the Company’s Enterprise Risk Management Program. In addition, he led the Company’s Integration Management Office finance team. Before joining Tech Data, David was Vice President, Global Financial Operations and Enterprise Risk Management at Avnet, Inc. from 2011 to 2016. He was responsible for leading Avnet’s global real estate, facilities management, procurement and administrative services teams, Avnet Americas’ credit and financial operations organizations, global finance’s strategic change and program office, internal audit and enterprise risk management. A graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, David, also a CPA, began his career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen. Additionally, he has held senior finance leadership positions over his 30-plus year career with major international companies, including Sears Holdings, McKesson Corporation, Pitney Bowes and Chiquita Brands International. He has served on the Tampa Preparatory School New Building Task Force Board; and on the Boards of Directors of Community Tampa Bay; Marriage Matters Arizona; and the Metropolitan Community Foundation of San Francisco. David and his husband, Geoffrey, are the parents of twin daughters, Emma and Paige and reside in Tampa, FL.

Jennifer González

Jennifer González is a senior legal information specialist with the Library of Congress. A native of Saint Petersburg, she graduated cum laude from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in history and a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean studies. Jennifer worked for several years in the private academic sector and as a professional musician. She then obtained a juris doctor from Pace University School of Law with a certificate in international law, followed by a master’s in library information science from the University of Washington with a certificate in law librarianship. She has worked at the Gallagher Law Library, as an adjunct professor for the University of the District of Columbia, and interned with the United Nations. She lives in St. Petersburg with her husband, Fernando, and two children who currently attend St. Petersburg Primary School.

Past President

Alais Griffin

Alais Griffin serves as President of the Board of Directors for St. Petersburg Primary School. She is the founding member of her own law firm, where her clients range from startups to Fortune 50 companies and include transportation businesses, nonprofit organizations, and a wide range of corporate entities. Alais previously served as a litigation partner in the Chicago and Washington DC offices of two leading global law firms; as a senior political appointee in the Obama Administration; and as General Counsel for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, one of the nation’s largest and oldest youth-serving nonprofits. In addition to serving on the SPPS Board, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of American Stage Theatre Company. Alais graduated cum laude from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she was Executive Editor of the Northwestern University Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A., cum laude general studies, from Harvard University, where she was a four-year varsity letter winner in track and cross-country, captain of the cross-country team, and an Academic All-American. After law school, she clerked for Judge Harry D. Leinenweber of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Alais’s daughter has attended St. Petersburg Primary School since 2020. She is currently in Ms. Coppard’s pre-K class and is looking forward to starting in the SPPS kindergarten class this fall.

Board Member

Nick Falcone

Nick Falcone is a seasoned technology executive. He has a rich history of leading innovation, digital transformation, and global strategic initiatives across various industries and sectors. Prior to joining the SPPS Board of Directors, he served on a number of start-up advisory and non-profit boards.

Greg Helck works in the financial services industry, where his expertise spans wealth management, alternative investments, options trading, marketing, and managing and developing North Shore Wealth Management. Greg holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. Greg graduated from Leadership St. Pete in 2011 and is a passionate supporter of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Heart Institute and First Presbyterian Church. Originally from Milledgeville, Georgia, Greg now calls St. Petersburg home with his wife, Sarah; their four children; and two dogs. In his leisure time, Greg finds joy in the pursuit of activities like fishing, tennis, and golf.

Rachel Somerman

Rachael Somerman is the founder and owner of Unlimited Pediatric Therapy. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in child development and family studies from Eastern Kentucky University and has served as a Florida state-credentialed Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist for nearly a decade. Rachael founded Unlimited Pediatric Therapy to address the need for high-quality therapeutic services for children with a spectrum of challenges. More recently, Rachael created The Barn by UPT as a community hub for classes, play, and support for children with disabilities and their families. Rachael has worked closely as a therapist in the classrooms at SPPS for the last 4 years and is excited to continue to watch the school grow. While away from work Rachael enjoys traveling, anything related to the beach or water, and spending time with her two pups, Charlee and Konrad.