| AdminHistory | The disruption to juvenile employment and industrial training caused by the First World War attracted the attention of educational planners as early as 1916, and their concern was reflected in the provisions of the Education Act of 1918. The Act required local authorities to submit schemes to the Board of Education showing a commitment to progressive development and the comprehensive organisation of education in their area. It also required local education authorities to establish and maintain a sufficient number of Continuation Schools. Continuation classes were intended to provide a general form of education with a vocational format, usually for one day a week, for young people whose elementary education had finished at 14 or 15 years. Section 10 of the Act required all young persons to attend such schools for 320 hours each year. Those who had stayed in education up to the age of 16 years or were already receiving part time education in another form were exempt.
The Education Committee consequently appointed a Continuation Schools Sub-Committee in 1918. The duties of the sub-committee were outlined at their first meeting, which included making recommendations on the provision of Continuation Schools under section 10 of the Education Act 1918; to act as Managers of such Continuation Schools; to appoint members of Advisory Bodies to be established where needed in connection with Continuation Schools; to superintend the supply and training of teaching staff and to make recommendations regarding their salary; and to control the work under the Education (Choice of Employment) Act, 1910 which had given local authorities the power to provide assistance and advice to young people under 17 years of age concerning their choices in employment and training.
It was also resolved that the Central Care Committee set up in 1911 as a result of the Education (Choice of Employment) Act 1910 should become a sub-committee of the Continuation Schools Sub-Committee rather than as previously a sub-committee of the Attendance, Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee (see BCC/1/BH/7/5). When the Continuation Schools Sub-Committee was not re-appointed in 1922 the Central Care Committee became the responsibility of the Juvenile Employment and Welfare Sub-Committee (see BCC/BH/14/1), whilst further detail can also be found in the Attendance, Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee minutes (see BCC/1/BH/7/1/1).
In January 1921 the City Council expressed support for the closure of all Continuation Schools due to financial constraints and with regret the Continuation Schools Sub-Committee looked at the future of the Aston Day Continuation School in the light of the financial concerns. In 1922 the Education Committee resolved to close the Aston Day Continuation School on account of comparatively high costs per head compared to relatively low rates of attendance. It did not now appear necessary to appoint a separate sub-committee for the remaining Continuation Schools and in November 1922 the Continuation Schools Sub-Committee was not re-appointed and the management of the schools was transferred to the Technical Education and Evening Schools Sub-Committee which was given new orders of reference (see BCC/1/BH/4/1).
The oldest and largest of the Continuation Schools was the Bournville Day Continuation School which is frequently mentioned in the Continuation Schools Sub-Committee minutes. Employees were released from work for perhaps one day a week to attend these schools and some young people not in employment also attended. Records of the Nechells Evening Continuation School 1891 - 1910 (catalogue reference S 138) and Wattville Road Evening Continuation School, Handsworth 1915 (catalogue reference S 211) are held also held at Birmingham City Archives. |