Anglo-Jewry’s Experience of Secondary Education from the 1830s until 1920 Emma Tanya Harris A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements For award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies University College London London 2007 1 UMI Number: U592088 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U592088 Published by ProQuest LLC 2013. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract of Thesis This thesis examines the birth of secondary education for Jews in England, focusing on the middle classes as defined in the text. This study explores various types of secondary education that are categorised under one of two generic terms - Jewish secondary education or secondary education for Jews. The former describes institutions, offered by individual Jews, which provided a blend of religious and/or secular education. The latter focuses on non-Jewish schools which accepted Jews (and some which did not but were, nevertheless, attended by Jews). Whilst this work emphasises London and its environs, other areas of Jewish residence, both major and minor, are also investigated. The provincial cities of Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester, the towns of Bristol, Canterbury, Exeter, Gravesend and Portsmouth, and the resorts of Brighton, Dover and Ramsgate, are examined. This thesis endeavours to evaluate the Jewish schools’ achievements, however limited they might initially appear. Student numbers, in general, remained small and the establishments faced constant financial distress. Nevertheless, what success they had illustrates the devotion of individuals to the task. The failure of others will illustrate not only a lack of financial support, but a failure to develop a wider commitment to the creation of a regulated system of Jewish secondary schooling. Any success emanating from Jewish institutions was invariably overshadowed by the non- Jewish schools with their renowned educational backgrounds, esteemed alumni, and a willingness to admit some Jews. The history of Jewish secondary education in England is a crucial topic for a complete understanding of the ideas and aspirations of the Jewish middle classes in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This study seeks to place the world of Jewish 2 education within the context of Anglo-Jewish history in particular and within the wider context of England’s educational history as a whole. 3 Acknowledgements With thanks to Professor John D. Klier, my supervisor. With special thanks to my friend and colleague, Mrs. Lia Kahn-Zajtmann, for her continued support. I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals: Sarah Abbott, Library, National Archives, Kew; Liz and Tony Abrahams (Bedford); Rebbetzin Shoshana Angyalfi, Headmistress, Leeds Jewish High School for Girls; Melanie Aspey, Director, The Rothschild Archive; Ian Bailey, Archivist, Manchester Grammar School; Mark Bateson, Assistant Manager, Canterbury Cathedral Archives; Andrew Bennett, Archivist, East Sussex Record Office; Rabbi Michael Bernstein, Founder, Beis Shammai Grammar School (Stamford Hill and Chigwell); John Bever, Archivist, Manchester Grammar School; Anne Bradley, Archivist, Bristol Grammar School; Alison Cable, East Kent Archives Centre; Michael Carter, Centre for Kentish Studies; Charles Colquhoun, Clifton College; Graham Dalling, Local History Officer, London Borough of Enfield; Hilary Davies, Archives and Local Studies Assistant, City of Westminster Archives Centre; Mike Dowell, Archives Assistant, Devon Record Office; Alistair Falk, former Headmaster, King Solomon High School (Barkingside); Sue Fishbum, Head, Leeds High School for Girls; Stephen Freeth, Keeper of Manuscripts, Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section; Frank Gent, Susser Archives; Jeff Gerhardt, Archives Assistant, Haringey Libraries, Archives and Museum Service, Bruce Castle Museum; Alison Gill, Information Officer, Greater Manchester County Record Office; Jo Greenbury, Housemaster, Polack’s House, Clifton College; Mrs. K. Greenhouse, Headmistress, Beis Chinuch Lebonos School 4 (Stamford Hill); Josephine Halloran, Archives Assistant, Devon Record Office; Fabian Hamilton, Member of Parliament for Leeds North East; Kirsty Hancock, Team Administrator, Communications and Development Office, The Girls’ Day School Trust; Jonathan Harrison, The Library, St. John’s College Cambridge; Penny Hatfield, Archivist, Eton College; Francine Healey, Bury Grammar School; T.W. Hildrey, Senior Master, Merchant Taylor’s School (Sefton); Ruth Hobbins, Liverpool Record Office; Sonia Hope, Information Librarian, The Women’s Library; Sarah Jillings, Curator, Jewish Museum, London; David Jones, Perse School; Paul Jordan, Brighton History Centre; Clive Lawton, former Headmaster, King David High School, Liverpool; Marion Leggett, Librarian, Brighton and Hove High School; Susan Lord, Curator, Manchester Jewish Museum; Nigel Lutt, Operations Manager, Bedford County Record Office; Mairi Macdonald, Deputy Head of Archives, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust; Margaret McGregor, Archivist, Bristol Record Office; Patricia McGuire, Archivist, King’s College, Cambridge; Beverley Matthews, Senior Librarian, Tonbridge School; Simon May, Archivist, St Paul’s School; Eliza Newton, Archives Assistant, Devon Record Office; Jonathan Oates, Borough Archivist and Local History Librarian, Ealing Local History Centre; Jenny Paul, South Hampstead High School for Girls; Carole Pemberton, Development Secretary, Manchester Grammar School; J R. Piggott, Keeper of Archives, Dulwich College; P.Poliak, School Archivist, The King’s School, Canterbury; John Plowright (Repton); Amy Proctor, Senior Information Officer (Enquiries), London Metropolitan Archives; Don Rainger, Administrator, Manchester Jewish Museum; Jo Robson, Archivist, Manchester Archives and Local Studies Unit; Edward Rogers, Senior Archivist, Hackney Archives Department; Fred Rogers, King Edward’s School, Birmingham; David Rose, Librarian, City of London School, Rabbi Jeremy Rosen, former Principal, 5 Carmel College; Gary Rust, Records Officer, Bedford County Record Office; Chris Seward, Headteacher, Davenant School; Caroline Shaw, Assistant Archivist, Rothschild Archive; Catherine Smith, Archivist, Portsmouth Grammar School; Eddie Smith, Archivist, Westminster School; Sue South, Archivist, Bradford Grammar School; Linda Spencer-Small, Redlands High School for Girls, Bristol; Bryan Stokes, Archivist, King's College School; Jackie Sullivan, Archivist, Roedean School; John Sylvester, Secretary, Old Bedfordians Club; Bob Thomson, Local History Librarian, Harrow Local History Collection; Dalia Tracz, Assistant Librarian, Mocatta Library, University College London; Darren Treadwell, Archive Assistant, People’s History Museum; Jeremy Ward, Archivist, Manchester Grammar School; Yvonne Wattam, Assistant Librarian (Local Studies Collection), Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland; Anne Wheeldon, Archivist-Public Service, Hammersmith and Fulham Archives and Local History Centre; Ann Wheeler, Archivist, Charterhouse; Dominic Whitehead, Special Collections, John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester; Richard Wildman, School Archivist, Bedford Modem School; Mandy Wise, Special Collections, University College London, Chris Woodhead, Leeds High School for Girls. And the British Library staff of the Newspaper Library (Colindale), the Maps Library (St. Pancras) and the Sound Archives (St. Pancras), and the Staff of the National Archives. With very special thanks to my parents, Sharon and Mark Harris, for their love and moral support throughout my life. It is to them that this thesis is dedicated. 6 DEDICATED TO MY PARENTS, SHARON AND MARK HARRIS WHO ALWAYS BELIEVED IN ME, AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY GRANDPARENTS, ALEX COLIN AND EVA AND SOLOMON (SID) HARRIS 7 Table of Contents Abstract of Thesis 2-3 Acknowledgements 4-6 Dedications 7 Table of Contents 8 List of Charts and Tables 9 Glossary 10 Chapter One: Introduction 11-38 Chapter Two: Definitions 39-65 Chapter Three: Historical and Statistical Perspective 66-96 Chapter Four: Boys’ Education in London andits Environs 97-147 Chapter Five: Boys’ Education in the Provinces 148-194 Chapter Six: Girls’ Education in London and the Provinces 195-221 Chapter Seven: Conclusion 222-229 Appendix I: Pupil Lists 230-289 Appendix II: Example of School for Working Classes 290-291 Appendix III: School Tables 292-300 Appendix IV: Maps 301-303 Bibliography 304-352 8 List of Charts and Tables Chart A: Sample of Fathers’ Occupations (taken from 4 admission registers) 1860-1920 41 Chart B and Corresponding Table B: Number of Jewish Boarding and Day Establishments 1830-1920 72 Chart C and Corresponding Table C: Ages of Pupils (9-18) Attending Jewish Boarding Schools 1851 -1901 74 Chart D and Corresponding Table D: The Location for Jewish Establishments 1830-1920 94 Chart E: The 3 General Centres for Jewish Schools 95 Chart F: Hackney Downs School: Fathers’ Occupations 1876-1907 144 Chart G: Entry to Hamburg House/Polack’