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Schools likely existed to 'Romanize' sons of local elites. Evidence of a literate culture (inscriptions, laws, letters), but mass education did not exist. A possible three-tier system: elementary (reading, writing, arithmetic), grammar, and rhetoric. Christianity tolerated from AD 313 but did not establish its own school system.
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Roman institutions, including schools and churches, largely disappeared. Anglo-Saxon invaders showed little interest in preserving Roman or Christian learning. 597
Arrival of St. Augustine in Canterbury Augustine founded Christ Church Cathedral and St. Augustine's Monastery. Schools were created alongside churches, as none existed locally. King's School, Canterbury (grammar school) established around 598—considered England's oldest known school. -
Schools founded at: York (song school, 634) Lindisfarne (monastic school, 635) Dorchester, Winchester, Hexham, Malmesbury, Lichfield, Hereford, Worcester Education primarily for training priests, monks, and nuns, though some lay nobles were educated. Limited education for girls (sent to Frankish nunneries; double houses like Hartlepool and Whitby).
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The Venerable Bede (d. 735) recorded early school foundations.
Curriculum included grammar, rhetoric, law, poetry, astronomy, music, and scripture.
Alcuin led the school at York, teaching a broad curriculum centered on the Church.
In 782, he left to join Charlemagne's court, influencing continental education.
793 onwards
Viking Invasions
Monasteries and schools were raided (Lindisfarne 793, Jarrow 794).
Widespread destruction led to a decline in monastic learning -
Alfred lamented the decline of learning and sought to revive education. Revived monasteries (Athelney, Shaftesbury), promoted education in the royal household, and encouraged writing in English. Translated Latin works into English and distributed them.
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Dunstan (Archbishop of Canterbury) inspired a revival of learning and arts.
Parish churches began to emerge, creating a need for educated priests who could also teach.
Ælfric of Eynsham wrote an Anglo-Latin Grammar in English, widely used after the Norman Conquest.
Education remained limited, especially for girls and outside monasteries.
1016–1042
King Canute Scandinavian Rule
Canute supported education, sending boys (including poor but clever ones) to monasteries for clerical training. -
Brought England into closer contact with European intellectual currents (cathedral schools of France). Norman reorganization of cathedrals and monasteries affected schools. French replaced English as the vernacular for teaching Latin.
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Charters begin to reference schools as distinct institutions (at Canterbury, Dunwich, Gloucester). Secular schools began to flourish alongside monastic ones. Education remained largely vocational (for clergy), but with growing recognition of schools as public entities.