The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) was founded in the early 19th century to support free and non-denominational British Schools in England and Wales. These schools competed with the National schools run by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education, which had the support of the established Church of England, the local parishes, and Oxford and Cambridge universities. Both institutions promoted the monitorial system, whereby few paid teachers supervised the senior students who in turn taught the younger students.[1] After the state assumed responsibility for elementary education in 1870, British schools were transferred to local school boards.
The society continued to support teacher training until the 1970s. Today it offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies. In 2024 the society changed its name to Educational Opportunity Foundation to reflect its current objectives.[2]
- ^ David Taylor, Mastering economic and social history (1988) pp 278–80.
- ^ Adewale, Dami (21 May 2024). "Educational charity changes its name". Third Sector (magazine). Retrieved 1 September 2024.