The Blue Coat School in

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

, England, was founded in 1705 as a

charity school Charity schools, sometimes called blue coat schools, or simply the Blue School, were significant in the history of education in England. They were built and maintained in various parishes by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants to ...

for forty poor boys. There was a smaller school for girls known as the Grey Coat School, York.

History

The school was founded by the City of York Corporation, who initially provided and furnished a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...

hall,

St Anthony's Hall St Anthony's Hall in York, England, is a former medieval guildhall and Grade I listed building. It currently houses Trinity Church York and the Quilt Museum and Gallery. The Hall, located on Peasholme Green, was built between 1446 and 1453 ...

, on

Peasholme Green Peasholme Green is a street on the eastern edge of the city centre of York, in England. History The street was established by 1000, as part of an important route leading east out of the city. It was first recorded in 1269, the name "Peasholme" ...

, for use as the school building. The blue coats worn by the boys were based on the uniform of

Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Private schools in the United Kingdom, fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter, located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. T ...

School in Greyfriars,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. A Grey Coat School for twenty poor girls was founded at the same time in

Marygate Marygate is a street in York, England, running just north of the city centre. Built in the Middle Ages, it gets its name from St Mary's Abbey and the Viking word "gata," meaning street. The area where the street lies was outside the walls of th ...

. By 1836, the boys' school housed sixty-four pupils, and there were forty-three girls at the Grey Coat School. Supporters who donated more than a guinea a year were allowed to put forward the name of one boy and one girl to enter each school.

The Grey Coat School

The Grey Coat School was created in 1705 at "The Garth" in Marygate. It moved to 33, Monkgate. The girls were trained in sewing and knitting and prepared for a career as a servant. In 1782

Faith Gray Faith Gray born Faith Hopwood (31 January 1751 – 20 December 1826) was a British diarist, school founder who, with Catharine Cappe, improved education in York for poor girls and at the Grey (now Blue) Coat School. Life Gray was born in York. S ...

and

Catharine Cappe Catherine Cappe or Catherine Harrison (3 June 1744 – 27 July 1821) was a UK, British writer, diarist and philanthropist. Life She was born Catharine Harrison in Long Preston in 1744, daughter of the clergyman Jeremiah Harrison, an associate of ...

created evening classes so that local hemp factory workers could learn to read. With Cappe, Gray and Cappe established in 1784 a School for Spinning Worsted in York, offering an education for girls. After this success, Gray was approached to become involved with the "Grey Coat School" which had lost its way. She wrote notes to the (male) governors of the school. The master of the school had been deemed unfit and his wife was mentally ill. Cappe and Gray's Ladies's Committee were allowed to take over the school's management. Cappe and Gray went on to found the York Female Friendly Society which was open to ex-students of the Grey Coat School and to their "School for Spinning Worsted". The society's object was to provide basic

health insurance Health insurance or medical insurance (also known as medical aid in South Africa) is a type of insurance that covers the whole or a part of the risk of a person incurring medical expenses. As with other types of insurance, risk is shared among ma ...

for its female members. Until 1900 the girls would be taught spinning and their work was sold to supplement the home's income.

Closure

The school suffered some bomb damage in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. After the war, the

Education Act 1944 The Education Act 1944 ( 7 & 8 Geo. 6. c. 31) made major changes in the provision and governance of secondary schools in England and Wales. It is also known as the Butler Act after the President of the Board of Education, R. A. Butler. Histori ...

established a number of categories for

state school A state school, public school, or government school is a primary school, primary or secondary school that educates all students without charge. They are funded in whole or in part by taxation and operated by the government of the state. State-f ...

s. Neither the boys' nor the girls' school fell into any of the new categories, and they both closed in 1947. However the girl's continued to be housed in a Grey Coat Home although their schooling was at normal schools. This home continued until 1983 but it was amalgamated with another in 1969.

Former pupils

Moses B. Cotsworth: accountant, railway statistician, calendar reformerCook, Anna J. (2024). A Man Beyond Time: Moses Cotsworth's fight for the 13-month calendar. Independent Publishing Network.

References

{{Schools in North Yorkshire Educational institutions established in 1705 1705 establishments in England Defunct schools in York Bluecoat schools Educational institutions disestablished in 1947 1947 disestablishments in England