Before 1833 the amount of information in the Parliamentary Papers about elementary education was relatively small, but once the government began to put money into school buildings the number of returns and reports multiplied. At first a simple statement of applications and grants awarded for each county was all that was required. Next, details of every application for a grant were recorded; then, once inspection was established in the 1840s, information on a wide range of aspects of elementary education became available through the Inspectors’ reports for the various regions. In many cases these reports provide the first precise information about individual schools.

The system of government grants was intended to stimulate and supplement local effort, not to replace it. If a parish wanted to build a school in connection with the Church of England and the National Society, it could rely on grants from the local Diocesan Board of Education, the National Society and the government, and this would provide about one third of what was required. However, the government grant would not be paid until all other debts were cleared. When the Marston and Lidlington National School was built in 1847 the Rev Thomas Tylecote sent the completion certificate and balance sheet to the Committee of Council on Education to claim the government grant and received the following response:

‘My Lords observe that the Balance Sheet shews a deficiency and that funds have still to be received to meet the liabilities incurred.

‘It is contrary to the Regulations of Their Lordships to give directions for the payment of Their Grant while any debt of any kind whether of moral or legal obligation shall remain on account of the Buildings not actually and entirely liquidated.’

Although this problem was solved and the grant of £160 was duly received, it was many years before the school account book was able to show the school as solvent. Such a situation was not in any way exceptional for a village school unless there was a wealthy and generous local patron who was prepared to contribute what was required.

The following extracts from the Parliamentary Papers show what happened in Bedfordshire before the establishment of the Committee of Council in 1839 and also provide examples of a variety of early grant applications.