Warwickshire

Warwickshire

Warwickshire Reformatories

1 - Detailed Report on Certified Reformatory Schools for 1865

Saltley Reformatory for Boys
Saltley Reformatory for Boys near Birmingham pp 048-049 Inspected 10th October 1865.
The premises in excellent order; no alterations since last visit. No serious illness had occurred during the year. The boys looked well and healthy.
Mr Humphreys reported that he had had very little trouble or
disturbance. The school teaching had been very well attended to, especially in the junior or more backward classes. The 2nd class (24 boys) did very well in ciphering, as far as compound multiplication, and in dictation. The 1st class (20 boys) were less ready and correct in comparison, but the presence of several visitors during their examination sufficiently accounted for this.
The workshops have been fairly supplied with work. The farm and garden are well cultivated, and in spite of the dry season, the crops had been very fair. The number of inmates make an extension of the land attached to the school very desirable, but in the vicinity of Birmingham land is not very easily obtained. The average number for the year was 75; admissions 30 and discharges 20.
Cost per head was £14-14s-8d., or including industrial results, £13-6s-11d.
The staff consists of the superintendent, Mr Humphreys and his wife, a schoolmaster, Mr Cooke, and 6 servants and industrial assistants.
The results of the school have been satisfactory. Of 50 boys who were discharged in 1862-4; 34 i.e. 68% or nearly 7 in 10, are doing well, 9 have been reconvicted or have relapsed, and 7, or 14 % are unknown.

Industrial Homes for Girls
Industrial Home for Girls pp 076-077 Winson Green, Birmingham. Inspected 9th October 1865.
I found 27 girls in this institution, but only 6 of them were
under detention. The majority of the girls above 15 years old,
are received on payment from parents or friends interested in them.
The girls under a magistrate's order are very young; their instruction is quite elementary. Miss Weale, by whose efforts the school was originated and is now carried on, has derived much assistance from voluntary helpers, but their aid, though most valuable in some respects, hardly allows of the regularity of discipline and instruction which I should desire.
The results of the school have, however, been in many cases very remarkable, and may well encourage Miss Weale in her exertions to support it.

Source: 9th Report of the Inspector appointed under the provisions of the Act 5/6 Will. 4 c. 36 to Visit the Certified Reformatory and Industrial Schools of Great Britain 3686 pp 305-464 (001-158)
Appendix No II pp 025-089
Submitted by Alan Longbottom

Page updated August 06, 2007 by ROSSBRET