THE Diocesan School at Cowley was established in 1841, by the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education, for the purpose of providing Middle Class Families with an education for their sons suited to the requirements of the age, and at as low a cost as possible.

At that time there were hardly any but private Schools, (and those of a very inferior kind,) open to the class in question. There were, indeed, the ancient endowed Public Schools for the sons of those who could afford a very expensive education, and National Schools for the children of mechanics and labourers; but for the sons of tradesmen, farmers, and professional men of moderate means, there was no adequate provision within reach: and it too often happened that they left the private schools to which they were of necessity driven for any education at all, with less real knowledge than that possessed by the classes below them, for whom good schools and schoolmasters were being provided by the Church and Parliamentary aid.

The Cowley School was among the earliest of those established to supply this deficiency, and to provide for this important part of our rising generation a thoroughly sound and practical educa

tion by well-qualified masters, at a moderate rate of payment. In the first instance, the Manor House at Temple Cowley' was taken for the purpose; and additional room being required, a plain square erection was added adjoining the old building, the lower portion of which was appropriated for School-rooms, and the upper story used as Dormitories.

It was soon found, however, that more extensive premises were required than even the additional building afforded. A large and handsome stone house was therefore built, of an appropriate design, (and capable of further extension,) near to the original Manor House, which still continues to form a portion of the School buildings, and only a few yards detached. In this new building the School rooms are arranged on a novel, and (as experience proves), a very efficient plan. They form four entirely distinct rooms; but instead of being separated by stone walls, these rooms are divided by screens of iron and glass, which allow of every boy being under the eye of the Head Master, and yet afford all the advantages of classification for pupils of different ages and attainments. Every room is provided with an expensive series of spring roller maps which may be drawn down over these glass screens; and all the other apparatus of a school is equally at command. Each room is also warmed by means of hot water, and thoroughly ventilated.

The Dormitories are comfortably fitted up, having detached lavatories: and experienced matrons take charge of the boys' comforts under the superintendence of Mrs. Hurman.

The play ground attached to the School is of ample size; and at a short distance is the cricket field, eight acres in extent, where the boys spend most of their recreation time. There is also a large stone building erected in the cricket field for use as a Music room, and for general festivities; and the elder Pupils are formed into an Instrumental Band, (the instruments belonging to the School), which forms a great source of amusement as well as instruction to those who like to learn.

There is a Lending Library for all who are disposed to avail themselves of it; and a moderate use of Chess and Draughts is allowed in the leisure part of the evening.

1 The buildings are erected on the site of a Preceptory of the Knights Templars from whom Temple Cowley takes its name. The Templars' badge has therefore been adopted as the distinctive badge of the School.

It may be added, that Cowley is well known as the healthiest situation in the neighbourhood of Oxford; and that, by the blessing of GOD on the care used, serious illness has been entirely unknown in the School during the time of the present Head Master.

The Instruction in the Diocesan School is founded on the one principle of fitting the boys to "do their duty in that station of life to which it shall please GOD to call them." It is the endeavour of the Head Master to secure assistants competent for their work, and who will interest themselves in the progress of the pupils. A sound English education, with a good knowledge of Arithmetic for all; Mensuration, Surveying, Latin, French, and German for those to whom these branches of knowledge will prove useful, is the object which the Head Master sets before himself as the most necessary for his Pupils. It is also his endeavour to bring them up in the real knowledge and practice of Church of England principles; and in this he is assisted by Clergymen who visit the School with the sanction of the Diocesan Board.

This system has been attended with the most satisfactory results. There are numerous instances of pupils from the School succeeding in competitive and other examinations; while in the ordinary walks of business there are many whose success they have themselves attributed to the sound training they had received at Cowley.

It is a great satisfaction to the Head-Master to be able to add to such testimony the following commendation of the School by the Bishop of Oxford in his Charge for 1860 :

"During these three years the Middle School at Cowley has "not only endured the shock of losing its former excellent Master, "but has risen to a higher level under its new Head."

BP. OF OXFORD'S CHARGE, 1860.

In conclusion, the Head-Master wishes it to be known that there is a searching Examination twice a year, under the superintendence of the Board of Education, when Prizes are awarded. Also that the School is subject to the ordinary Inspection of the Rural Dean. In fact, the plan of Inspection now advocated for Middle Class Schools has long been in practice here.

The Report of the Examination held in December 1859 is annexed, together with specimens of the Examination papers.

REPORT.

The Examination held December 1859 has differed in some important respects from those on former occasions. In order to give it a more searching character, the Committee of the Diocesan Board availed themselves of the assistance of the following Gentlemen :

The Rev. PROFESSOR WALKER, of Wadham College, kindly undertook to examine in Euclid and Algebra.

The Rev. E. H. HANSELL, of Magdalen College, in Arithmetic. The Rev. S. EDWARDES, of Merton College, in Mensuration and Geography.

MONTAGU BURROWES, ESQ., of Magdalen Hall, in History.

The Rev. M. PATTISON, of Lincoln College, in Literature.
The Rev. L. GILBERTSON, of Jesus College, in Holy Scripture.
The Rev. J. RIDDELL, of Balliol College, in The Prayer Book.

The result of the Examination shews that in Religious Knowledge and Arithmetic, especially, the School is fully entitled to the high character it has always enjoyed.

The Prizes were assigned as follows:

For Religious Knowledge: 1. Knight.

2. Tulloch.

For General Proficiency: Upper School, Whish.

Lower School, Bristow.

The excellence of the Arithmetic in the Lower School, and the recommendation of the Examiner, induced the Committee to award an extra prize for that subject to W. Arkell.

The Committee, desiring to give encouragement to the important studies of Geography and History, and Mathematics, have offered prizes for those subjects at the next Examination.

The TERMS are £27 per Annum, without any additional charge for School-Books, Stationery, or Tuition.

Pupils under Eleven Years of Age, £25.

HOLY SCRIPTURE.

JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH, 1 SAMUEL, ST. LUKE.

JOSHUA.

1. What decided the position of the tribe of Judah, and how were the portions of the other tribes determined?

2. Of what part of the country was Hazor the head, and at what period in the wars of Joshua was it destroyed?

3. Give an account of the fall of Jericho.

JUDGES.

4. Which of the Judges had a civil jurisdiction—which a military position only-and which of them seem to have combined the two?

5. Who were Chushan-rishathaim, Jerubbael, Abimelech, and Manoah ?

RUTH.

6. What names in the genealogy of S. Luke's Gospel do we find in the Book of Ruth?

1 SAMUEL.

7. What are the two special occasions on which Samuel reproved Saul for his public acts ?

8. What occasioned the death of the Priests at Nob?

S. LUKE.

9. Mention some of the passages in S. Luke's Gospel for which we find no parallel in the other Evangelists.

10. Shew how the Parable of the Good Samaritan is descriptive of our Lord's life and actions, and thus gave the answer to the question-"Who is my neighbour."