1848.

DERBYSHIRE.

Brimington

Brampton

Boylestone

Chapel-en-le-Frith

Chesterfield, Victoria
Chesterfield, National
Milford

27 10 0'41 6 029 3 651 6 10

20 0 0 5

0

14 0 012 20 008

0

028 0 0
043 0 0

53

0

0 60 00

4 10 0 4 0 0 1 10 0

0 6 0 26 17 4

1 1 6
097

69

0 053 0 0 35 0 0 12 10 0 1 16 ( 020 0 0 5 0 0 53 0 0 0

28

71 0 0130

3 10 0 2 10 0 0 5 0 0

50 46 10 0

149 6 4 32 0 040 0 0 42 0 0 2 10 11 11 9 4 5 73 8 0 5 0 0 4 10

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

Ashbourne.-The average attendance in both schools has increased since last
year.
The first class of boys passed a fair examination, but the lower classes still continue in
the same unsatisfactory state: few in the second class could do a sum correctly in simple
subtraction, or write down figures correctly from dictation. A slight improvement has
taken place in the girls' school, but it is still ill supplied with books and apparatus, and
the children are very deficient in arithmetic.

Beeley-Boys and girls under a master and mistress, the former of whom gives the
principal part of the instruction. The school is ill supplied with proper reading books.
The master has taken pains with his pupils to the best of his ability.

Borrowash.-An infant school, the efficient state of which does credit to the mistress. Paslow. Two pupil-teachers have been apprenticed, one in the boys', the other in the girls' school. The school was examined and reported on in September, 1847.

Brimington. Shut up on the day of my visit; the master (who has gained his certificate) having left in consequence of an intended reduction of his salary. No adequate means of instruction for either sex is provided in this locality.

Brampton.-A new master has recently been appointed; the girls' school did not exhibit that degree of improvement which I anticipated, but the number of infants is a serious drawback to the exertions of the mistress.

Boylestone.-An improvement has taken place since last inspection this appears to be owing as much to the exertions of the clergyman and his family, as to those of either master or mistress.

Chapel-en-le-Frith.-The children in both schools are well instructed in Scripture, in which they passed a good examination. Care has been taken with all the classes by the

master, who has been successful in his school, in which he has been materially assisted
by the superintendence of the clergyman. The girls' school has not made much progress.
The infants are well taught by an active and intelligent mistress.

Chesterfield, Victoria.-The room has been fitted up with parallel desks since the last
inspection. Both boys and girls have an excellent knowledge of Scripture. The first
class of boys answered well in grammar and geography, wrote well from dictation, and
worked sums correctly in compound rules, practice, and proportion; the junior classes
also passed a creditable examination. The girls are by no means so forward as the boys,
but they are very young, most of the elder ones having left at Easter. The mistress, who
is an excellent teacher, has charge of boys and girls: her unwearied exertions for the
moral and intellectual improvement of those committed to her care, are worthy of all
praise.

Chesterfield, National-The boys' school is a large cheerless room, ill supplied with
books and apparatus: the children were ignorant and ill taught, dirty and untidy in
their dress. The girls had been better instructed in Scripture than the boys, and were
neat and clean. The contrast which these children present to those in the Victoria
School, in regard to their attainments, is very striking.

Milford.-A partially mixed school under a master and mistress: the first class passed
a fair examination, but neither the lower classes of boys or girls have been sufficiently
questioned upon the meaning of what they read: there is an average attendance of 190,
of these, 110 attend the school only half the day; the whole number of children who
are reading easy narrative, Holy Scripture, &c., does not appear in the annexed table.
I did not examine the infant school.

Pupil
Teachers,

£. s. d. E. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d.

50 0 0

25 0 0

64 0180 0 0

/50 0 0

11 18 9
20 0 0
12 15 0:20 13 010 10 723 7 8
32 0 0 25 0 0
20 0 0
30 0 012 0 0 25 0

198 2 930 0 050 00

50 0 050 0

0

10 0 2 600

5 0 0 0 15 9 145 56 0

0

500

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

Derby, National.-The whole school passed an examination which reflected great
credit upon the master: attention has been paid to all the classes. The beneficial effects
resulting from the apprenticeship of pupil-teachers to an earnest and efficient master
are strikingly exhibited in this school. My anticipations in reference to an improvement
in the girls' school have not been realized: the result of the examination was precisely
the reverse of that of the boys; it was highly unsatisfactory, and reflected little credit
upon the mistress.

Derby, St. Peter's.-The first class of boys, consisting of thirty-five, passed a good
examination in Scripture, English History, and Geography, and displayed considerable
proficiency in arithmetic; writing on slates and in copybooks good; the lower classes
are ignorant and ill-taught, and have not had due care or attention bestowed upon them.
The standard of instruction has been raised in the girls' school, and a slight improvement
has taken place.

Derby, Trinity-A marked improvement has taken place in reference to the lower
classes in the boys' school; the exertions of the master, who is an able teacher, do him
great credit. The number of infants in attendance at the girls' school is so great as to
prove a serious hindrance to the exertions of the mistress; it is scarcely possible to go
from one class to another without falling over the children: notwithstanding these dis-
advantages, the discipline is good, and the school in an improving state. An infant
school is greatly needed.

Doveridge, Girls.-The children are well instructed in Scripture; the first and second
classes passed a good examination; the third, amongst whom were some big girls, an
indifferent one, notwithstanding the pains which had been bestowed upon them.
Doveridge, Infants.-The infant school still maintains its character for efficiency.

Edensor. The first class of boys passed a fair examination; the lower classes are de-
ficient in their knowledge of arithmetic, and have not had sufficient pains bestowed
upon them; the discipline is bad. The girls' school has been subject to considerable
disadvantages, arising from a change of mistresses, two of whom have been obliged to
leave from ill health.

Eaton (Little).-The master of the boys' school was a pupil-teacher in the National
school of Derby: he had only been five weeks in charge when I visited the school. No
improvement since last inspection.

Hardwicke.-An endowed school, beautifully situated, under the patronage of the Duke
of Devonshire; there is a good house and ample accommodation for boarders. The in-
struction is given by a master and his assistant; the latter obtained his certificate at
Battersea: a few in the first class acquitted themselves tolerably, all the others were
ignorant and ill taught. The present arrangement of two masters is unsatisfactory and
not necessary; one active and responsible master, with two pupil-teachers, would render
this school really efficient, and thus accomplish the end contemplated by its founder.
Ilkeston. The first class passed a fair examination, but I cannot report any improve-
ment in reference to the lower classes. The discipline of the school is bad.
Longford.- A new master and mistress have been appointed: they have been in charge
for four months only, and therefore were not responsible for the ignorance displayed by
the lower classes in both schools.

Newhall.-The girls are taught by a mistress who has obtained her certificate; she
has been but a short time in charge. The standard of instruction is low, but it pro-
hably will be raised, and the elliciency of the school promoted under the present mis-
tress. I cannot report any improvement in the boys' school.