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Collection IN4/2 - Harris School Board / District Education Sub-Committee, Harris
Reports

Identity area

Reference code

GB3002 IN4/2

Title

Harris School Board / District Education Sub-Committee, Harris

Date(s)

  • 1893-1975 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

10 volumes

Context area

Name of creator

Harris School Board (1873-1919)

Administrative history

The School Board of Harris was established in 1873 although the earlier records have not survived. Prior to 1872, parishes could establish schools but this was not enforced. The Gaelic Society of Scotland and the Scottish Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge were active in the Western Isles setting up temporary or travelling schools.

From 1872, the state assumed complete responsibility for education. The Harris School Board was established answerable to the Board of Education and later the Scottish Education Department. The Board consisted of elected members and was responsible for providing education for all children in the area funded from a parliamentary grant and local rates. School attendance was compulsory except in cases of illness or where the school was more than three miles from home. Fees were payable, but if the parents were unable to pay the Harris Parochial Board / Parish Council met the cost from poor relief until fees were abolished in 1889/1894. The Board was also responsible for the medical inspection of children.

The following schools fell under the control of the Board:

• Amhuinnsuidh
• Ardvourlie
• Berneray
• Bunavoneddar
• Drinishader
• Finsbay
• Grosebay
• Kyles Scalpay
• Kyles Stockinish
• Leverhume Memorial
• Luskentyre
• Manish
• Northton
• Rodel
• St Kilda
• [Sir Edward Scott]
• Scalpay
• Scarista
• Scarp
• Shelibost

The Education Act of 1918 abolished Harris School Board, creating Harris School Management Committee which was responsible to the Inverness-shire Education Authority, a body separate to the County Council. This in turn was responsible to the Scottish Education Department. These committees consisted of parents and teachers as well as representatives from the Education Authority.

The Local Government Act 1929 incorporated Inverness-shire Education Authority into Inverness-shire County Council with local schools being managed through the Harris District Education Sub-Committee. Local government reorganisation in 1975 saw the abolition of the Harris Education District Sub-Committee, its responsibilities being taken over by the education Committee of Comhairle nan Eilean (Western Isles Islands Council).

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Internal transfer from Museum nan Eilean (Accn 2011-13)

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Minute books 1918-1975; correspondence 1961-1974; cash books 1893-1898

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged into series. Within series, items are arranged chronologically.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Some material may be subject to closure periods of up to 100 years from the final date in a volume to protect personal privacy of living individuals.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Paper volumes

Finding aids

Digital and manual item level list available in searchroom of Tasglann nan Eilean Siar

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Notes area

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Rights area

Accession area

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