1.Abstracts from the Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of Education in Wales, 1847, for the four South Wales counties of Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, and Carmarthen
In 1846:
(a) 199 National Schools: 11,724 Pupils.
(b) 20 British Schools:    2,809 pupils.
(c) 37 Works Schools:    5,532 Pupils.

2. The following figures show the extent of the Works Schools System compared with the two main Voluntary Societies in the industrial areas of Wales up to 1865-1870:
(a) National Schools:  1865:166 S.Wales  
(b) British Schools:   1865:122 S.Wales   
(c) Works Schools:   1870: 88 S.Wales
Pupils in attendance, 1865:
(a) National Society Schools:             17,705.
(b) British and Foreign School Society Schools: 17,230.
(c) Schools of the Works Schools System,    1865-1870:16,081.
The two abstracts above illustrate the growth of elementary educational provision in South Wales between 1846 and 1870. Note that the number of pupils in attendance at Works Schools in 1865 is very nearly 50% of the combined Voluntary Schools. This indicates the success and popularity of this method and that it has become distinctive enough to be considered an essential part of the Voluntary System. In the industrial areas of Wales during the greater part of the nineteenth century the Voluntary System of establishing and promoting elementary education for young children had, by 1870, become an integral and indispensable element in the organisation and provision of popular education. In 1870 Foster's Education Act brought in Board Schools which took over from National and British schools. The School Boards were set up to supervise schools in their area and build schools where there were none. The schools were to receive money from the government and from the local rates and were to be regularly inspected. The law also said that children between 5 and 12 had to attend school--elementary education was now compulsory.
.1880 Education Act. School attendance made compulsory between the age 5 and 10. Local Authorities now had duty to ensure that the children in their area were being properly educated.
·1889 Secondary Education Act. Welsh Intermediate Education Act - spread of secondary school education in Wales
·1893 Education Act. Age for compulsory school attendance increased to 11 years of age
·1899 Education Act. Age for compulsory school attendance increased to 12 years of age