Does anyone know whether a private boarding school in England or Wales in the 1840-1850's had to be registered ? And if so-where ?
Under which juristiction were they local or governmental ?
Many thanks,
J.

The answer is "No" - private schools were just a business -very popular with impoverished genteel ladies (for girls) and local clergymen (for boys). However they would always appear in local directories, either in the street section or business section, so might be worth trying there if you know the town. General schooling only became compulsory after the 1870 Education Act and was then a matter for local councils - still is. Good luck.

i think yes ans governing bodies such as local councils hold records in archives

thanks for your reply.It has spured me on to try at the local level.J.

could you try census searches under addresses, assuming you know the address?

Regards