Defending educational independence

A little over a century ago Edward Thring, Headmaster of Uppingham, decided to organise the defence of independent schools against the threatened intervention of Mr. Gladstone's Government. The threat was prompted by the Taunton Commission, whose report had been published in 1868, which recommended the setting up of a permanent national body to reform the so‐called endowed schools. This body would have power to alter existing educational trusts and schemes of school government, to set up new trusts, and to reform governing bodies.