1-153-149 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

'The Three R's; or, Better Late than Never', 1870. In 1870, in Gladstone's administration, William Edward Forster (1818-1886) oversaw the passage of the Elementary Education Act through Parliament. Much groundwork for the Act was done by his brother-in-law, the poet and literary critic Matthew Arnold. Cartoon from Punch (London, March 1870) showing Forster as Chairman of a Board School speaking to pupils.