The Education (Scotland) Act 1872 made elementary education compulsory for the first time for children aged 5 to 13 years of age in Scotland and established the government as being responsible for its delivery.

 

School Boards were created in each rural parish to implement this aim. Parents were required to pay fees and could select from a basic or more advanced curriculum according to what they might be able to pay. At their meeting of 7th November 1873, Farr School Board discussed and set their fees:

 

“Fees – The Board having taken into consideration the matter of school fees as adopted by them at their meeting of 5th June last, are of the opinion they are struck too low, and they hereby agree to cancel that part of their minute and substitute the following rates: 1. For simple Elementary branches of Reading, Writing & Arithmetic 1/6 per quarter 2. For Elementary branches with Rudimentary Grammar, History & Geography 3/- per quarter 3. For the foregoing with Mathematics, Latin & other higher branches 4/- per quarter – all payable quarterly in advance.”

 

In 1890, elementary schooling in Scotland became free. In rural Sutherland the task of creating access to elementary education for all children was extremely difficult since the population was so scattered. Particular schools from amongst those already in existence were selected by each Board to be the designated Public Schools. These key schools delivered elementary education, oversaw educational attainment in the growing number of side schools and provided the classic ‘parish’ school liberal education for a smaller number of pupils aiming to sit the University entrance exams. Side schools already existed in some places but more of them were needed to provide elementary education in the really remote straths and glens for shepherds’ families.