1531 “The Boke Named The Governor” published by Thomas Elyot - new humanist concept of an ideal gentleman.

1540 (until 1630) new Welsh grammar schools founded, eg Ruthin (1574).

1546 Regius professorships founded at Oxford.

1570 Roger Ascham publishes “The Scholemaster” - humanist education of lay gentleman for public service.

1588 The Welsh translation of the Bible - the crucial “textbook” for more than two centuries.

1595 Pupil at Edinburgh Royal high school shoots city’s bailie John McMorane.

1605 “The Advancement of Learning” published by Francis Bacon - importance of experiment and evidence for true knowledge.

1616 Clan chiefs (right) in Scotland ordered by privy council to send Gaelic-speaking children to be educated in the Lowlands so that they learn English.

1640s Ideas of Samuel Hartlib disseminated in England - ‘Comenian’ education for all through reason, senses and revelation.

1650 An Act for the Better Propagation of the Gospel in Wales results in 60 free Puritan schools being set up.

1674 The Welsh Trust sets up the first of 300 schools, teaching reading, writing and the catechism, but in English to mostly Welsh-speaking people.

1693 John Locke’s “Thoughts Concerning Education” stresses that education should be useful and fit the child’s needs, interests and abilities.

1699 (until 1737) Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge sets up schools in London and larger English towns - and 97 schools in Wales.

1737 Thefirst of 3,400 Circulating Schools established in Wales by a Carmarthenshire vicar, Griffith Jones. Teaching mainly from the Bible and in the Welshlanguage.

1757 (to 1786) Warrington Academy established by radical dissenters but no subscription to any religious dogma. Innovative modern curriculum and teaching methods. Modern history, English and science taught.

1783 The Sunday-school movement established by Robert Raikes - religious education and reading for the poor.

1792 Mary Wollstonecraft publishes “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, a passionate plea for females to acquire useful and rational knowledge.

1798 Maria and Richard Lovell Edgeworth publish “Practical Education” - advocating useful, rational education where children think for themselves and experiment.