Where can I find information about Scottish schools in parliamentary papers?

Parliamentary papers are a good source of information about schools and education in Scotland. They include evidence presented to parliamentary commissions and statistical returns by the head teachers of schools. For example, schoolteachers’ returns to the 1838 Education Select Committee’s questionnaire gives information about all the schools in each parish in Scotland at that time. There is a very good guide to the contents of 19th century parliamentary papers in J. A. Haythornthwaite, N. C. Wilson and V. A. Batho, Scotland in the Nineteenth Century: an analytical bibliography of material relating to Scotland in Parliamentary Papers, 1800-1900 (Scolar Press, 1993).

Parliamentary papers are held by large reference libraries (such as the National Library of Scotland, the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, Edinburgh City Libraries, and some university libraries). Parliamentary Papers are also available online through ProQuest which is a subscription service used by university libraries and some large reference libraries.  For other options go to <https://archives.parliament.uk/online-resources/parliamentary-papers/  > [accessed 26 April 2024].