The Royal Commission on Technical Instruction, sometimes known as the Samuelson Commission (after its Chairman, Bernhard Samuelson), was set up in 1881 “to inquire into the instruction of the industrial classes of certain foreign countries in technical and other subjects for the purpose of comparison with that of the corresponding classes in this country; and into the influence of such instruction on manufacturing and other industries at home and abroad”.

The Commission attempted to address widespread concerns about the random and fragmented development of English technical education and the resultant unregulated nature of technical education institutions. There had been fears concerning the country’s ability to compete with foreign rivals, which had been highlighted in the international exhibitions such as the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the Exposition universelle of 1867 in Paris.

One of the Commission’s main pieces of work was to survey technical education in European countries and the United States and compare it with the situation on England. Its members visited these countries to witness this for themselves and the Commission also took evidence from experts in the field.

The Commission published two reports, the first in 1882 was preliminary and focussed mainly on its findings in France. The second and main report appeared in five volumes in 1884. These two reports marked an important stage in the development of public opinion on technical and secondary education. Amongst its recommendations were:

• Rudimentary drawing should be incorporated with writing as a single elementary subject

• There should be more teaching of agriculture and craft work

• There should be more teaching of science and art in training colleges

• There should be greater powers for local authorities to establish more technical and secondary schools

• There should be less part-time employment for children

• There should be more systematic training for young workers in work schools and that employers and trade organizations should make financial contributions to help realise this recommendation.