History of education in England ruling established that the Statute of Apprentices did not apply to trades that were not in existence when it was passed in 1563, thus excluding many new 18th century industries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge founded many charity schools for poor students in the 7 to 11 age group. These schools were the basis for the development of modern concepts of primary and secondary education. The Society also was an early provider of teacher education. Robert Raikes initiated the Sunday School Movement, having inherited a publishing business from his father and become proprietor
Robert Raikes the Elder Raikes and Dicey divided their partnership, Dicey retaining the Northampton press, and Raikes taking sole ownership of the "Gloucester Journal" press (now moved to premises in Southgate Street) and associated printing business. Raikes' business thrived, despite a change in newspaper duties in 1725, and a number of brushes with the law over articles published under his authority. In 1743, the "Gloucester Journal" was moved for a second time into larger premises in the Blackfriars area of Gloucester. Robert Raikes died at Gloucester, where he was buried in the church of St Mary de Crypt. Raikes was married three times: Two