The Forster Education Act of 1870 is a key turning point in the changing role and status of women, as it held significant long-term significance for further generations of women campaigning for suffrage. The act provided a state service for children aged between 5 and 13, similarly providing a more reliable form of education for working class children who were, before the act, taught in factory or charity schools. Before 1870, the literacy rate of children was significantly poor, as 34% of children between 6 and 12 did not receive any form of elementary education. This caused the Government to implement the Education Act, as it became a national necessity to provide to a developed country. For women, the introduction of school boards was a…show more content… By 1928, women who were old enough to vote could appreciate the extended franchise more after practical advice that was given to them as children. However, there was distinct continuity for the type of education girls were given in the late 19th century. The main syllabus for a girl’s education continued to refrain from teaching advanced subjects, focusing on gender specific subjects like languages and cooking, reinforcing the conservative ideal of the role of women in Britain; halting the skills that were essential for a suitable role in society. Additionally, the majority of working class found it difficult to put their children through education, as they still had to pay for the costs, highlighting the unreliability of the earlier education system. Moreover, it was a significant time period until free education was granted in the Elementary Education Act of 1891. The concept of two generations of girls failing to receive an education due to economic restrictions undermines the significance of the Education Act, restricting the changing role of women for a significant time when the suffrage campaign was starting in the