ragged school

British  

noun

1. (in Britain, formerly) a free elementary school for poor children

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Example Sentences

The museum is housed in three huge canalside buildings, which once formed the largest ragged school in run by Dr Thomas Barnardo.

From The Guardian • Jul. 27, 2012

All the girls had been working in the evenings at dressing dolls and making other presents for a Christmas tree that was to be given to the poor children attending a ragged school at Aberglyn.

From The Third Class at Miss Kaye's A School Story by Brazil, Angela

The ragged school was the one in which he was so much interested, and that he had been instrumental in establishing.

From Gladys, the Reaper by Beale, Anne

Now, the honest scholars in the ragged school, seeing what was going on, of their own accord began to share their bread with this little band, and to contribute their pennies.

From Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands, Volume 2 by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Another philanthropist of whom Portsmouth is justly proud is John Pounds, who though only a poor shoemaker, originated and superintended the first ragged school in the kingdom.

From A Yacht Voyage Round England by Kingston, William Henry Giles