Humanities

Industrial revolution

Year 9 students are presently studying about Child Labour in the Industrial revolution. 

Students are exploring the appalling working conditions experienced by children as young as five who were working during the Industrial Revolution in three of the following industries: the textile industry, the mining industry and as Chimney sweepers (the climbing boys).

The Industrial Revolution was a time of great change in Britain. New technologies and factories were being developed, and this led to a boom in the manufacturing industry. Factory owners were looking for workers who could operate the new machines, and they turned to children because they were small and nimble enough to do so.   In addition, children were much cheaper to hire than adults, which made them an attractive option for factory owners.

Many of the children who worked in factories came from poor families who could not afford to support them. These families often sent their children to work in order to help make ends meet. Others were orphaned or abandoned and had no one else to care for them.

Factory owners knew that these children were desperate, and they exploited them by paying them very low wages. The working conditions in factories were often dangerous and unhealthy. Children worked long hours, sometimes up to 16 hours a day, with few breaks. 

They were often exposed to harmful chemicals and fumes, which could lead to serious health problems. In addition, there was a risk of accidents, as the machines were often poorly maintained.

Stay tuned for some samples of our students’ work in our next newsletter.

Ms Su-Nhi Kim

Humanities Teacher