ONE of York's most historic schools will be remembered at a tri-centenary party later this year. And anyone with connections to this venerable institution is invited.

The Blue Coat School was founded on June 14, 1705 with 40 poor boys in St Anthony's Hall, Peasholme Green, "there to be lodged, clothed, fed and taught".

It was a local response to the charity school movement which swept the country in the reign of Queen Anne.

According to minutes of a meeting presided over by Lord Mayor Charles Redman on March 20, 1705, an order went out that "Mr William Etty do with all possible speed prepare and make ready the said place with suitable and proper convenience and things for the master and forty lads.

"And further also that the committee appointed for this purpose by the city do buy and provide fitt beds and bedding and other necessarys proper for the lodging of the said poor children."

Later in 1705, the Grey Coat School was opened in Marygate "for the reception of 20 poor girls".

The great hall was divided into three parts, with one outside aisle used as a dormitory, another for schooling and eating and the centre aisle given over to a workroom.

According to the late Bill Taylor, who wrote a history of the school, it provided board, lodgings, clothing and tuition for orphans and the sons of poor freemen from the entry age of seven years old until they reached 12. Then they were apprenticed to the Royal Navy or a mechanical trade, or in the girls' cases, domestic service.

"Industrial training took precedence over moral and intellectual training with the result that the boys were educated in reading, writing, casting accounts and religious instruction for a total of only about an hour a day," wrote Mr Taylor.

"On leaving the school the boys were fitted out with clothes and given a bible and a Book Of Common Prayer."

Pupils would spin or weave for six-and-a-half hours a day - four-and-a-half in winter. "The turning of hardwoods to produce trinkets known as 'toys', an important minor local industry, was introduced into the curriculum in 1778."

Every day, the pupils would have milk or milk pottage for breakfast, a vegetable-based dinner at midday, and broth with a piece of bread for supper. Meat was served on Sundays and Thursdays.

In the 1820s, discipline at the school broke down with bullying and stealing becoming rife. Boys even sang indecent songs when a mistress was put in charge, and the reputation of the institution sank.

The arrival of the progressive headmaster Edward Robinson in 1863 marked the start of a much better era for the pupils.

The Blue Coat and Grey Coat schools went through various ups and downs throughout the centuries, and finally closed on the retirement of the last headmaster, Mr Amos. By then, "they were held in high regard".

The schools continued as orphanages. In 1976, the St Stephen's Orphanage and the Blue and Grey Coat Schools, with related charities, were amalgamated to create the York Children's Trust.

Its aim is "the relief of needy children and needy young people under 25 years, including the advancement of the education of such children and young persons". It gives grants totalling about £80,000 a year.

The trust is also organising the 300th birthday commemoration. There will be a buffet tea at Bedern Hall between 3pm and 5.30pm on June 10. Fittingly for a school which was launched with the help of one Lord Mayor, and had two more as pupils, this year's Lord Mayor will attend.

Bert Sherriff, the trust's clerk and treasurer, says: "We want as many people connected with the school in any way to be there, particularly former pupils."

If you would like to be involved, contact Mr Sherriff on (01904) 750705.

Updated: 09:12 Monday, April 04, 2005