This rather dramatic red brick building on Ford Street in Salford is the former "Central Higher Grade Scholarship School" opened in 1894, the 8th school built by the Salford School Board.  A description of the school says that, "... to help supply a body of qualified students for the proposed municipal technical college, in November 1893 the Board decided to establish a free higher grade school, open to all boys and girls from public elementary schools in the borough, board and voluntary, on passing an entrance exam.  The school was also declared to be designed to prepare scholars who wish to become pupil-teachers, to carry on the education of intelligent children whose parents wished to keep them at school until the age of fifteen but who could not afford the fees of the higher grade schools, and to prepare pupils for entrance to local grammar and high schools.  A new school building behind and adjoining the new School Board Office on Chapel Street was decided upon."

As the school was only to be for older pupils of Standard VI and upwards it was felt that no playground was needed. ......  The school opened in February 1894 with 113 pupils out of 116 who presented themselves for examination.  ....  By November there were 153 pupils admitted to the school out of 203 candidates.  104 of the pupils, 57 boys and 47 girls, had come from Board schools and 49, 29 boys and 20 girls, from voluntary schools.  ... So that children should not be excluded on religious grounds, it was decided that religious instruction normally would be given in accordance with the Board's non-sectarian scheme, but that classrooms would be placed at the disposal of Roman Catholic and Anglican religious teachers if they desired, at the appropriate times."

Today the building is part of the Salford Cathedral Centre and home to, among others, Caritas Diocese of Salford, the official charity of the diocese.  On their website Caritas explain that their vision is, " ... that the lives of all people should be free from poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. Our purpose is to help the most vulnerable children, young people and adults in our communities to transform their lives and fulfill their potential.  Caritas is made from joining up well-established charities in the Diocese, merging to bring forward the work of each. These include Catholic Children’s Rescue Society, Catholic Welfare Societies, St Joseph’s Mission to the Deaf, Catholic Family Care, Justice and Peace and Racial Justice."

Visit the "Manchester View" Homepage