Children in Victorian Britain
QCA Unit 11

What's the big idea?

Queen Victoria ruled for more than 60 years and the life of children changed dramatically during that time.

At the start of her reign, only a handful of children went to school. Children were treated like little adults and most began work as soon as they could walk, either alongside their parents or in the new factories. Many died before they were five.

By the time Victoria died, people began to see childhood as a special time and to recognise that children needed education and protection.