] P.342 #75 talks about a "Grey Coat" School for Girls, and p.257 about a "ragged school". I'm guessing that a ragged school was a charity school for poor children, but more information would be welcome!

Yes, you're right. However, because some of these schools gave a good education, the less poor and even the rich often wanted to get their own children in. Some of the original ragged schools are now quite posh.

They were called `grey coats' or `blue coats' or whatever from the school uniform that the children wore. These uniformed schoolchildren often took part in parades throughout the town for grand occasions.