The sculpture depicts a seated female figure, with a book on her lap, and a young boy standing beside her. The woman looks towards the child and has her right arm around him. With her left outstretched arm, she points to the future. The boy is dressed in a tunic with a belt and a coat, and at his feet are a cricket bat and ball. 'Education' was one of the four supporting groups sculpted by Hamo Thornycroft for the London Gladstone Memorial. The memorial was completed in 1905. A bronze copy of 'Education' was purchased by James Cockcroft, who presented it to the people of Shaw and Crompton in 1919. The sculpture was removed twice and now sits upon a tall stone plinth in its present location.