The family fled to Germany when Russia occupied Poland in the first world war, and they moved to England in 1920 where Bronowski, at first speaking no English, was educated at the Central Foundation School, London.

He adapted very effectively as a school report shows:

Central Foundation Boys School, Cowper St. London EC2A 4AP
Report for the term ending 22 November 1920
Form IV C (31 boys, average age 11 yrs and 10 mths on July 31, 1920).
J Bronowski aged 12 years and six months.
Place in form: 1st
Conduct: Excellent
Industry: Excellent
Progress: Excellent
Remarks: Very satisfactory commencement.

Robert S. Crump/ Form Master

The library at Whitechapel was very influential on a whole generation of immigrant children. The librarian, Richard H. Loney at Whitechapel had suggested that he read Mr Midshipman Easy and he had engaged with it enthusiastically, but it was in mathematics that he excelled: he won a scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge where he was a senior wrangler in his finals. [Ref. 1]

Enter Chapter 2 Experiment

Experiment The Poet's Defence The Commonsense of Science Insight The Ascent of Man