ɐtˈɛndɪŋ ɐ pˈɛni skˈuːl, wˌɪtʃ wʌzðə wˈiːkli pɹˈaɪs pˈeɪd fɔːɹ bˈeɪsɪk ˌɛlɪmˈɛntɚɹi ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən ɪn ɐ nˈæʃənəl ɹˈæðɚ ðˌænə tʃˈæɹᵻɾi ɔːɹ tʃˈɜːtʃ skˈuːl, klˈɑːɹk lˈɜːnd bˈɑːtəni, mjˈuːzɪk, nˈiːdəlwˌɜːk ænd tə ɹˈiːd ænd ɹˈaɪt.
Attending a penny school, which was the weekly price paid for basic elementary education in a national rather than a charity or church school, Clarke learned botany, music, needlework and to read and write.