本文以蘇州吳學為例，討論宋代州級官學經營的發展趨勢，以及主事者在地方官學經營中所發揮的作用。由於學田制度浸漸完備、教官選任與路級教育監察機構確立，復以科舉文化興盛後，社會對教育的需求大量湧現，州級官學日漸深植於所在地方社會。在此背景下，吳學的例子反映出為了落實官學養士的理想，地方官學規模不斷擴大，其經營亦日趨複雜，甚至負擔起資助、救濟地方士人群體的社會責任，或至少帶有協助地方社會維繫公益機制的功能。此新生社會功能的受惠者以地方士人群體為主，若官學行有餘力，則再向外擴及地方社會的其他成員。

This article discusses the development and management of Suzhou Prefectural School Wu Shue (吳學) during the Song Dynasty. Because of the maturation of examination system and government education system in the Song Dynasty, prefectural schools became embedded in local society. In this circumstance, not only did the scale of Suzhou Prefectural School become ever bigger, but its management became more and more elaborated. Significantly, the preceptors gradually turned into overall managers of the prefectural school, and the school also developed some social functions and responsibilities to take care of the scholars shi-ren (士人) in Suzhou Society.