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McNair Report:
McNair Report:
Objective – to boost the supply, recruitment and training of teachers.
Arnold McNair sought to address the deficiencies and disparity between training and recruitment. -
Eleven Plus
Eleven Plus:
The Eleven Plus exam was created to test verbal reasoning, mathematics and English of primary school leavers to determine secondary school entry: Grammar, Secondary Modern or Technical School. The Eleven Plus is still in use in Grammar school across England and Wales. Critics argue a strong class bias of the Eleven Plus. -
Education Act 1944 / Butler Report:
Education Act / Butler Report 1944: Post-war “secondary education for all”. The act provided a framework for state education. The act Established three distinct strands or a tripartite construction of education – primary, secondary and further. It suggested free compulsory educational until the age of 15. It was the Hadow Report (1926) that recommended the school leaving age increase to 15 (wasn't implemented until 1947). It received Royal Assent on 3/08/1944 and was repealed in 1996. -
Free Milk anyone??
Free school milk introduced:
A daily 1/3 of a pint of milk was provided by schools. -
Churchill as PM
Winston Churchill took office at 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister. He immediately cut spending on education. -
Crowther report 1959:
Crowther report 1959:
The report recommended school leaving age increase to 16. The recommendation wasn't implemented until 1975. The act also highlighted the need for schools to appeal to a wider audience by considering alternatives to A-Levels. -
Beloe Report
Beloe Report:
This report laid the foundations for Certificate for Secondary Education in 1965. -
The Newsom Report 1963
Newsom report: The report highlighted a disparity of reading test scores across the country. Secondary modern schools were deficient in literacy as more money was being ring fenced for grammar schools. It identified the issue of large proportion of students leaving before 16 with no qualifications. -
CSE's or O-Levels??
CSE’s were introduced as an alternative to GCE’s or O-Levels. The majority of school children at secondary modern schools did not take O-Levels and therefore left without any formal qualifications. -
Plowden Report:
Plowden Report – “Progressivsm”:
The report promoted children to the centre of learning and new pedagogy approaches emerged. The key theme: every child develops (physically, emotionally and intellectually) at their own rate and teaching such be tailored in accordance with this. -
Free Milk? too late!!
No Milk for Secondary School:
The Education (Milk) Act 1971 limited the provision of milk in schools. -
Sweet 16
Sweet Sixteen:
Compulsory school age was increased from 15 to 16, some 30 years after Ellen Wilkinson's, Minister for Education, recommendation in the 40's. -
Sex Discrimination no longer
Sex Discrimination Act:
This had an impact upon school admissions and the opportunities for study. Boys and Girls had the same opportunity to study courses irrespective of their gender. -
Waddell Report - but not Chris Waddell.
Waddell Report:
Steering committee recommended replacing the CSE and GCE with a different system of examination that addressed the needs of a changing society. As a consequence GCSE's were introduced in 1986. -
Warnock Report - not Neil Warnock!
Warnock Report
Addressed the inequality of the education system in relation to those with Special Education Needs. Reframed the concept of “Handicapped” and identified that LEA’s were to take responsibility to meet those with Special Education Needs (SEN) and would be educated in “mainstream” schools wherever possible.
As a by-product of report the 1981 Education (Special Education) Act 1981 emerged. -
Thatcher's Britain
Thatcher reigns supreme
With Margaret Thatcher leading the party on the 4th May 1979 a Conservative government was elected to power. -
Happy Birthday
I was born -
On the 16th hour of the 16th minute on the 16th day of March I came into the world. Little did I know about the education path I would follow as a consequence of Conservative government legislation. -
Swann Report
Swann’s Report
Swann noted there was no single factor contributing towards underachievement and therefore there could be no single solution. This report also highlighted the important role of education in changing the attitudes and values of society. -
Busy Bees
I started at a private nursery in Lichfield called Busy Bees. This gave me an opportunity to develop the basic skills before I entered primary school. I believe it also provided an opportunity for me to develop my social skills at a young age. It allowed my parents to farm me off to a safe, engaging and fun environment while they dealt with their expanding business. -
Sex Education.
Sex Education:
The 1986 Education Act provided guidance for the delivery of Sex Education in schools. -
No more school kids getting caned!
Corporal punishment was outlawed in state schools.
Although corporal punishment was made illegal in the UK in state schools from August 1987, the practice still continues in private schools across the world, including Australia.
Although this was the case I remember being smacked on the hand with a ruler by the Headmaster. -
Started at primary school
I started at St Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Primary School in Aldridge. I remember the competitive and high pressure environment at a young age. Oh yeah and the cartons of milk!! -
Education Reform Act 1988
Education reform Act 1988
The ERA 1988 was the most influential change in the education system since the ERA 1944. Aspects of the Act:
• The National Curriculum was introduced.
• Key stages were developed as objectives for attainment.
• The act created a choice of where parents could send their schools.
• League tables were produced with the publication of school exam results.
• Grant Maintained Schools were introduced to create autonomy from LEA and were funded by Central Government. -
John Major PM:
John Major took over as leader of the Conservative Party and became Prime Minister. His government implemented many changes to the education system that would influence my experience. -
SATs introduced
SATs introduced:
Standard Attainment Tests (SATs) as part of the Conservative Government led by John Major attempted to raise the standards of core disciplines of English, maths and science. They assessed student achievement in line with the National Curriculum. The introduction of the SATs made a stressful time for everyone in my school year. -
"Poly wanna cracker??"
Polytechnics to Uni’s.
The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 changed in the funding and administration of further and higher education establishments in the UK.
The act allowed for 35 Polytechnics to become Universities, which included Wolverhampton Polytechnic now the University of Wolverhampton.
Little did I know at the time but i would attend Wolverhampton Uni in its new form in 2007 and 2010. -
Under the magnifying glass - OFSTED
Under the magnifying glass - OFSTED.
A national scheme of school inspection was created by John Major’s Conservative government. Out of this emerged OFSTED, a non-ministerial government department, responsible for the inspection of schools in England under the Education (Schools) Act 1992. -
A* at GCSE!! Whatever next, A* at A-Level!!
A* at GCSE!! Whatever next, A* at A-Level??!!
A new grading of A* was introduced at GCSE. This was now the gold standard everyone wanted. The sky was no longer the limit, it's all about the stars now. -
Secondary School here I come.
I started at St Francis of Assisi RC Secondary Comprehensive in Aldridge. My parents prevented me from taking the 11+ entrance exam to the local grammar school as they were in favour of the local catholic comprehensive school. This provided me with a well rounded education and moral/ethical guidance from my teachers; I didn't appreciate this at the time. On reflection, it's a good thing I went to a comprehensive school, grammar schools couldn't handle my competitive streak! -
Student Finance
Education (Student Loans) Act 1996
This act extended the provision of the student loan act of 1990 and had wider financial implications for HE students.
This would inevitably impact on me parents and I if i decided to pursue education post-18. -
New Labour - New Government
New Government: New Labour
A new Labour Government came to power led by Tony Blair. -
GTC and Tuition Fees
The Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 abolished student maintenance grants and required students to contribute towards tuition fees. The Act also established the General Teaching Council (GTC). The Education (Student Loans) Act transferred the provision of student finance to the private sector. -
GCSE's!!!
This year I look my GCSE's.
The changes to the education system meant I would be able to take formal examinations. This meant, assuming success, I would have something to show for the years studying a variety of subjects. This is thanks to the changes made in 1973 where the compulsory school age was raised to 16. -
A-Levels exams.
This year I took my A-Level examinations in Geography, Business Studies and Information Technology. -
Started University
This year I started at the University of Essex in Colchester. I studied Computer Science and Business Management in the 1st Year and majored in Business Management.
Uni was only an option due to the reforms that were made in the education system that created equality of opportunity. I would not have been able to attend university without the financial support of my parents,
*Interesting fact - Colchester United used the football pitches as their training ground throughout the week. -
"Every Child Matters"
“Every Child Matters”
ECM was a green paper produced following the death of Victoria Climbié. The Children Act 2004 that followed set out an agenda for child welfare.
The main aim was to ensure every child would have the support they needed to: be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. This would have a significant impact on my role as a teacher and youth leader in years to come. -
Tuition Fee!
Tuition Fee:
Tuition fees increased from £1,000 to £3,000 as a by-product of the Higher Education Act 2004. -
Future Schools? Not in the future...
In 2004 the government announced the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme. They proposed a commitment of £5,000 million to the initiative. Many projects have since been dropped due to economic constrains. -
Graduation - Time to enter the real world of work!
I graduated this year and started work at Walsall Citizens Advice Bureau. It's funny how a small sheet of A4 paper can open up so many doors enabling vocational and academic progression. -
Sale of Student Loans Bill
Sale of Student Loans Bill 2007
Sought to transfer non essential public assets to raise £6 billion. -
Microsoft Course
This year I completed a Managing and Maintaining Microsoft Server Course at Wolverhampton University. Soon after I started a Masters in Strategic Information Communications Techonology Management and quickly decided it wasn't for me, at least at that time. -
A* at A-Level!!!
A* at A-Level
The A* grade was introduced at A-Level for the first time.
One in twelve exams (8%) were awarded the new A* grade. -
Teacher Training - PGCE
On this day I started my PGCE at Wolverhampton University.
This would give me the chance to engage in a career that's constantly evolving. It would create new challenges and enable me to constantly develop my professional skills.
