-
1944 Rab Butler Education Act3 Aug 1944
This act set out the framework for the English education system and replaced all previous education legislation. It defined the ages for compulsary attendence as 5-15 years old. It defined the 3 types of state school for secondary education and allowed for independent schools to be registered. -
The General Certificate of Education (GCE)
The General Certificate of Education (GCE) was introduced in 1951, replacing the old School Certificate ('matriculation'). It was designed for the top 25 per cent of the ability range. GCE exams were normally taken at 16 (Ordinary Level) and 18 (Advanced Level), mostly in the grammar schools and the independent (public or private fee-paying) schools. -
Winston Churchill elected
Clement Attlee's Labour government won the general election in February 1950 - but only just. It managed to survive until October 1951 when another election resulted in the return of a Conservative government under Winston Churchill. -
1964 Education Act
Boyle agreed, and shortly before the 1964 general election he gave the Ministry what he called his 'parting gift' - the 1964 Education Act (31 July 1964), which permitted transfer at ages other than 11 and granted limited experimental status to the middle school. (Although Boyle was responsible for the formulation of the 1964 Act, it was actually his successor as Minister of Education, Quintin Hogg, who saw it through Parliament). -
Ministry of Education reorganised
In 1964, the Ministry of Education was reorganised as the Department of Education and Science (DES), and Quintin Hogg became the first Secretary of State for Education and Science. -
The plowden report
Children and their Primary Schools, the report produced by the Central Advisory Council for Education (CACE) chaired by Bridget Plowden (pictured) was thus published at a time of great excitement and creativity in education. The eleven plus was being abolished, freeing primary schools from the constraints imposed by the need to 'get good results'. -
1970 Education (Handicapped Children) Act
This Act (23 July 1970) transferred the provision of training for mentally handicapped children from the health authorities to the LEAs. As a result, 24,000 children in junior training centres and special care units, 8,000 in hospitals, and an uncertain number at home or in private institutions ceased to be treated as 'mentally deficient' and became entitled to special education. For this purpose they were to be regarded as severely educationally sub-normal (ESN(S)), as distinct from the moderat -
Thatcherism. Intro to Neo-Liberalism
Neo-liberalism became the dominant force in British politics with the election in 1979 of the Conservative administration led by Margaret Thatcher (pictured). Her government's policies 'accelerated the closing down of unprofitable industries and promoted a profound social and economic restructuring' -
National Curriculum introduced
LEAs were to draw up policies for the school curriculum consistent with the government's recommendations. -
Keith Joseph appointed as education secretary
Keith Joseph (pictured), a long-time advocate of free market ideas (especially parental choice and education vouchers). In 1974 he had been a co-founder of the right-wing Centre for Policy Studies, a think-tank which wanted schools to be autonomous with a minimum of state interference. -
1988 Education Reform Act
The Education Reform Act (29 July 1988) was the most important education act since 1944. It is sometimes referred to as 'The Baker Act' after secretary of state Kenneth Baker (pictured). The Act was presented as giving power to the schools. In fact, it took power away from the LEAs and the schools and gave them all to the secretary of state - it gave him hundreds of new powers. Even more importantly, it took a public service and turned it into a market - something the Tories had been working t -
My Birth
-
New Labour wins election
Many teachers hoped - some even dared to believe - that the election of the first Labour government for eighteen years, led by Tony Blair (pictured), would usher in a new 'golden age' in education. Tests and league tables would disappear, chief inspector Chris Woodhead (who had become something of a hate figure for teachers) would be sacked, Ofsted scrapped, and grant maintained (GM) schools would be brought under local authority control. -
Blue Coat secondary 2000-2005
Secondary school education -
Childrens Act
In 2003, the government published its green paper Every Child Matters, following the death of Victoria Climbié, the young girl who was horrifically abused, tortured and eventually killed by her great aunt and the man with whom they lived. In November 2004 The Children Act established a Children's Commissioner to champion the views and interests of children and young people, and required local authorities to make arrangements to promote co-operation between agencies and other appropriate bodies -
Global financial crisis
The financial crisis of 2007–2008, also known as the Global Financial Crisis and 2008 financial crisis, is considered by many economists to have been the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.[1] It threatened the total collapse of large financial institutions, which was prevented by the bailout of banks by national governments, but stock markets still dropped worldwide. In many areas, the housing market also suffered, resulting in evictions, foreclosures and prolonged u -
Gove secreatry state of education
What has the new government done so far, and what is it planning to do? The list is already a depressing one: expansion of the academies programme;
creation of 'free schools';
drastic budget cuts;
scrapping of the new primary curriculum, school sports partnerships, diplomas, QCDA and the schools rebuilding programme;
fewer places in higher education and vastly increased tuition fees. Expansion of the academies programme The New Labour government had opened 203 academies and planned to increas
