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Education Act of 1944
An article in the BBC archives The 1944 Education Act established the principle of free education for all from primary to secondary, but at eleven plus there were quotas for admission to grammar school. -
School leaving age raised to 15
The school leaving age was raised to 15. Many years ago seeing a child of 14 in full time employment was acceptable, but in 1947 the age was raised to 15, and this was not to be the last raise. -
GCE and A levels introduced
O level was taken at age 16 mainly by pupils in grammar schools and independent schools - nationally the top 20% of the population by ability. Other pupils were mainly catered for by secondary modern schools where the opportunity to take public examinations was rarely available. In the '50s and early 60s', most young people therefore left school with no formal qualifications. -
I came into the world kicking and screaming
I was born in Hereford hospital before being taken back home to Leominster where I lived for 17 years after which I managed to escape! My brother has remained living within a mile of my mother all his life! -
The end of the 11+
The 11+ was removed in an attempt to end separatism, however Grammar schools still operate an exam driven selection process and there is a fear that the Conservative Government will bring back this process of skimming the cream. -
Started Infants school
Started at Leominster Infants School, where I spent the majority of my time standing outside the Head master's office awaiting some form of punishment! -
CSE introduced
Introduction of the CSE qualificationThe CSE (Certificate of Secondary Education) examination existed between 1965 and 1987 in England and Wales. It was begun as a consequence of the development of comprehensive schools. Grammar schools, which they began to replace, had long regarded the O level exam as the normal culmination of the first five years, as had public schools; but now that the grammar schools were being amalgamated with secondary moderns, there was a need for a qualification for comprehensive schools. -
Started junior School
Moved to Leominster Junior school which still stands but is no longer used as a school. The building in the picture is of the hall where amongst other things I froze during my debut whilst attempting to play the Euphonium; my music teacher never believed that I couldn't actually read the music! I guess he finally did. -
Moved onto Leominster Comprehensive
Due to the removal of the 11+ I was herded into Leominster Comprehensive as my parents could not afford private education. -
School leaving age raised to 16
Some young people benefit from the independence and
learning at their own pace that comes from the freedom to leave school after 16 and was linked to the importance of recognising different learning pathways as being equally valid. -
Took GCE exams
Took my GCE and CSE exams whilst a part of the comprehensive education system, and came away with 9 in total (just wish I could find them!). -
Took Police entrance exam
Took and passed the Police entrance exam. -
Entered sixth form
Went onto the sixth form at Leominster Comprehensive where I reamined for a year. I did not take any A level subjects as I was due to join the Police in 1978. Dress code wasn't this bad but ..... -
Entered Police Cadets
After taking and passing the police entrance examination I attended to the Police cadet training college in Droitwich where I remained for 12 months, I learnt absolutely nothing about being a Police officer in the real world, but a lot about how to bend the rules! -
Posted to Shrewsbury
Took my first posting in Shrewsbury where I served on a shift with 12 other constables, two sergeants and one inspector; sometimes even this wasn't enough to cope with a city that size. To this day it remains one of my favourite places. -
LEA to publish curriculum
The National Curriculum introduced In England and Wales from 1988, a course of study in ten subjects common to all primary and secondary state schools. It is divided into three core subjects – English, maths, and science – and seven foundation subjects: geography, history, technology, a foreign language (for secondary school pupils), art, music, and physical education (plus Welsh in Wales). -
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
Information about the GCSE The Schools Council (one of QCA's early ancestors) led discussion through the seventies on the idea of merging GCE
O level and CSE to form a new single system of examining at 16+. The GCE examining boards teamed up with groups of CSE boards to run experimental 'Joint 16+' examinations based on pairs of O level and CSE syllabuses and leading, as appropriate, to grades on both scales. -
Education reform Act
Education reform Act -
DOT ADI
I qualified as a Department of Transport Approved Driving Instructor and ran my own, very sucessfull business for eight years until I was head hunted by Peter Gethi (ex-formula 1), to run his training programmes out of the Goodwood Racing circuit. I was there for about 3 years and drove some very exotic cars in the process! -
The birth of OFSTED
At the same time as OFSTED was founded league tables weere introduced; there had to be annual reports for pupils and govenors had to report on shcools. -
SATS tests introduced
SATS tests introduced for all age ranges up to 16 although they had been in place for yr 7 since 1991. -
Standards & Frameworks Act
The schools standards and framework act was introduced in an attempt to:
- reduce class sizes
- abolish grant maintained schools
- extend the poweers of Local Eduction Authorities LEA's -
Started degree at University of Worcester
In 2000 I went back into full time education at the University of Worcester where I did a degree in IT / Business management. The idea was to get a job working in the design industry. -
AS level introduced
Times Ed Clear parity between academic and vocational paths to higher education came a step closer this week as education secretary Gillian Shephard detailed "the biggest shake-up of the qualifications system for 40 years". Reform of exam-awarding bodies, a new AS-level exam, and a new compulsory exam in key skills would bring greater coherence and breadth to post-16-year-old education, said Mrs Shephard. And her raft of meas -
Every Child Matters
In 2003 the Government published a Green Paper called Every Child Matters. This was published alongside the formal response to the report into the death of Victoria Climbié, the young girl who was horrifically abused and tortured, and eventually killed by her great aunt and the man with whom they lived. The Green Paper built on existing plans to strengthen preventative services by focusing on four key themes: •Increasing the focus on supporting families and carers – the most critical influence -
Pre CU Exam
From 2008 the Pre-U exam would involve studying three subjects over two years, with final exams and an extended essay. Unlike AS or A-levels, it would not be modular and split into two parts, nor require everyone to do certain subjects like the International Baccalaureate. -
Started my PGCE
I have been teaching in one capapcity or another for many years but I always knew that I would eventually gravitate to the classroom and teach children, it has been my dream for more than 20 years!
