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1944 Education Act
Three stages of education established: primary, secondary and further education . LEAs were expected to provide free and compulsary education to the age of 15, and free education to the age of 18 for those who wanted it. -
The Crowther Report
The Crowther Report recommended raising the school leaving age to 16 years, the introduction of comprehensive schooling for all, a new exam below level to cater for a wider ability range and a range of sixth form courses other than 'A' level. It also recommended the expansion of further education and a coherant national system of vocational education and training. -
Circular 10/65
The circular declared the Labour governments intention to put an end to selection at 11-plus and to remove seperation in secondary school education. -
The Plowden Report
This report put forward the idea of environmental factors effecting learning and development, and rejected the idea that only genetic ability had any effect. -
School Leaving Age Raised to 16
Children were now expected to stay in school until they were 16. This clearly affected me since I had to, by law, stay at school until 16 during my secondary education. -
Callaghan's Speech at Ruskin College
In a speech at Ruskin College the Labour prime minister (James Callaghan) claimed that schools were failing pupils, parents and the country, and that schools didn't understand the needs of the industry and didn't consider employability when planning curricula. Employers joined the debate and Callaghans vision can be seen in the National Curriculum of today. -
Trialling of 16+ Examinations
Examinations which combined GCE 'O' level with CSE qualifactions were trialled in 1986. This led to the formation of GCSEs which were a major part of my education. -
GCSEs Introduced
The combioned examinations were replaced by GCSEs in all subjects. Course work and application of knowledge were introduced as new methods of assessing learning, rather than just memorisation of facts. This led to a steady rise in attainment, with factors such as higher expections, better teaching and a more accessible curriculum playing some part. -
Education Reform Act
A National Curriculum was introduced which stated that core subjects (English, Maths and Science) must be taught from the ages of 5 to 16. National testing (SATs) were also introduced at the ages of 5, 7 and 11 in the three core subjects. The published results were used as means of measuring school quality. The aims of the National Curriculum were to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve, and to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. -
Chase Terrace Primary School
Traditional primary school built in 1875. Year groups mixed together in classes, with years 1 and 2 together, 3 and 4 together and 5 and 6 together. OFSTED was introduced during this time which can be seen to have had a major effect on the way schools operated. Without OFSTED there's a possibilty my education wouldn't have been the same, since my school might not have felt as much pressure to achieve the best results possible. -
Establishment of OFSTED
OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) was established to monitor and report on quality in schools. As well as individual school inspections this also included research into issues such as equality, teaching and learning in specific subjects. -
The Dearing Review
After campaigns against the National Curriculum and its testing regime by major teaching unions, the Dearing Report proposed a slimmer, less prescribed curriculum, and a variety of academic and vocational routes for students ages 14 to 19. -
Chase Terrace High School
Rebuilt due to fire damage in 2002 at a cost of approximately 15m pounds (the year I left). The school is now a specialist arts and technology college. Main subjects (English, Maths, Science and Modern Langauges) were setted based on ability, while pupils were able to choose and drop certain subjects for GCSE. Pupils were given the option of long and short course RE also. -
School Standards and Framework Act
New categories of schools were announced to replace existing ones. These were community (controlled by the LEA), foundation (controlled by the governing body), voluntary aided (schools with an historical link, land owned by a charitable foundation) and voluntary controlled (LA controls staff and admission arrangements, while the land is often owned by a charitable foundation). -
General Teaching Council
In the year 2000 the General Teaching Council for England was established. They are the professional body for teaching and provide opportunities for teachers to shape the development of professional practice and policy, and to maintain and set professional standards. http://www.gtce.org.uk/aboutthegtc/ -
Lichfield College
Studied a BTEC National Diploma for ICT Practitioners, and a HND in Internet Technology at Lichfield. A new school of art, design and media was recently opened in 2006, while an onsite business village is also present. I chose the vocational route at Lichfield College rather than 6th form purely because I thought (at the time) I wanted a job in computing. The college has an affiliation with Staffordshire University, offering university courses at the college itself. -
Raising Standards and Tackling Workload: A National Agreement
This agreement resulted in teachers no longer being involved in certain administritive tasks such as exam invigilation. Teachers were also provided with PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) time during the working day. -
The Childrens Act: Every Child Matters
This act introduced integrated children%u2019s services; extended schools (by 2010) to provide out of school activities, community facilities, family support and access to specialist services. The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to: Be healthy
Stay safe
Enjoy and achieve
Make a positive contribution
Achieve economic well-being http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/aims/ -
National Strategy for Secondary Education
This replaced the key stage 3 strategy to promote interactive and inclusive whole-class teaching to get the best from every child. Extra small-group and one-to-one tuition was also set up for those who required it, as well as more innovative use of ICT in the classroom and linking the classroom and home. -
Staffordshire University
Established in 1992. Studied a BSc in Internet Technology at Staffordshire University. Graduated in July 2008 after achieving a 2:1. The course involved a placement year which was spent at a secondary school as an IT technician. This placement year helped to confirm my intentions of becoming a teacher. The university itself specialises in new technologies, with computer games design and forensic science courses amongst the most recent additions. -
University of Wolverhampton
University status was granted in 1992. The university is split across a number of campuses in Wolverhampton, Telford and Walsall. It currently offers 340 undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Currently studying a PGCE in Secondary ICT Teaching at the school of education at the Walsall campus.
