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The 1944 Education Act
This Act changed the Education System for all Secondary Schools in England and Wales, introducing the Triparite System of Secondary Education. This Act imposed that all Secondary Education must be provided for free, for everyone. -
Introduction of GCEs
In 1951, The General Certificate of Education (GCE), as well as O-levels and A-levels were introduced, mainly to Grammar Schools. This replaced the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate. -
The Crowther Report, 1959
In 1959, the Crowther Report (Fifteen to Eighteen), recommended that the school leaving age be raised to 16 and recognised that a Sixth Form was primarily designed to prepare young people to enter University, It was the only route to University for state school pupils. The report suggested that ‘the door was not closed on a poor boy of talent – but it was not open very far'. -
Circular 10/65
Comprehensive schooling was recommended in a document issued by the Labour Government in 1965 called the Circular 10/65. The system was developed in contrast to the Tripartite System and was instead intended to suit pupils of all abilities, planning to put an end to Grammar Schools and selection at the age of 11. -
The Plowden Report
The Plowden Report is the unofficial name for the 1967 Report of the Central Advisory Council For Education (England) into Primary Education. The report observed that new skills were needed in society, stating that 'the qualities needed in a modern economy extend far beyond skills such as accurate spelling and arithmetic'. The report focused on smaller class sizes, recruitment of more teachers, flexibility in the school day, lessons structured to individual, group work and class work and more. -
Circular 10/70
The Circular 10/70 abandoned the requirement for Local Education Authorities (LEA) to become comprehensive. Many LEAs chose not to follow selection, although some continued. -
School Leaving Age
On 1st September, 1972, the school leaving age was raised to 16. Many influencial people opposed this, including teaching unions, Chief Police Officers and politicians, saying that forcing a child to stay at school for another year would increase truancy and crime. The Government were in favour of the raise, saying that it would decrease youth unemployment. -
The Sex Discrimination Act
The Sex Discrimination Act protects both males and females from discrimination on the grounds of gender. Some areas that are included in the Act are employment, training, education and harrassment. The Act established the Equal Opportunities Commission. -
Race Relations Act
The Race Relations Act prevents discrimination on the grounds of race. The Act established the Commission for Racial Equality to ensure that the rules of the Act were followed. -
Callaghan's Speech
James Callaghan, the Labour Prime Minister, made a speech in October 1976 at the Ruskin College in Oxford. The speech highlighted the increasing centralisation of education. Callaghan stated that there was a need for a 'basic curriculum with universal standards', including 'basic literacy, basic numeracy, the understanding of how to live and work together, respect for others and respect for the individual'. -
The 1981 Education Act
The 1981 Education Act introduced the idea of Special Educational Needs (SEN). This Act required that teachers monitored and assessed a child's special needs. The Act also gave parents the power to be consulted about their child's SEN and the right to appeal. -
The introduction of NVQs
National Vocational Qualifications are achieved through training and assessment at work. NVQs are applicable to England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in Scotland, the equivalent is the Scottish Vocational Qualification). Those who study NVQs are assessed within a paid or voluntary work environment. There are 5 levels of NVQ and are not defined in terms of equivalence to other qualifications, such as GCSEs. -
The abolishment of corporal punishment in state schools
Corporal punishment included striking a child on the bottom, palm of the hand or on the open hand with a cane or a ruler. In 1987, schools were banned from using corporal punishment when a child mis-behaves. -
I was born!
I came into the world! I was born in Walsall Manor Hospital at 8.34pm. I weighed 6lbs 11oz. -
The introduction of GCSEs
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification studied in subjects at school. Many GCSEs are compulsory, such as English, Maths and Science. Other GCSEs are optional, which a child can choose. GCSEs often include exams and coursework and some subjects are split into Higher and Foundation levels, depending on a child's academic ability. GCSEs replaced the Certificate of General Education and O-Levels. -
The 1988 Education Reform Act
This Education Reform Act established Local Management of Schools, Grant Maintained Schools, the National Curriculum, Key Stages and league tables. Parents were given a choice to opt where they would like their child to attend school. -
The National Curriculum
The National Curriculum was established through the Education Reform Act (1998). It was re-inforced by a national system of assessment and professional accountability, including SATs, league tables and targets. This meant that teachers could not teach anything but the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum had a 'one size fits all' ethos, as teachers were only teaching the topics that were on the tests. The National Curriculum was purely a Government decision; teachers were not consulted. -
Pinfold Street JMI Primary School
I started Primary School when I was 4 and studied at this school until July 1999. These were the days when our greatest worry was 'what was on the school dinner menu'! I loved this school and still have a good relationship with the school's Headteacher, Mr. Hankinson. -
OFSTED were formed
OFSTED stands for the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. They are a Government department that inspects and regulates institutions in England providing education to learners of all ages. Schools are graded as Outstanding, Good, Satisfactory and Inadequate. -
Labour win the Election
On 1st May, 1997, Labour won the General Election. Tony Blair and his 'new' Labour had put an end to an 18 year Conservative Government. The Labour party won with 418 seats, the most seats the party has ever held. The changes to be introduced by Labour would dramatically change the education system in the future decade. -
The 1998 Teaching and Higher Education Act
This Act was enforced on 16th July, 2008 in order to improve the standards of teaching in the UK, through establishing General Teaching Councils. This Act also focused on the new Student Loans system. -
Year 6 SATs
I sat my year 6 SATs in 1999. My results were a Level 4 in English, a Level 4 in Maths and a Level 4 in Science. -
St. Thomas More RC Comprehensive School
I started Secondary School when I was 11 and I studied at this school until July 2006. I loved this school and was an active member of many extra-curricular activities, such as the school choir, orchestra and ICT club. -
Options for GCSE
At the end of year 9, I was allowed to pick some subjects that I wanted to study at GCSE. It was compulsary that I studied English, English Literature, Maths, Science (2 GCSEs), German and Religious Education. The subjects that I chose to take were Information and Communications Technology, Music and Geography. -
Options for A-Level
After studying my GCSEs, I was given the option to join my school's Sixth Form, which I chose to do. I had the option to choose my A-Levels. It was compulsary to study General Studies. I chose to study Information and Communications Technology, Music, Performance Studies and Psychology. I found A-Levels much tougher than GCSEs and felt that they were a massive jump from what I had previously studied. -
The 2005 Education Act
This Act came into force on 7th April, 2005. The Act focused on the process of school improvement, strengthening the accountability framework for schools and amended the approach used by OFSTED when inspecting schools in England. -
Higher Standards, Better Schools for All
In October 2005, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) published a paper entitled 'Higher Standards, Better Schools for All — More Choice for Parents and Pupils'. This paper attempted to address the challenge to reform, choice and access for all, personalised learning, school discipline and support for all children and parents. -
University of Wolverhampton (BSc)
This is when I started studying at the University of Wolverhampton. Originally, I was doing a degree in Computing Information Systems, but realised this course wasn't for me. I completed a 4 year course in Business Information Systems. -
The 2006 Education and Inspections Act
According to the Government, this Act is 'intended to represent a major step forward in the Government’s aim of ensuring that all children in all schools get the education they need to enable them to fulfil their potential'. -
Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters is a UK Government initiative and is one of the most important policies and development programmes in relation to children and children's services of the last decade. The aims of Every Child Matters are that every child, regardless of their background or circumstances, is healthy, stays safe, enjoys and achieves, makes a positive contribution and achieves economic well-being, as defined in the Every Child Matters Green Paper on 3rd April, 2008. -
The Revised National Curriculum (2008)
The Revised National Curriculum had big aims. The National Curriculum was now to be in the 21st Century (for the changing society, economy and technology), adaptable (for pupils and schools with different needs), challenging (real audiences, purposes and skills) and inspiring (engaging and expanding horizons). This was to be 'a curriculum designed for individuals'. The Revised National Curriculum launched 'Every Child Matters'. -
The 2008 Education and Skills Act
This Act outlined that the Government had legislated to raise the school leaving age to 18. This was seen to give every young person the best possible chance to success. Young people are required to attend full-time education or training, part-time education or training or work-based learning until their 18th Birthday. -
Graduation
I have graduated! My degree classification is a 2:1 (Hons) in Business Information Systems. -
University of Wolverhampton (PGCE)
After graduating from the University of Wolverhampton, I decided to embark on a career in teaching. I am now studying a PGCE in Secondary ICT, which will be completed approx June 2011.
