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Education Act (1944) (Butler Act)
Rose the leaving age to 15. Separated the education system into Primary, Secondary and Further. Introduced the tripartite secondary schools system (Grammar, Secondary Technical, and Secondary Modern). -
Circular 10/65
Labour brought in comprehensive schools as a way to abolish 11+ exams and secondary school selection. -
Circular 10/70
Margret Thatcher became Secretary of State for Education and Science and replaced Circular 10/65 with Circular 10/70, leaving the choice of comprehensive schools up to the LEA’s and not compulsory. -
School leaving age raised to 16
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Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister
This was the age of lots of cuts on public spending (including education) and privatisation of public services. Many of the parties’ right wing ideals were reflected in Acts and Policies it would release. -
Born in Walsall Manor Hospital
Born a fortnight late and have struggled with time keeping since. -
Introduction of GCSE’s
Trialled as a combination of O levels and the CSE, they subsequently replaced both. It led to the exam boards merging from a large number of regional organisations to the 5 modern boards. -
Education Reform Act (1988)
Introduction of the National Curriculum with its compulsory subjects and standardised national tests. The act also sought to reduce the LEA’s powers over administration to schools. -
Started White Rabbits Kindergarten Nursery
My education begins. -
Started Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School
The school was a Roman Catholic school and has since been converted into a social club sponsored by Banks’s. -
Started St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Had to change schools due to moving house. The new school was also Roman Catholic and on the grounds of a church, this resulted in an hour long mass every Friday. -
Establishment of OFSTED
Office for Standards in Education brought in as a way to monitor schools standards every 4 years along with conduct national educational research in areas such as equality and learning. -
Undertook KS2 SAT Tests
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Failed Queen Mary’s Grammar School Entrance Exam
Had been pushed to revise for the 11+ exam by my parents but I personally wanted to go to the same school as my friends, which is why I wasn’t disappointed when I failed. -
Started Our Lady & St Chad Catholic Secondary School
As with my primary schools my secondary school was a Roman Catholic School. My parents wanted me to go to a Catholic School as they felt it would provide a better education, I was just happy to remain with my primary school friends. -
New Labour Government
Tony Blair sought to make education the primary concern of the government and done so by trying to bring together both left and right wing ideas. -
School Standards and Framework Act (1998)
LEA’s to promote high standards and intervene when schools were failing. New categories for schools to replace old ones: Community, Foundation, Voluntary Aided and Voluntary Controlled -
Undertook KS3 SAT Tests
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Introduction of the Vocational Certificate of Education
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Undertook GCSE’s Exams
I took GCSE exams that I had been studying for 2 years with the intent not to pursue further education. This was probably reflected with grade results of mostly D’s and C’s. -
Education Act (2002)
Moved away from comprehensive schools and made provisions for specialist schools and Academies. -
Started a NVQ lv2 in Business Admin with Rathbone Training
The National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is a work based qualification which roughly equates to 5 GCSE’s at A-C. I did mine through a youth training organisation coincidently named Rathbone. After a year of working in an office I felt I needed to gain some FE qualifications before pursuing a career. -
Started AVCE (Double Award) in ICT at Wolverhampton College
I pursued FE at Wolverhampton College in the form of an Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE). The course was designed to equate to 2 A-Levels and so allow students to progress to Higher Education. -
Higher Education Act (2004)
The Act replaced the up-front university fees with a variable-fee loan system that could be paid back when achieving a salary of at least £15,000. -
The Children Act (2004)
Had Every Child Matters (ECM) at the heart of it in response to the death of Victoria Climbié, the primary goal being to gain co-ordination between public agencies for the safeguarding of children. -
Started Foundation Degree in Computing at Wolverhampton College
The Foundation Degree (FD) is a vocational degree that can be considered as a qualification in its own right or be used as a stepping stone to a full degree. My Foundation degree was run by Wolverhampton College in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton, with lectures given at both sites and full access to the learning resources of both. -
Started Computer Science Top-Up Degree at The University of Wolverhampton
A Top-Up Degree is a 3 semester long course that provides the modules to allow an FD to be “topped-up” to equate to a full degree with honours. I graduated in February 2010 with a first. -
Started PGCE at The University of Wolverhampton
My current course, hopefully with enough determination and lack of sleep I’ll be able to build a successful career in teaching.
