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British Education TimeLine
This timeline looks at the history of UK Education and how my own education fits in with the socio-political framework from 1944 up to today. The timeline looks at my education difficulties faced within a colonial education system. It therefore focuses on the main Acts that influenced the education system from the introduction of the tripartite system to the banishing of free University Education and through the various political parties/politicians who have made changes. -
The 1946 Education Act (Teacher Training)
Including physically handicapped children in the mainstream schools, raising the school leaving age and effects of the war left schools with a vast shortage of teachers. The 1946 Education Act (22 May 1946) made amendments to the 1944 Education Act relating to the qualification of teachers and enabled 53 training colleges to open by 1950. -
The Education Act 1944
Rab Butler authored The Education Act 1944 (relating to England and Wales, also known as "the Butler Act"). It split primary and secondary education at age 11, and raised the school leaving age to 15 causing a reduction in labour from these children. The "Tripartite System" was established and introduced the 11+ examination to determine entrance to a technical or secondary school. The Act was a success and created an entire education system with a Ministry and a Minister of Education. -
The British Nationality Act of 1948
The British Nationality Act of 1948 recognised Commonwealth citizens as British entitled them to work and live in Britain. Encouraging Immigration from these countries meant that children of these immigrants would pass through the schools and this became a subject of much debate in the 1960s. -
General Certificate of Education (GCE)
Exact Date/month Unknown. The tripartite system disqualified a majority of children from access to qualifications. In 1951, the General Certificate of Education (GCE) was introduced (taken at 16 for ‘O’ Level and 18 for ‘A’ Level). It replaced the old School Certificate and was mostly in the grammar and independent (public or private fee-paying) schools. -
The Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
Before the 1944 Act, handicapped children were educated separately. The 1944 act included special educational provision in LEAs' development plans for primary and secondary education. The 1953 Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act extended these needs to independent schools. -
Leicestershire experiment
Exact Date Unknown. In 1957 Leicestershire LEA adopted the ‘Leicestershire Experiment’. The 11+ examination was abandoned. All children transferred to local high schools at the age of 11. At 14, those children whose parents wanted their children at school until the age of 16 transferred to grammar schools. The rest remained in high school until school leaving age of 15. This comprehensive system worked better than the 11+. Leicestershire was the first county to become fully comprehensive. -
The Mental Health Act 1959
1959 Mental Health Act addressed the exclusion of many mentally handicapped children from school. The Act made fresh provision with respect to the treatment and care of mentally disordered persons and with respect to their property and affairs. It allowed for a mentally disordered person/s to attend educational venues. However, there was no power to enforce the person/s to comply. -
Education Act 1962 (University Grants)
In the years following World War II, most Local Education Authorities (LEAs) paid students' tuition fees and also provided a maintenance grant to help with living costs; this did not have to be repaid. The Education Act 1962 made it a legal obligation for all LEAs to give full time university students a maintenance grant. -
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962
Until this Act, all Commonwealth citizens could enter and stay in the UK without any restriction. This Act made passport-holders whose documents were not directly issued by the UK Government (i.e. passports issued by the Governor of a colony or by the Commander of a British protectorate) subject to immigration control. -
The Children and Young Persons Act 1963
The 1963 Children and Young Persons Act (update of 1933 act) made provisions relating to local authorities' responsibility for the welfare of children, approved schools, juvenile courts, and the employment of children and young persons. -
Newsom Report 1963
The 1963 Newsom Report recommended scrapping of segregation of children into separate schools caused by 11+ selections. It also recommended the school leaving age to be raised to sixteen (raised to 16 in 1973) with some form of certificate, irrespective of any external examinations taken. -
The Education Act 1964
1964 Education Act permitted transfer at ages other than 11 and granted limited experimental status to the middle school. In 1964, the Ministry of Education was reorganised as the Department of Education and Science (DES). It was repealed on 1.11.1996 -
The Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
Exact Date/Month Unknown. This qualification was introduced in 1965 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and awarded up to 1987. The CSE increased pressure on schools to divide students into 'academic' and 'non-academic' streams. Within comprehensives, GCE students were seperated from CSE students, while in the secondary modern school, students who were deemed capable of CSE entry were separated from those who were not'. The CSE syllabus encouraged school-based curriculum development. -
Local Government Act, Section 11
The Local Government Act, Section 11 (13 December 1966) enabled the funding of education for immigrants. It enabled the secretary of state, to make available grants for the employment of staff where special provisions for immigrants whose language or customs differed from those of the local community. -
1967 Plowden Report
Exact Date/Month unknown. It was chaired by Bridget Plowden & abolished the 11+, freeing primary schools from the constraints imposed by the need to 'get good results'. Streaming was being abandoned. Comprehensive schools and middle schools were being established. Teacher-led curriculum innovation was being actively encouraged. -
The Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970
The 1970 Education (Handicapped Children) Act stopped the classification of handicapped children as unsuitable for education at school by transferring the provision of training for mentally handicapped children from the health authorities to the LEAs as they became entitled to special education. -
Education (Milk) Act 1971
Conservative Ted Heath was elected prime minister in June 1970. His new secretary of state for education, Margaret Thatcher abolished the free school milk provision. The 1971 Education (Milk) Act achieved this and led to the taunt 'Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher'. -
James Report 1972
A dip in the birth rate resulted in fewer children in the schools. The government declared (in Circular 7/73) a reduction of the number of student teachers. To increase the proportion of student teachers, the government intended to train through the one year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). -
Raising of school leaving age (ROSLA) Buildings 1973
Preparations began to raise the school leaving age to 16 were delayed in 1968, and eventually the decision was taken in 1971 that the new upper age limit be enforced from 1 September 1972 onwards. This led accommodation problems for the new 5th year students and the building of ROSLA blocks -
Education (Work Experience) Act 1973
The Act enabled education authorities to arrange for children under school leaving age to have work experience as part of their education. It was repealed on 1.11.1996 -
Bullock Report (A language for life) 1975
Exact Date/Month unknown. Chaired by Sir Alan Bullock, The Committee's job was to look at all aspects of teaching the use of English, including reading, writing, and speech; how to improve, monitor, introduce or make recommendations to the present practice; the role that initial and in-service training might play; and general level of attainment in these skills. -
Education (School-leavingDates) Act 1976
A very brief Act amending the summer school leaving date. -
The 1976 Education Act
The Act stated the principle that local education authorities shall have regard to the general principle that such education is to be provided only in schools where the arrangements for the admission of pupils are not based (wholly or partly) on selection by reference to ability or aptitude (crystal clear: no selection). Its effect was negligible because there was no legal requirement to end selection. -
Taylor Report 1977
The Taylor Report A New Partnership for Our Schools recommended major changes in the management of schools - including a greater role for parents on governing bodies - which were implemented in the 1980 Education Act. -
Warnock Report 1978
Exact Date Unknown. The Committee of Enquiry into the Education of Handicapped Children and Young People was appointed in November 1973 to review educational provision in England, Scotland and Wales for children and young handicapped (body or mind) people by taking account of their needs, together with arrangements to prepare them for entry into employment; to consider the most effective use of resources for these purposes; and to make recommendations. -
Waddell Report 1978
Exact Date Unknown. The Waddell Report School Examinations recommended a single exam at age 16 to replace the GCE and CSE. (The first GCSE exams were taken in 1988). -
The 1979 Education Act
Thatcher's first - repealed The 1976 Education Act and gave back to LEAs the right to select pupils for secondary education at 11. The move boomeranged, however. The Tories had miscalculated the popularity of comprehensive schools and efforts to reintroduce selection in some areas were strongly opposed. -
Education Act 1980
This Act gave more power to parents including the right to choose schools and be in school governing bodies (at least two parents), the Assisted Places Scheme would provide public money to pay for 30,000 children to go to private schools. The obligation on local authorities to provide free milk and meals was removed. -
Primary School Education
Started School at Mbizi Primary School. The school was situated in the heart of a Highfield High Density Suburb and was one of about 12 other schools. It catered for Grades 1-7 with 4 classes in each grade and at least 40 pupils in each class. So that’s about 1120 pupils. After the war in 1980, hot sitting was introduced and schools could take up to 3 times their normal pupil population. -
Education (Fees and Awards) Act 1983
The Act allowed the secretary of state to require higher education institutions to charge higher fees to students 'not having the requisite connection with the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man' and to exclude such students from being eligible for certain discretionary awards. -
Junior Certificate Of Education
A Bottlenecking Exam. -
National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) 1986
Exact Date/Month Unknown. Set up in 1986 NCVQ job was to devise a common framework for vocational qualifications. The Council’s task is to accredit qualifications devised by awarding bodies and to locate these qualifications within the national framework as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). -
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) 1986
Exact Date/Month Unknown. Introduced in 1986 (with the first examinations taking place in 1988), GCSEs replaced the former GCE 'O' Level / CSE qualifications. As well as amalgamating the two fomer examination systems, one of the main changes was to allow students to complete Course Work during their two years of study, which was marked by their teachers and contributed to their final examination grade. -
Goromonzi Secondary School 1986
It was the equivalent of Grammar Schools in the UK. The selection criterion was based not on merit but aptitude and the Grade 7 National results which were graded using a stanine system (1 for highest grade and 9 for the lowest). To be accepted at Goromonzi, one needed to have 1 unit for each subject (English, Maths, and Science). This is where I studied for four years and left with a GCE Cambridge ‘O’ Level Certificate having sat 8 subjects. -
The National Curriculum 1987
Exact Date Unknown. In July 1987 the government published The National Curriculum 5-16. This consultation document set out plans for the introduction of a national curriculum and associated assessment procedures. -
1988 Education Reform Act
The most important education act since 1944 (sometimes called 'The Baker Act'). The Act was presented as giving power to the schools. In fact, it took away power from LEAs and schools and gave them all to the secretary of state. A basic curriculum was to be taught in all maintained schools, consisting of religious education and the National Curriculum. The NC set out attainment targets for children; the programmes of study; and the provision to assess pupils at the end of each key stage -
Marlborough High School 1988
1988 Marlborough High School. In preparation for University, one had to study a further 2 years in order to achieve a GCE ‘A’ Level qualification in three subjects. The exam boards used were British (Cambridge or London). -
Education (Student Loans) Act 1990
Thatcher's last education act. It introduced 'top-up' loans for HE students and so began the shrinking of student grants.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) was founded for the 1990/91 academic year to provide students with additional help towards living costs in the form of low-interest loans. In its first year, the SLC gave loans to 180,200 students this represented a take up rate of 28% of eligible students, with an average loan of £390 -
Education (Schools) Act 1992
The Act provided for the formation of Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education) to inspect schools and create reports on individual schools would be published. Morale among teachers suffered further when government ministers began using Ofsted reports as a basis for 'naming and shaming' so-called 'failing' schools. -
The Education Act 1993
Based partly on the 1992 white paper, this was the largest piece of legislation in the history of education. It covered Responsibility for education, Grant-maintained schools, Children with special educational needs, School attendance, Schools failing to give an acceptable standard of education('special measures') and Miscellaneous. -
Dearing review of the National Curriculum (1994)
This was the first major review of the NC. It argued that the curriculum was virtually impossible to implement and that the time spent on paperwork and testing was damaging good teaching and learning. It recommended the reduction of the curriculum; less time on testing; curriculum choice at KS3; greater discretion, with art, geography, history and music becoming optional subjects at Key Stage 4; the merging of the National Curriculum Council and Schools Examination & Assessment Council into one. -
Education Act 1994
The 1994 Education Act (21 July 1994) made provision for the establishment of the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) and laid down regulations concerning the conduct of student unions. -
The Education (Student Loans) Act 1996
The Act extended the provision of student loans. -
Education Act 1997
The Act extended the assisted places scheme to primary schools; gave governors new responsibilities; allowed teachers to use 'such force as is reasonable' to restrain pupils; allowed teachers to detain pupils after school without parents' consent; amended the admission rules for selective schools; amended the admission rules for previously excluded children; allowed the secretary of state to require governors to set annual performance targets for pupils; -
Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998
In 1997, Sir Ron Dearing recommended that students should contribute to the costs of university education. The Act introduced tuition fees of £1,000 to start in the 1998/9 academic year. In addition, maintenance grants were replaced with repayable student loans for all but the poorest students. The total loans provided by the Student Loans Company increased from £941 million in the 1997/8 academic year, to £1.23 billion in the next year, when tuition fees took effect. -
School Standards and Framework Act 1998
The Act allowed maintained secondary schools to select pupils by reference to their aptitude; empowered LEAs and the secretary of state to intervene in schools judged to be 'failing' by Ofsted - such schools would be given two years to improve or they would be closed or have radical management changes imposed on them; new framework for schools with community schools replacing county schools, foundation schools replacing Grant maintained schools. Voluntary would stay the same. -
Learning and Skills Act 2000
The Learning and Skills Act (28 July 2000) established the Learning and Skills Council for England and the National Council for Education and Training for Wales. The act set up the Adult Learning Inspectorate and extended the powers of HM Chief Inspector to include further education for 16-19 year olds. It also allowed city technology colleges to be renamed city academies. -
The Education Act 2002
The Education Act 2002 (24 July 2002) broadens teachers' responsibilities in relation to child protection. The act significantly amended legislation relating to academies, publicly funded schools operating outside of local government control and with a significant degree of autonomy areas such as wages and digressing from the national curriculum. Academies were originally set up under the Learning and Skills Act 2000 under the name "city academies", and were renamed to "academies" by this act. -
Higher Education Act 2004
In January 2003 the government published its White Paper The future of higher education (pdf text 627kb) which proposed allowing universities to charge variable top-up fees. This was highly controversial but the government just managed to get the 2004 Higher Education Act (1 July 2004) through the Commons. -
Children Act 2004
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.
To go with the Act, the government published Every Child Matters: change for children (December 2004) which set out the radical changes needed across the whole system of children's services, including schools. -
Education Act 2005
The Act set provisions related to the inspection of schools, child minding, day care, nursery education and careers services, the training of school staff and 'other persons who teach', the supply of personal information 'for purposes related to education' and about the attendance of children at educational provision outside schools. -
Education and Inspections Act 2006
Based on the 2005 white paper ‘Higher Standards, Better Schools for All’ called for the independence of primary and secondary schools which would follow admission guidelines and a banding scheme to ensure a mix of abilities; reassignment of failing schools; rights of parents to to set up or close schools; teachers to be given the legal right to discipline pupils; poor pupils to get subsidised transport -
Education department split 2007
Exact Date/Month Unknown. Under Gordon Brown, the education department split in two: the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). DIUS only lasted two years. -
The Further Education and Training Act 2007
The Further Education and Training Act made provisions about:
• the Learning and Skills Council for England;
• institutions within the further education sector;
• industrial training levies;
• the formation of, and investment in, companies and charitable incorporated organisations by higher education corporations; -
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008
This Act made provisions about the functions and delivery of LA social work services for children and young persons; the enforcement of care standards in relation to certain establishments or agencies connected with children; and the independent review of determinations relating to adoption. -
Education and Skills Act 2008
Sponsored by DCSF and DIUS, This Act (26 November 2008) raised the education leaving age to 18 whether through full-time education or training (including school, college and home education); work-based learning, e.g. Apprenticeships; or part-time education or training (if employed, self-employed or volunteering more than 20 hours a week). -
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
The Act created a statutory framework for apprenticeships and a right to an apprenticeship for suitably qualified 16-18 year olds; gave employees the right to request time off for training, and required employers to consider such requests seriously; abolished the Learning and Skills Council; transferred responsibility for funding education and training for 16-18 year olds to local authorities; created the Young Person's Learning Agency -
Education Act 2011
Education Act 2011 takes forward the legislative proposals in the Schools White Paper, The Importance of Teaching and measures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to improve skills, including two elements of the reforms to higher education funding. The Act helps teachers maintain good discipline; provides Freedoms for schools and colleges and uses resources fairly.
