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White Paper: Educational Reconstruction
White Paper set out proposals to "Secure for children a happier childhood and a better start". Provided the foundations on which the Education Act changed law to reconstruct the school system, hence an effect on my own education timeline. -
Education Act 1944, Butler
On the 19th January 1944, President of the Board of Education, Mr Butler, commended his Educational Bill for second reading the Parliament. Changes were made to organisation, structuring, regulation, inspections and the secondary system was made into a 'Tripartite System' consisting of Grammar, Technical and Modern schools. I attended primary, secondary and higher education institutions. -
McNair Report
The McNair Committee provided a report at the end of investigations into the "Supply, recruitment and training of teachers and youth leaders". The report set the modern foundaltions of teacher training and therefore relates to my own training obligatons. -
Area Training Organisations
13 ATOs created to consolidate 76 teacher training insitutions. Created as a result of the McNair report in 1944. The ATOs did not directly effect my own educational timeline, however provide useful information in the provision of teacher training in the UK. -
1951 General Certificate of Education (GCE) introduced.
The GCE O Level and A Level qualification was introduced in 1951. Replaced the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate. Understanding the history of the qualifications system is important to me, because I took the A Levels in 2000. This information provides useful knowledge in the reasoning behind the development of that qualification. -
Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953.
Set out free dental treatment and also forces students to go to school and allows the local authority to bring the child before the juvenile court if they fail to go to school. Throughout my childhood I received free dental care. -
White paper: Secondary Education for All: A New Drive
Major school building programme. £300 Million invested into the school infrastructure. The secondary schools that I attended were founded during this time. -
Crowther Report 15-18
Recommended children up to the age of 18 remained in education. Compulsory education for those up to 18 is only just being implemented, during my own education, we had a choice in the path we chose after leaving secondary school, I chose to go to college. -
Teacher Training extended from 2 to 3 years
Teacher training courses extended and also teacher training grants requested to provide funding to trainee teachers. This is useful information because it provides a timeline in the developement of ITT, so affecting my future teacher training because of the recognised importance by the UK government in the need for comprehensive teacher training. -
Plowden Report
A report by the Central Advisory Council for England, the findings formed part of the thinking about 'progressive' teaching techniques. This report became hugely influencial for teaching practices that stated throughout my primary school years. -
Education Act
Comprehensives on the agenda; act allowing extensions to existing schools. I went to comprehensive schools and so this act became influential on the later pathway that I was to follow throughout my school career. -
The James Report
This report set out points to rejuvenate the existing INSET day. The request was to provide teachers with training that would "extend their professional competence", along with making suggestings to develop teacher training. My focus is on teacher training both due to my future career aspirations but also in how much it affected my teachers and parents in providing child care. -
School Age raised to 16
Legally, this directly impacted my staying at school. -
Education Act
Specified the rules for arranging work experience for students in the last year of their education. My work experience in 1998 was at a primary school, as I had aspirations to become a teacher. -
Callaghan's Ruskin Speech
The first Prime Minister, James Callaghan, to make a speech about education at the Ruskin College; the speech set out the Labour Governments vision in how education was for the masses and not the elite few. Callaghan set out "the strong case for the so-called core curriculum and basic knowledge" and "the need to improve relations between business and industry". The governments' vision on the future of education resounds with my personal feelings and how my education progressed. -
Waddell Report
Made suggestions for changing the exam system to GCSEs;
"General Certificate of Education (GCE) O Level and the Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) examinations should be replaced by a common system of examining at 16+*". This report was important because we know, in 1986, GCSEs came into effect and in 1998 I took the GCSE exams. -
ORACLE survey
Investigation into Teaching and Learning between 1975 and 1980; observations included those in classroom activities of individual pupils, the types of question and statements made by teachers and how pupils worked together in groups.
The PGCE curriculum encourages you to look into what it is to be an effective teacher; I believe the progressive and interactive methods of diversity in delivering the curriculum is what motivates children to learn. -
Education Act
Parents were given the right to choose the school they were sending their child to. Funding was provided for assisted places to Grammar schools. The obligation for LAs to provide free school milk was removed. None of these factors really affected me, my schools provided free milk between 1986 and 1989 and there was no real choice in schools for my parent to send me elsewhere. However the act does show a political shift in thinking. -
Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE)
Controlled ITT Training Courses with the aim to "develop courses that run in close working partnerships with schools". Teacher training in the 21st century relies on the working relationships between Universities and schools and so I mention this as being an important signal in the thinking of the time. -
GCSE introduced - CSE and 'O' Levels abolished
General Certificate in Seconary Education (GCSEs) were introduced in 1986, and 14 year olds sat the exams from 1988 until the current day. I sat these exams in 1997. -
Started Primary School at Whitgreave Primary, Featherstone.
My first day of school. Both an exciting and nervous time personally, however a busy era for schools. The advent of the GCSE approached and the Education Acts of 1986, initialisation of NCVQs and, in 1987 the Baker day. -
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Primary School
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Education Act
The act abolished corporal punishment, specified rules for the appointment of parent governors - that the governor must be a parent of a child in the school. Corporal punishment was abolished during my time at school. I am against corporal punishment and this act signals the shift in thinking to a more liberal system. -
White Paper: Higher Education, Meeting the Challenge
"In the 1987 White Paper Higher Education: Meeting the Challenge, the Government identified Access to HE as 'the third recognised route to HE', and sought to extend Access to HE provision through a national framework for the recognition of Access to HE courses." (QAA) The provision of the third route proved fundemental in my return to education. -
Youth Training Guarantee
A promise to all students they they would be provided education, employment or training until the age of 18, I took 'A' Levels, however I saw many of my peers entering into other training programmes. -
First day at Raysfield Infant School, Yate, Bristol
After moving from Featherstone, I entered into my new primary school. This year, the first GCSE's were being sat by secondary school pupils, over the next few years, the GCSE curriculum was developed, with an emphasis on Maths, English and Sciences. -
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Infant School
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Education Reform Act
GCSE National Curriculum introduced. This act set out the main curriculum subjects of English, Maths and Science and SATs testing, which I remember taking. -
Baker Days (INSET Days)
Training days for teacher professional development. Provided as recommendations by the James report in 1972. An important act focussing on the formalised training for teachers. A problem for my parents who had to find additional child-care, the INSET day exists today and will form an important part of my own professional development. -
Cox Report - "English for 5 to 16"
"The National Curriculum English Working Group was commissioned by Secretary of State Kenneth Baker to make recommendations on attainment targets and programmes of study for the English component of the new National Curriculum"
This report is an important insight into the thinking of the time. -
First Day at Raysfield Junior School
After finishing the primary school, we moved onto the the adjacent junior school building. The latter end of Key Stage 2, I really enjoyed English and Maths. I remember taking the SATs tests at the age of 7. -
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Junior School
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OFSTED Founded (Education Act)
The Office for Standards in Education founded to established standards in education, free from political interference. My professional career will require that I adhere to the Teaching standards, that will ultimately be assessed when OFSTED observe my lessons. The maintenance of standards is an important aspect of modern day teaching. -
White Paper: Curriculum Organisation and Classroom Practice
Called for continued teacher training: "Updating of class teachers' expertise in all the National Curriculum subjects and in religious Education". Also "Primary teaching roles are currently too rigidly conceived and much greater flexibility in staff deployment is needed". This is an indicator of the continued emphasis that government and agencies associated with education have placed on CPD. -
Education Act 1993
An act that defined SEN, set out the provision of Religious Education in the curriculum. Rules set for exclusions, in the way that students must be relocated to a new school if they were excluded. Throughout my career I will encounter students with SEN, therefore I have noted this act in the timeline because it will impact my professional career. -
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High School
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King Edmund High School, Yate, Bristol
I started King Edmund School after finishing Raysfield Junior School. While I attended this school the Education Acts of 1993 and 1994 made rules for exclusions, defined special needs and established the Teacher Training Authority. -
Elgar High School, Worcester
I moved to Elgar High School after we moved to Worcester from Yate. Between 1995 and 1996, when I moved to Nunnery Wood, there were not any acts that directly impacted me, however this was the time that I studied towards the GCSE examinations. -
Nunnery Wood High School
I moved to Nunnery Wood High School after Elgar High School. Here I took my GCSEs. During my time with the school, a shift in control over the government between Conservative and Labour resulted in the introduction of student fees which made me consider my educational future. I chose college. -
Education Act 1996
A major act that implications for current teachers;
1. All schools were obliged to draw up "Behaviour Support Plans"
2. There was a greater emphasis to identify and make provisions for children with SEN.
Schools Inspection Act
3. Defined the processes by which failing schools must adhere such as appointing additional governors, suspension of the right to manage their budget
4. Inspections of religious education. -
Education Act 1997
A Conservative Education Act which set out to define restraint of pupils that would prevent them from committing injury to themselves, damage to property or any other person. Provision is set out to allow detention without parental consent however as long as the parent/guardian is notified at least 24 hours beforehand. Assisted places scheme extended for Primary Schools. The rules regarding behaviour managment still exist and are important to learn as a student teacher. -
Education (Schools) Act 1997
Labour government. Assisted places scheme abolished.The year after this legislation was passed, I left school and went to college to take the 'A' Levels. -
Teaching and Higher Education Act
The introduction of fees for students. This changed my focus away from education towards employment because I could not get funding for University and I became disassociated by the system. I chose to go into work after my 'A' Levels. -
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A Levels
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Worcester College of Technology
I took 3 A Levels at Worcester College of Technology. The year after I left, in 2000, the curriculum changed to students taking 5 AS Levels and then dropping down to 3. I do wonder how this would have affected me and in whether I would have been able to complete more A Levels than I did. -
Moser Report
This report specified recommendations for improving literacy and numeracy. During my time at college it was compulsory for us to undertake additional ict, numeracy and literacy courses. If we failed to go to these lessons we would have lost our place at college. -
White Paper: Achieving Success
Proposals in the paper signalled a shift away from 'the state' towards more liaison with the private sector; support could now be offered to failing state schools, city academies could source private funding, the encouragement of 'Public Private Partnerships' with successful schools, greater involvement with the curriculum in working the pupils taking vocational qualifications. The shift in vision indicated a broader shift in educational policy. -
Education Act 2002
Many of the proposals in the white paper were implemented, including the creation of 'City Academies'. -
OFSET Report into Inclusion
"a report by Ofsted and the Audit Commission School place planning: The influence of school place planning on school standards and social inclusion warned the government that its policy of allowing parents to choose their child's school was polarising the education system and trapping poor children in the worst schools" (Hansard, 2011) - A shift of opinion from the original acts in the 1980s that promoted choice for parents. -
Publication: Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners
The government set out plans for reforming the educational system into one that provides closer links to business and to
"the learner is a partner in learning, not a passive recipient – and this means that (especially as they grow older, leaving compulsory education) they have a stake in and a responsibility for their own learning"; the end of the Comprehensive. -
Higher Education Act
Universities allowed to charge 'Top-up' fees. By this time I was about to enter onto the Access course, which was free. My concern at the time was less about the fees and more abuot what course I wanted to try next. I resigned myself to eventually paying for the fees. I had considered seeking employment as a Teaching Assistant, to gain sponsorship, however following acheiving a Level 2 CACHE certificate, I decided to become more expert to enter into Secondary teaching. -
Worcester Sixth Form Centre
I took the Access to Higher Education certificate, to get back into Education. One of the best decisions of my life. The white paper: 'Higher Education: Meeting the Challenge' in 1987 provided the foundations for the 'third' route into HE, which provided me with opportunities to return to Higher Education. -
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Access Certificate
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HNC in Computing
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Worcester College of Technology
I started Worcester College of Technology on and HNC in Computing. -
Report into the numbers of students enrolling for University
"October 2006, UCAS revealed that 15,000 fewer students had started university compared with the previous year". (Education England). The drop in enrollments was due to the top-up fees being imposed on students. -
2020 Vision
A report was published into how the educational system would work by 2020. The report focussed on 'Personal Learning' and promoted education where (among other points) "a child’s chances of success are not related to his or her socio-economic background, gender or ethnicity". -
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Start HND in Computing
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Start a Degree in ICT
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Graduation
Success! I have an HNC in Computing -
University of Worcester
After completing the HND in Computing, I start the Degree in Computing at University of Worcester. -
Education Act
An act that rose the age of leaving school to 18; leaving was no longer an option, up to 18, youths needed to be in education, or training. Another policy was to involve pupils in decisions that affected them; this can be seen today by pupil panels on teacher job interviews! -
Acadamies Act
Provided for the expansion of Acadamies and 'Free Schools'.
A number of other projects are also scrapped: Diplomas, Free School Meals, Buildings for the Future, proposed £3.5 Billion from the budget. -
BSc in Computing with Honours
Success I have a degree! -
White paper: The importance of Teaching
A joint publication from Department for Education. A joint statement from the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister summed up their view of education; "The first, and most important, lesson is that no education system can be better than the quality of its teachers". (publication). The report addresses behaviour management, qualifications that are not highly regarding by business, funding and the curriculum. The report is a precursor to the changes we are now seeing to the educational system. -
Education Act
"increased schools' powers relating to pupil behaviour and exclusions, further diminished the role of local authorities, further expansion of academies" (Education England) -
Start a PGCE in ICT
Here I start my ITT. A PGCE in ICT.
