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The Education Act 1944 established the "Tripartite System", Grammar, Technical and Secondary Modern schools. Grammar schools were seen as the place for the academically gifted and entrance was determined by a selection exam (11+). Children who failed selection attended one of the other schools. The act set school leaving age to 15; this was not implemented until 1947. Compulsory part-time education until the age of 18 was recommended, however this was dropped.
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13 Area Training Organisations (ATOs) were established in England and one in Wales to coordinate teacher training. In 1949 a University Training Department (UTD) providing teacher training courses based at the Institute of Education (IOE).
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General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary or O–levels and Advanced or A-levels are introduced. O-levels replace the School Certificate, presented to pupils on leaving, with A-levels replacing the Higher School Certificate for 18 year old school leavers.
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The Education Act 1962 placed legal obligation on parents to ensure that children received a suitable education, either at school or otherwise. Failure to comply could result in prosecution. LEAs became legally responsible for ensuring that all pupils attend school.
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The Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) is introduced for secondary modern pupils, to cater for those not sitting O-levels.
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Polytechnics are established. These are institutes of higher education offering courses in vocational or technical subjects
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The Plowden Report 'Children and their Primary Schools' promoted child-centred education and was highly criticised by traditionalists.
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School leaving age raised to 16, this meant everyone could leave school with qualifications increasing their opportunities.
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The Education (Work Experience) Act 1973 allowed LEAs to organise work experience for final year school students.
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The Circular 7/73 halved the number of places for student teachers.
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The Sex Discrimination Act had effects on school admissions, appointments and curricula. It made it unlawful for educational establishments to discriminate against admitting girl pupils.
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The Race Relations Act ensured that everybody received the same treatment without regard to race or skin colour.
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1983 Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE) established to set standards for initial teacher training courses.
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The Education (No. 2) Act 1986: required LEAs to state policies, governors to publish annual reports and hold parents' meetings; laid down rules on admissions, political indoctrination and sex education; abolished corporal punishment.
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General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE): common 16+ exam system replaced GCE O Level and CSE. The National Curriculum, stipulating subjects to be studied until the age of 16, is also introduced.
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1987 The National Curriculum 5-16: the consultation document in which the government set out its plans for the introduction of the national curriculum and associated assessment procedures.
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Specific Grants for INSET (In-Service Training).
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Education Reform Act 1988 is major act establishing the National Curriculum, testing regime, Local Management of Schools (LMS) etc.
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The Cox Report English for ages 5 to 16: the report which formed the basis of the English component of the new National Curriculum.
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The day I was born...yay!
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Polytechnics were granted university status.
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Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) was established to monitor and report on the individual quality of schools.
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Further and Higher Education Act 1992: removed FE and sixth form colleges from LEA control and established Further Education Funding Councils (FEFCs), unified the funding of higher education under the Higher Education Funding Councils (HEFCs), introduced competition for funding between institutions, abolished the Council for National Academic Awards.
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The Education Act 1994 established the Teacher Training Authority (TTA) and regulated student unions.
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I started Earlsmead Primary School.
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The government introduces National Curriculum Tests, often called Sats, for all children aged 7, 11 and 14.
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General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) are offered as a more work-based alternative for non-academic students.
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1996 Jobseekers Act: laid down rules about the relationship between study and eligibility for the Job Seeker's Allowance.
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1998 Education (Student Loans) Act 1998 transferred provision of student loans to the private sector.
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1999 Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA): pilot schemes aimed at greater take-up of and achievement in post-16 education.
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1999 Fresh Start scheme: aimed to revitalise 'failing' inner-city schools.
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City academies: David Blunkett announced the government's intention to create a network of academies - effectively private schools paid for by the state.
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2000 Advanced Subsidiary (AS-level) exams are brought in for 17 year olds. These are qualifications in their own right but also a halfway stage in the A-level course, unlike the Advanced Supplementary exams they replace.
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I finished primary school and began secondary school at Hornsey Shool for Girls. I completed yr2 and yr6 SATs in english and maths.
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Workforce remodelling: government initiative aimed at reducing teachers' workload by employing more unqualified classroom assistants.
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2004 Building Schools for the Future: massive schools rebuilding programme launched.
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I finished secondary school with 9 GCSEs, A*-C. I then attended Woodhouse College.
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The Education and Skills Act 2008 raised the education leaving age to 18; Key Stage 3 SATs effectively abolished.
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Tories' free schools policy announced by Michael Gove. These schools are privately run school organized as an alternative to the traditional public or private school, they can follow a highly flexible approach to the curriculum and teaching methods.
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I left college with 3 A-levels (Psychology, Drama, English Literature) and an AS-level (ICT). I went to Brunel University and studied a Psychology BSc.
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2010 SATs: a quarter of all primary schools boycotted the tests.
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Vastly increased tuition fees, despite Liberal Democrat pre-election promises.
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Building Schools for the Future is scrapped.
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The government proposed cuts of up to £3.5bn in the schools budget.
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The Academies Act 2010 provided for huge and rapid expansion of academies.
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2011 Education Act 2011: increased schools' powers relating to pupil behaviour and exclusions, further diminished the role of local authorities, further expansion of academies etc.
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I Started my PGCE at University of Wolverhampton.
