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Hadow Reports Published
Hadow published a series of reports on education, one of which was The Education of the Adolescent (1926) which called for change and re-organisation of primary and elementary education, the abandonment of all age schools, and the creation of secondary modern schools. All of these together become known as the Hadow Reports. (EducationEngland: 2012) -
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Before the National Curriculum
Before the National Curriculum was created, teachers had the freedom to decide what was taught within their classes in schools. (1931 - Start of timeline, teachers decided their own curriculum before this also.) -
Education Act
This was introduced by the Conservative politician R.A.Butler. This Act aimed to remove equalities within the education system, by providing free secondary education for all pupils. Also with this act came the introduction of the Tripartite system. (Parliament: 2010) -
11 plus Examinations Introduced
The Eleven Plus was created by the 1944 Education Act. It is an examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education, and depending on success or failure within these exams, decides on what type of secondary school, student attend. (Lawson and Silver 1973: 425) -
British Educational Reform Act 1951
GCE's, O Levels and A Levels were first introduced and sat. These quialifications were predominantly examination based, some commentators were critical of the exam-based approach offering a limited proof of the student's overall academic ability in comparison with other methods. (EducationEngland: 2012) -
Academic Achievment Begins to Fall
Academic achievment begins to decline and scores drop. It is thought that change is needed within the education system. (Moore 2006: 43) -
Introduction of GCSE's
GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary Education) were introduced into secondary schools as compulsary examinations, and replaced the GCE O Levels. (White 2004: 37) -
Education Reform Act
The Education Reform Act 1988 was regarded as the most important single piece of education legislation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the Education Act 1944. Act seen the introduction of:
- Local Management Schools
- City technology colleges
- The National Curriculum (Legislation.gov: 2010)
- Key Stages -
Introduction of KS1 SAT's
SAT's (Standard Attainment Tests) were introduced for 7 year olds at the end of KS1, and were used to measure the attainment of pupils, in maths, english and science. (Satsguide: 2009) -
Introduction of League Tables
League Tables were introduced in 1992 by John Major's Conservative government as part of the Citizen's Charter. The stated aim was to give parents the consumer information they needed to create a free market in school choice. Although the BBC (2007) belive the governments have found another purpose for the tables, using them as a lever to direct the school system down one particular track or another. (Kelly 2009: 18) -
Introduction of KS2 SAT's
Introduction of KS2 SAT's for 11 year olds. (SatsGuide: 2009) -
Giroux - Walt Disneyification
A strategy based on the belief that students should be sheletered from knowing the 'hard realities' of the 'real world' and are therefore protected by being kept within a artificial paradise, hence the relation to Walt Disney and the fantasy world created. (Apple 2009: 75) -
Introduction of KS3 SAT's
Similar SAT's were introduced for 14-year-olds. (SatsGuide: 2009) -
Establishment of Academies
City academies were legally created by the Learning and Skills Act 2000, which amended the section of the Education Act 1996 relating to City Technology Colleges. Academies are intended to address the problem of entrenched failure within English schools with low academic achievement, or schools situated in communities with few or no academic aspirations. (Guardian: 2007) -
Curriculum Reform
This was a reform of the A Levels, and the introduction of AS Levels. The first AS levels were sat in summer 2001, and A2 examinations the followinf year. An A Level now consists of four or six units studied over two years. (Corbett: 1999) -
No Child Left Behind Act
First proposed by George W. Bush, even though it was an American act of congress, it was suggested to have an effect on education and teaching methods in the UK. An act to close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left behind. Many say the method and techniques behind this act are 'one size fits all'. (ISBE: 2002) -
Module and Programme Development Handbook
Analyses and evaluates assessment processes, including GCSE's. Written by Jennifer Moon (Moon: 2005) -
SAT's Abolished
SAT's were abolished in all areas, due to criticism such as putting children under constent stress throughout their whole academic lives, and also due to use of results for the league tables. (SatsGuide: 2009) -
Berkeley Review of Education
The review was titled, Teacher Education for Social Justice: What's Pupil Learning Got to Do With It? Based on Teacher Education for Social Justice. Review looks into whether teachers are responsible for the achievements of students, or whether it is the way in which they are taught and assessed. (eScholarship: 2010) -
Academies Act
The Academies Act 2010 sought to expand the number of academies and additionally extended academies with the introduction of the Free Schools Programme. (Guardian: 2007) -
English Baccalaureate
Gove states that schools in England are to be measured according to how many pupils achieve grades A*-C in five core subjects - Maths, English, two science qualifications, a foreign language and either History or Geography. (Education.gov: 2012) -
Increase of Academies
By April 2011, the number of academies had increased to 629. (Guardian: 2012) -
Another Increase in Academies
By August 2011 the number of academies had reached 1070. (Guardian: 2012) -
'GCSE's not fit for purpose' - The Guardian
Leading business organisation warns qualification sat by pupils at 16 is not delivering key skills needed in the workplace (Guardian: 2012)
