1.8: Fall of the Conservatives: Social Developments Flashcards
What caused a rise in private housing during this time?
The licensing system became more relaxed, leading to an increase in private housing by the end of the 1950s.
What was the purpose of the 1957 Rent Act?
The Act aimed to encourage landlords to repair properties by freeing them from rent controls, criticized by Labour as favoring landlords.
What changes did the 1962 Immigration Act bring?
It tightened immigration rules; however, dependents of earlier immigrants could enter freely, while others needed vouchers.
Who comprised the immigrant communities arriving in Britain in 1961?
Around 49,000 from India and Pakistan, 66,000 from the Caribbean, and 21,000 from various places like Hong Kong, Cyprus, etc.
How did immigration patterns change post-1962?
Unskilled young men arrivals declined; later arrivals were mostly dependents of earlier immigrants or Asian refugees.
What were the goals of the Butler Education Act?
It introduced the tripartite system intending 15% to attend grammar schools but resulted in an 11+ failure rate of 75-80%.
What were the challenges with the 11+ exam?
A large percentage, around 75-80%, failed the exam, often leading to attendance at secondary modern schools.
How were resources and opportunities distributed among schools?
Grammar schools had three times the resources of secondary moderns and attracted better teachers, leaving some areas poorly served.
What was the disparity in attending grammar schools based on location?
In areas like Westmoreland, over 40% attended grammar schools, but in places like Gateshead and Sunderland, it was fewer than 10%.
What was the impact of education inequality on urban areas?
Urban areas faced disadvantages; a study found junior school children in Nottingham lacked basic educational resources compared to affluent suburbs.
What subjects were more favored in universities during this time?
Arts were favored over applied sciences, leading to a heavy bias, especially in prestigious institutions like Oxford and Cambridge.
How were non-academic routes perceived for a career?
Fields like student journalism, theatre, or politics were seen as effective routes to careers in media, BBC, or politics.
How did a newspaper criticize the educational system in the 1960s?
The Daily Mirror raised concerns in 1963 about the underutilisation of brainpower in Britain, pointing to wasted potential.
What recommendations did the Robbins Committee make?
They suggested increasing the number of students by 50% by 1967 and by 250% by 1980, aiming to catch up with other countries.
How did the British education system respond to the recommendations from the Robbins Committee?
It led to the establishment of 11 new universities in 1960 and the rise of polytechnics in the 1960s to accommodate science subjects.
