Education and Widening Opportunities Flashcards
What was education like in Britian before 1918?
For most children was provided by LEA’S, local education authorities, which were created in 1902 in the balfour act. This meant that local authorities paid for teachers wages, provided free school meals to children from poor families, and ensured the upkeep of school buildings.
Why was the 1918 education act/ fisher act introduced?
Because government wanted to reform education after world war one. It was also passed because of the Lewis report which was made in the war.
What was the 1918 education act?
The report reccomended:
. kids leave school at 14
. there would be a new tier of country colleged to provide children up to 18 vocational training and employers were meant to release their younger employees at least once a week to attent. (didnt acc happen though).
. the curriculm would have practical stuff for less able students to prep them for workplace, and more academic stuff for the brighter kids.
How were costs of education transferred in 1918?
Transferred from LEA’S to government, meaning the 1918 education act was an important- as it allowed control over school financing to be centralised.
it meant there was improvement in teachers salrieis which government hoped would improve skl standards.
What were the two types of schools that were provided after government took control in 1918?
elementary schools gave children basic education until 14
secondary and technical schools gave education until 16
What did the 1926 Hadow Committee into education’s report say?
Different LEA’s had different provisions, but they said the LEA were not keeping records straight and there was unfair learning with different areas. they reccomended:
. abolitition of elementary schools into primary/secondary with transferring at 11.
. raising the school leaving age to 15 from 14.
Why were the hadow committees recomendations not adopted?
Because of costs and how responsibility of education was the local authorities.
What was elementary school from the authorities like?
sometimes class sizes were huge reaching 60. however, it was free, and some even provided transfers to secondary/technical. quality was questionable.
What population were secondary education suited for?
Preserve of middle class education. Until 1944, it was only compulsory until 14.
However, only 20% of children were in some form of secondary education- leaving at 14.
How were grammar schools introduced?
the 1918 act did create grant funded grammar schools, which were operated by the local authoraties. they charged fees, but brighter children were awarded scholarships. there was an entrance exam. had an excellent education- but based on wealth, as poorer parents could not keep their children here even if they got a scholarship.
What were some key changes in education from 1939-1944?
the second world war saw the fabian society, with major variations in the provision of education across britian. poor were unable to acess education that middle class had and they remained stuck in poverty. grammar schools did increase the amount of free places, but other costs (transport/uniform) did not help.
what was the impact of ww2 on education?
the beverdige report in 1942, said ignorance was one of the great evils that affected britian. many branches of armed services had to teach literacy to lower ranks and ww2 needed educated troops due to technology increasing in war. an educated defence force from civilians was also required for during and after the war. britian could not afford to have a stupid population.
What act happened in 1944 and why was it introduced?
In 1944, the Butler Act was introduced and helped extend working class childrens acess to education.
State secondary schools would be free and mass education paid from taxes (government responsibility).
education compulsory until 15.
LEA’s were able to provide training and instructions.
What was the tripartite system?
Richard Butler created this system which had grammar schools, secondary modern schools and technical schools.
What were grammar schools like under the tripartite system?
Itended to make an academic curriculm open to all children after passing an 11+. particularly helped kids in less affluent areas as it provided a route into greater opportunity.
what were secondary modern schools under the tripartite system?
They tended to educate the lower middle class/working class kids and also generaly had fewer qualified teachers/resources.
However, the best onees did try apply innovative learning and were connected to colleges so students could transfer when they were done.
In post war period 75% of the population went to secondary moderns but in 1964 only 318 actually enters for a levels.
what were technical schools under the tripartite sytem?
intended to educate middle classes for science/engineering and help country adapt to high technology. however, only a few built cuz of cost and intake was never more than 3% of those who went to secondary moderns.
what was the 11+ exam?
determined which secondary skl a child would go to.
it had academic, functional and technical sections and initinally intended to filter each student to the right skl.
hoever, technical baility was eventually left out and isntead of being a test to find what each student was good at it became a test to see if pupils were smart enough to get into grammar skls.
critics argued that it was unfair to test the smartness of kids at 11 and they were just pushing fivide.
they were so few technical skls built that those who failed 11+ went to secondary skls.
what was the effect of the butler act?
for first time millions of working class and girls had compulsory free education. this act was the stepping stone in more diversity for future as it led more children being educated than any other point in the countries history.
What did different political parties feel/view the butler act?
Conservatives and the right of labor party thought the tripartite system was very effective and helped the economy but labour left said it was socially divisive.
labour left wantet comprehensive skl which had kids of all classes attent the same skl with no 11+.
What was happening by the early 1960’s in views on education?
13 year old conservative rule ended and there was a popular anti elitist viewpoint going around in politics/media. Also most developed countries (canada, japan australia) had removed selection processes so britian seemed to lag.
What did prime minstor Harold Wilson of the new labour government finally do in 1964?
He said if grammar schools are so good they should be avaiable for all kids. the comprehensive system was then introduced as ‘grammar schools for all’.
what were early comprehensive schools like in the 1950’s
there had been a growth in comprehensive schools in mainly labour local areas:.
by the end of 1950’s there was divisive opinion on selection methods (some said it was unfair some said it was rational).
What were comprensive schools like/do?
included all children regardless of ability.
preventing kids being singled out at 11 espeically since some said 11+ was innacurate.
gave students chance to transfer between different courses.
would be more flexible + take more students + offer more courses/resources.
