Education - Educational Policies

Question 1

1944 - The Tripartite System

Answer 1

Introduced in 1944, had two main types of secondary school (grammar and secondary modern) with selection by the 11+ exam. Most middle-class pupils attended the grammar school, whereas most working-class pupils attended the secondary modern.

Question 2

1965 - The Comprehensive System

Answer 2

Introduced in 1965, abolished the 11+ and all pupils attended the same local comprehensive school.

Question 3

1988 - Education Reform Act

Answer 3

Introduced in 1988, Schools receive funding based on pupil numbers.
More pupils = more funding.

Popular schools grow richer, invest in better resources and staff.

Unpopular schools may spiral into decline due to underfunding.

Question 4

1992 - The Education Act

Answer 4

Introduced in 1992, this Act made school league tables legally required, meaning schools had to publish exam results publicly.
It was aimed at increasing parental choice, accountability, and competition between schools.

It complemented the 1988 Education Reform Act, which had already introduced the National Curriculum and other marketisation measures.

Question 5

1997-2010 - New Labour Policies

Answer 5

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New Labour aimed to reduce inequality in education by introducing:

• Education Action Zones (1998):
  🏙️ Support for deprived areas
• Aim Higher (2004):
  🎓 Encourage uni access
• Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) (2004):
  💸 Money for students
• Increased State Funding:
  💷 More school investment

Question 6

2010+ - Conservative Policies

Answer 6

🏫 Academies
- State-funded but independent
- Freed from local authority control
- Can be sponsored by businesses, charities, or academy trusts
- Greater control over curriculum and staffing

👪 Free Schools
- New schools set up by groups
- Run by parents, teachers, charities, or religious groups
- State-funded but operate independently
- Aim to increase choice and drive up standards through competition

✂️ Spending Cuts
- Reduced government education funding
- Closure or cutbacks to Sure Start centres
- EMA scrapped (replaced by limited bursaries)
- Fewer resources and less investment in school infrastructure

📈 Grammar Schools (proposed)
- Selective schools based on ability
- Idea of reintroducing or expanding grammar schools debated in Parliament
- Favour academic selection (e.g., 11+ exam)
- Criticised for reinforcing class inequality