education interwar period Flashcards
were decisions in the interwar period able to make education accessible
decisions in the interwar period were unable to make education accessible for all. although different LEAs had ambitious plans for education reforms, they did not come into practice
Aims of Fisher Education Act
Increase school leaving age to 14.
Provide nursery and continuation schools for infants and young workers.
Abolish fees for elementary education.
what two things did the Hadow Report recommend
for example the 1926 hadow report
recommended the division of primary and secondary schools as well as raising the school leaving age to 15.
Success of Hadow Report?
its reccomendations were Not acted upon, due to cost and lack of importance.
Only a minority of LEAs followed Board of Education recommendations to set up ‘modern schools’
impact of the hadow report
therefore, the hadow report lacked any significant reforms to be enforced in schools and thus education remained fixed along class lines. furthermore, education was only available to the middle class illustrated by the fact that only 13% of w-c children attended school
conclusion of education in interwar years
overall, education was largely inaccessible to children before government decisions made during the second world war and even though reports advocated for educational reform, they were ineffective in resulting in immediate changes within the education system. therefore, education did not become more accessible during the interwar period but its important to acknowledge that they set the foundations for later changes.
Butler Education Act
however with the outbreak of ww2 it was recognised that there were major inequalities within britains education system. as such, the 1944 education act was a watershed moment that majorly extended working class access to education. this was through the introduction of the tripartite system where children would take an 11+ exam that decided whether they would go to a grammar school, secondary modern or technical school.
context of the butler act
contextually the act reflected the impact of the beveridge report. the report identified ignorance as one of the great evils that needed to be conquered. indeed many branches of the armed forces had to teach basic literacy and numeracy skills to lower ranks as the technological complexity of modern warfare increased.
What did the Butler Education Act do?
this was crucial for advancing educational oppurtunities as it Made it so that secondary education was free and available to all, regardless of social class. importatly this allowed working class children access to an education that was previously unavaiable and reserved for the middle class.
Results of the Butler Education Act
therefore the butler act was arguably the most important factor that for the first time, created a route into affluence for many working class children. this signifies the long term importance of the act as it enabled the introduction of later policies that furthered equality of opportunies within the education system.
