Policies

Question 1

What was the 1944 Butler Act?

Answer 1

It was introduced by Labour after the 1942 Beveridge Report.

It raised compulsory education to 14 and made education free for ALL.

Question 2

What did the Butler Act introduce?

Answer 2

A tripartite system based on meritocracy.

1. Grammar schools - academic education.
2. Secondary technicals - education of science and tech.
3. Secondary moderns - basic education.

Question 3

What was the Butler Act based on?

Answer 3

Meritocratic values: the 11+ decided where people went to school.

Question 4

Why did some support the Butler Act?

Answer 4

Functionalists and New Right thinkers approved of it as it promoted social mobility on the basis of hard work.

Question 5

What was the issue with technical schools?

Answer 5

Few were ever built.

Question 6

What were the issues with grammar schools?

Answer 6

1. Only 20% went there (75 to sec moderns - failures).
2. Girls got less spaces - patriarchal.
3. Middle class dominated - working class failures lacked means and motivation to succeed.

Question 7

What did social democrats, such as Halsey and Floud, say about the tripartite system?

Answer 7

It was socially divisive; social mobility stalled and there was no parity of esteem.

Question 8

What was the criticism by the 1959 Crowther Report?

Answer 8

The Tripartite system was wasting working class talent.

Question 9

Why was the comprehensive system seen as more meritocratic?

Answer 9

The 11+ was abolished.

Everyone was given the same provision - could literally rise and fall on one’s own accord.

Question 10

What did Labour instruct, in 1965?

Answer 10

All LEAs submit plans for comprehensive reorganisation.

THIS WAS NOT MANDATORY SO GRAMMARS REMAINED.