1.3.3 Education policies prior 1988

Question 1

How did industrialisation impact education?

Answer 1

• It increased the need for an educated workforce.
  -From the late 19th Century the state began the include education.
• Previously education was only provided by fee paying schools for the wealthy or churches & charities for few of the poor.

Question 2

How did WW2 impact education?

Answer 2

• The limited education of the majority of the population was highlighted then when many army recruits were found illiterate.
• The 1944 Butler Education Act was introduced to radically change the nature & structure of the education system.

Question 3

What was the 1944 Butler Education act?

Answer 3

• Began after WW2.
• Began to shape the idea of meritocracy.
• Believed that every child should be given equal opportunities.
• Introduced the Tripartite System which allocated children to schools based off ability which was identified by the 11+ exams (a 13+ exam was later offered to children if they were placed into the wrong school)
• The 3 schools were to have a parity of esteem (equal status).

Question 4

What were the 3 parts of the Tripatite System?

Answer 4

• Secondary grammar schools.
• Secondary modern schools.
• Technical schools.

Question 5

What were secondary grammer schools?

Answer 5

• Pupil who passed the 11+.
• Mainly MC.
• Offered an academic curriculum, access to non manual jobs & higher education.
• Less than 20% of the population attended these schools.

Question 6

What were secondary modern schools?

Answer 6

• Offered a non academic, practical curriculum & access to manual work for pupil who failed the 11+ exam..
• Mainly WC.

Question 7

What were technical schools?

Answer 7

• Existed in very few areas.
• Only 5% of the population attend.

Question 8

What are criticisms of the Tripartite System?

Answer 8

• It was judged to be socially diverse by reproducing class inequality.
• It was an obstacle to equality of opportunity.
• Schools did not have parity of esteem.
• Reproduced gender inequality by requiring girls to gain higher marks in the 11+.

Question 9

What is the Comprehensive System?

Answer 9

• In 1965, the Labour government instructed LEAs to convert to a comprehensive system of secondary schooling.
• Aimed to overcome class division.
• Emphasised integration & inclusion.
• Schools were organized to catchment area.
• LEAs could decide whether to go comprehensive.
• Many grammar secondary schools still exist as a result.

Question 10

What are criticisms of the Comprehensive System?

Answer 10

• Ford (1969) found little evidence of social integration as a result of setting & streaming.
• Marxists argue that they are not meritocratic & that they generationally reproduce class inequality through streaming & labelling.

Question 11

When did education become free?

Answer 11

• In 1870 with the Forster Education Act when the state began to assume some responsibility & provided free education.
• However, it was not compulsory until 1880 from the ages 5-13.