Education - Social Policy prior 1979

Question 1

1870 Education Act

Answer 1

state schools for all
aged 5 - 11
1880 state school compulsory for all up to age 10

Question 2

1944 Butler Education Act

Answer 2

tripartite system
11+ exam introduced to establish ability

grammar schools - passed 11+ exam, MC, sexist
Secondary modern - failed 11+, woodwork and needlework, WC
Technical schools - mechanics, engineering, skilled WC

Question 3

criticisms of tripartite system

Answer 3

• 11+ did not truly measure ability and too young
• different schools had different levels of status
• grammar schools dominated by boys even though girls did better in 11+ exam
  SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC - socially divisive system, MC to grammar and WC to secondary modern

Question 4

1960 comprehensive schools

Answer 4

• labour policy
• broke down class divide
• equal opportunities

Question 5

criticisms of comprehensive schools

Answer 5

CONSERVATIVES - lowered educational standards by undermining excellent education offered in grammar schools
- most able were not stretched, poor behaviour dragged down hardworking
- less successful than grammar schools
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC - failure as introduced setting and streaming which just reproduced class and academic divisions within schools

BUT proportion of population gaining a levels and o levels increased