BIG BRITAIN EDUCATION
1918-31
1918 FISHER ACT → education funded by central gov
Increased school leaving age to 14
Abolished elementary school fees
Costs/ control centralised (from LEAs to government)
Variable provision persisted, however
1919 UNIVSERISTY FUNDING
Universities became directly funded by the government
1922 EDUCATION FOR ALL
Document adopted as Labour policy – advocated for abolishing secondary fees
1926 HADOW REPORT
Recommended establishment of primary and secondary schools – with
secondary split into tripartite system (elementary schools had big classes,
sometimes 60)
Recommended school leaving age = 15
Wasn’t adopted due to Geddes Axe (1922 public expenditure cuts)
1931-39
UNEVEN PROVISION
Before WWII, only 13% of WC aged >13 were still in school – secondary mainly
for MC
1931 only 20% of children in secondary school education
1939-45
VARIATION RECOGNITION
Fabian Soc (left think tank) – challenged major variation in education provision
1942 BEVERIDGE REPORT → highlighted shortcomings in education (along with
WWII)
Identified ‘ignorance’ as one of the ‘evils’ affecting Britain
WWII outlined educational disparities – modern warfare demanded skills which
many lacked
1944 BUTLER ACT → introduced tripartite system
Abolished secondary fees – cost of mass education funded by taxes
Extended leaving age to 15
Established tripartite system – grammar, secondary modern, secondary
technical (arguably reflected class-system)
Millions of WC had free and compulsory secondary education
Girls could now attended secondary schools
1918-31
1918 FISHER ACT → education funded by central gov
Increased school leaving age to 14
Abolished elementary school fees
Costs/ control centralised (from LEAs to government)
Variable provision persisted, however
1919 UNIVSERISTY FUNDING
Universities became directly funded by the government
1922 EDUCATION FOR ALL
Document adopted as Labour policy – advocated for abolishing secondary fees
1926 HADOW REPORT
Recommended establishment of primary and secondary schools – with
secondary split into tripartite system (elementary schools had big classes,
sometimes 60)
Recommended school leaving age = 15
Wasn’t adopted due to Geddes Axe (1922 public expenditure cuts)
1931-39
UNEVEN PROVISION
Before WWII, only 13% of WC aged >13 were still in school – secondary mainly
for MC
1931 only 20% of children in secondary school education
1939-45
VARIATION RECOGNITION
Fabian Soc (left think tank) – challenged major variation in education provision
1942 BEVERIDGE REPORT → highlighted shortcomings in education (along with
WWII)
Identified ‘ignorance’ as one of the ‘evils’ affecting Britain
WWII outlined educational disparities – modern warfare demanded skills which
many lacked
1944 BUTLER ACT → introduced tripartite system
Abolished secondary fees – cost of mass education funded by taxes
Extended leaving age to 15
Established tripartite system – grammar, secondary modern, secondary
technical (arguably reflected class-system)
Millions of WC had free and compulsory secondary education
Girls could now attended secondary schools
