THE 1944 EDUCATION ACT

1
THE 1944 EDUCATION ACT
2
WHY?

• Introduced after WW2 to ensure the country made
  full use of the talents of its people, especially
  the lower classes.
• All to be given an equal chance to develop their
  abilities to the full within a free system of
  state education.

3
THREE STAGES

• PRIMARY (5 to 11 years old)
• SECONDARY (11 to 15 years old)
• FURTHER/HIGHER EDUCATION

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THE TRIPARTITE SYSTEM
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TYPES OF STUDENT

• People believed that there were different types
  of students, with differing aptitudes and
  abilities.
• A students type could be identified by
  intelligence tests.
• The 11-Plus was a national test which decided
  which type of secondary school a student would
  attend.

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GRAMMAR SCHOOL

• For the bright and academic.
• Students would study for O-level and A-level
  exams.
• Academic/difficult subjects.
• About 20 of the school population went to
  grammar schools.

7
TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

• For students with an aptitude for technical
  subjects.
• Vocational training and technical skills.
• About 5 of the school population went to
  technical schools.

8
SECONDARY MODERN

• For the less academic and more practical.
• Students would study at a lower level with few
  opportunities to take external exams.
• CSE exams were introduced in the 1960s.
• Most students went to a secondary modern.

9
PARITY OF ESTEEM

• Each type of school was meant to have buildings,
  resources and staff of similar quality.

10
CRITICISMS

• 11 plus was unreliable.
• The selection process was unfair and wasteful.
• No parity of esteem.
• 75 of students were seen as having failed.
• Social class divisions.