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History of Education in the Uk Essay

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Historically education, in all its various forms and across a plethora of societies, has existed for thousands of years; at its most basic level ensuring the survival and continuation of the human race whilst providing enculturation and socialisation. This is a far cry from what we see today; a compulsory formal education system with a centralised curriculum that is state funded via taxation and free at the point of delivery. This essay will examine the historical origins and developments of the British education system, with particular emphasis on the development of education from World War Two to the present day and key political legislative acts and ideology behind them.

In pre 19th century Great Britain formal education was very …show more content…

(Taylor et al 1997).

A national intelligence test was introduced, called the 11 plus, and was used as a selection tool for allocating the right ‘type’ of school for the right ‘type’ of child. This method of selection was seen as a scientific way of making sure that each child was receiving an education based on his or her ability. The test was taken on a single day at the age of eleven and this moulded educational trajectory of that child. A tripartite secondary education structure was born; three types of school, for three types of children; grammar schools for the bright and academic, secondary technical schools for children with aptitudes in technical subjects and secondary moderns for the less academic and more practical children. (Haralambos 2004).

Taylor et al (1997) puts forth that the tripartite system was designed to provide separate yet equal types of schooling that was geared towards a child’s ability and that each type of school should have a parity of esteem. Parity of esteem was an idea and wasn’t mirrored by the reality; 75% of children who failed the 11 plus were disproportionately working class and consigned to

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