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Britain: British Society 1951-1979 - Educational Changes
Education in the UK underwent significant changes in the late 20th Century.

Britain: British Society 1951-1979 - Educational Changes

Explore how British education changed after 1951, from the tripartite system to comprehensives, and how new exams and policies affected pupils’ chances in school and beyond.

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Fascinating Fact:

From the 1960s, comprehensive schools began to replace grammars and secondary moderns. They aimed to educate all abilities together in one school.

In GCSE History, the study of educational changes between 1951 and 1979 looks at how government policy shaped school life. You examine the tripartite system, the growth of comprehensive schools and debates over equality of opportunity. The topic also covers exam changes, attitudes to selection and the wider social context of a changing Britain. By using sources and interpretations, you judge how far these reforms reduced class barriers or simply reorganised existing inequalities.

  • Tripartite System: A post war structure that divided pupils into grammar, technical and secondary modern schools, usually based on performance in the 11 plus examination.
  • Comprehensive School: A non selective secondary school that takes pupils of all abilities, usually from a local area, instead of sorting them by an exam at age eleven.
  • 11-plus: An exam taken by many pupils at about age eleven in the 1950s and 1960s, which often decided whether they went to a grammar or a secondary modern school.
What was the main aim of educational reforms in Britain after 1951?

The main aim was to widen educational opportunity. Governments tried to give more pupils access to longer schooling, academic qualifications and fairer treatment, regardless of their social class or where they lived.

Why did many politicians support comprehensive schools in the 1960s?

Many politicians believed comprehensive schools would reduce social division created by the 11 plus and the tripartite system, by educating children of different abilities and backgrounds together in the same schools.

How did the 11-plus influence pupils’ lives in the 1950s and 1960s?

Performance in the 11 plus often decided whether a pupil entered a grammar or secondary modern school, which could affect their access to exams, later job chances and how teachers and families saw their potential.

1 .
A Labour prime minister in this period promised that re-organisation would introduce "a grammar school education for all". Who was this?
Harold Wilson
James Callaghan
Clement Attlee
Gordon Brown
Selection, dating from 1944, meant that those who failed the 11 plus exam would not attend a grammar school
2 .
What local government body was directly responsible for state education in London during this period?
The Greater London Council
The London County Council
The London Boroughs Association
The Inner London Education Authority
This was an umbrella body. Individual boroughs had a considerable input too
3 .
In 1960 the Robbins investigation into higher education was set up. Robbins reported in 1963, and urged the setting up of a number of new universities. Which of the following fell into this category?
Manchester
Exeter
Queen Mary College, University of London
The University of Essex
Robbins was convinced that the country required a great increase in higher education
4 .
The 1964-1970 Wilson's government set up the Public Schools Commission to examine the role of the independent sector. In 1970 they published the Donnison Report. Which schools had Donnison been asked to investigate?
Independent day schools and the direct grant grammar schools
Boarding schools
Roman Catholic schools
Progressive schools
The independent sector of education turned out to be just as varied as the state sector, so the Public Schools Commission decided to approach its task step by step
5 .
In 1967 the Plowden Report was published, recommending a more child-centred approach in teaching. With which category of state schools was Plowden concerned?
Primary schools
Grammar schools
Comprehensive schools
Secondary schools
Plowden continued the trend of questioning the certainties in education that had prevailed in the 1940s and 1950s
6 .
In 1963 the Newsom Report came out, advocating sweeping changes in state secondary education. What was its title?
Face the Future
Half our Future
Change for the Future
Looking to the Future
By the 1960's the legislation of 1944 (the Butler Act) looked to many out of date. In particular Newsom raised questions about the grammar school/secondary modern school divide. The Labour Party's victory in 1964 gave the chance to put some of these recommendations into effect
7 .
In 1970 a Conservative government was returned for four years. The Education Secretary enthusiastically signed a large number of comprehensive schemes presented to them (out of 3612 proposals only 326 were turned down). Who was this?
Edward Boyle
Keith Joseph
Margaret Thatcher
Kenneth Baker
An incoming education secretary was likely to rely heavily on civil servants' advice
8 .
Harold Wilson was immensely proud of his achievement in setting up a new institution of higher education in 1969. What was this establishment called?
Birkbeck College, London University
The Oxford Department of Continuing Education
The Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA)
The Open University
The OU clearly addressed a need for part-time higher education to mature students
9 .
Labour won - narrowly - at the 1964 general election. Education Secretary Tony Crosland issued a circular called 10/65 which was sent to all Local Education Authorities. What did this famous document say?
Local education authorities would be forced to draw up plans for comprehensive secondary education
Local education authorities were invited to draw up re-organisation plans
Local education authorities were invited to discuss their provision of secondary education with the Secretary of State
Local education authorities were threatened with the loss of central government funds if they failed to re-organise at once on comprehensive lines
Crosland was obsessed with getting rid of selection at 11. However, local authorities varied greatly. Some were Conservative-controlled and intended to resist Crosland to the bitter end
10 .
In 1978 the BBC launched a new TV drama series set in an inner city comprehensive school. What was it called?
Please Sir
Grange Hill
Whacko!
Up the Junction
The series was popular and it fearlessly dealt with issues of class, race and religion
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Rebuilding the country after 1945

Author:  Edward Towne

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