GCSE British Society | Revise Educational Changes 1951-1979

History Quiz - Britain: British Society 1951-1979 - Educational Changes (Questions)

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.

Key Terms

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

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.

Try These Related Quizzes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10.

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

History Quiz - Britain: British Society 1951-1979 - Educational Changes (Answers)

In 1963 the Newsom Report came out, advocating sweeping changes in state secondary education. What was its title?

[ ]	Face the Future
[x]	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

[ ]	Local education authorities would be forced to draw up plans for comprehensive secondary education
[x]	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

A Labour prime minister in this period promised that re-organisation would introduce "a grammar school education for all". Who was this?

[x]	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

[x]	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

In 1967 the Plowden Report was published, recommending a more child-centred approach in teaching. With which category of state schools was Plowden concerned?

[x]	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

In 1978 the BBC launched a new TV drama series set in an inner city comprehensive school. What was it called?

[ ]	Please Sir
[x]	Grange Hill
[ ]	Whacko!
[ ]	Up the Junction

The series was popular and it fearlessly dealt with issues of class, race and religion

[ ]	Edward Boyle
[ ]	Keith Joseph
[x]	Margaret Thatcher
[ ]	Kenneth Baker

An incoming education secretary was likely to rely heavily on civil servants' advice

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
[x]	The University of Essex

Robbins was convinced that the country required a great increase in higher education