1. Home
  2. GCSE
  3. History
  4. Britain: British Society 1951-1979 - Educational Changes
Logo

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

British society at different times in the past is one topic studied in GCSE History, and one of the periods covered is from 1951 to 1979. One area that is looked at is the changes that the British education system underwent between those dates.

In 1951 the provisions of the 1944 Education Act were still being implemented. The new Tory government faced the reality of comprehensive schools in most parts of the country, and a greatly expanded university sector. More changes over the 50s, 60s and 70s meant that, by the time of the Conservative government in 1979, much had altered.

Discover more about the changes that took place in the British education system between 1951 and 1979 in this interactive quiz.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
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
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
6. 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
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
8. 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
9. 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

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Rebuilding the country after 1945

© Education Quizzes. Please visit www.educationquizzes.com to subscribe
Logo
History Quiz - Britain: British Society 1951-1979 - Educational Changes (Answers)
1. 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
2. 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
[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
3. 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
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?
[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
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?
[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
6. 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
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
[x] Margaret Thatcher
[ ] Kenneth Baker
An incoming education secretary was likely to rely heavily on civil servants' advice
8. 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
9. 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)
[x] The Open University
The OU clearly addressed a need for part-time higher education to mature students
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
[x] The Inner London Education Authority
This was an umbrella body. Individual boroughs had a considerable input too
© Education Quizzes. Please visit www.educationquizzes.com to subscribe