Describe the provision of schooling in england and wales

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The Provision of Schooling in England and Wales

 

 

 

In this assignment I will be looking at how the provision of schooling in England and Wales has developed over the past 150 years, and what the key factors underpinning this development are.

This period shapes the schooling provision of the present day. I will examine and define the different terms in the schooling provision, such as the two-tier system the state sector and how the Newcastle commission worked out a method of payment by result. I will also analyse the key factors of class, employment, and religion. I will do this by selecting the key developments and presenting it in chronological order. This will then allude towards the conclusion.

 

In the pre-industrial period, a large majority of society were illiterate; a vast majority of society were not able to read or write. It was seen that the only members of society who needed to write were the monks who would be writing and translating bibles, religious scriptures, and other religious tracts. However, as trade and commerce began to increase in the seventeenth century, many of the new class merchants and yeoman farmers were becoming educated. As a result, the need for literacy in society was on the increase.

 

Schooling in England and Wales commenced effectively with the findings of the Newcastle commission in 1858. The findings proposed that schools were funded through a system called ‘payment by result’. For example, the HMI (Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools) would go to each school once a year to test the children. Depending on how well the children did reflected the amount of funding that that particular school would receive. Although this was abandoned shortly afterwards, the principle returns as the basis on the 1988 Education Reform Act.

 

The Forster Education Act came into effect in 1870. The findings divided the country into 2,500 school districts. The rate payers of the district were responsible to elect the school boards. This act made it compulsory for children in London to return to school from the ages of 5 to 13. It also allowed the school boards to create their own by-laws, which would allow them to charge fees. Religious lessons were placed either at the beginning or end of the day and were not compulsory. The aim of this was to satisfy Nonconformists and Anglicans. For the first time the state took a lead role in education. Also in 1870, England was recognised as the first industrial nation following the 1851 Great Exhibition which they consequently boasted. Additionally in 1867 the Pans Exhibition took place which proved to the UK that France, Germany, and the USA were not far behind.

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The school leaving age was effectively changed and fixed at 11 years in 1983. This was then again raised to 12 years in 1899, 13 years in 1902 and to 14 years in 1918. This remained in force until 1947 when it was raised to 15 years followed by 16 years in 1972. These changes were made as the economy was rapidly developing; therefore people with better education were required in the varied workforce.

 

The Balfor Education Act 1902 abolished board schools and also created 140 Local Education Authorities (LEAs) which then took over these board schools, technical ...

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