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Education in England: a brief history Introduction
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Education in England: a brief history
Timeline
Prime Ministers (from 1801 onwards) are listed in red Ministers of Education (1945-1964) and Secretaries of State for Education (1964-2007) are listed in blue HM Chief Inspectors (HMCI)/Heads of Ofsted (from 1994 onwards) are listed in green Where a document is shown as a link, the full text is available online. Please note that where a number of items are shown in a single year I can't guarantee that they are in the correct chronological order within that year.
600-1800 600s Grammar schools and song schools. 700s Venerable Bede wrote Ecclesiastical History. 800s Alcuin established school at York. 871 Alfred became king of Wessex and showed 'concern for education'. 1066 Norman invasion French replaced English as vernacular medium for teaching Latin. 1100s Expansion in number and type of schools. 1200s Oxford first colleges established: University 1249, Balliol 1260, Merton 1264. 1400s Independent schools founded Winchester 1382, Eton 1440 etc. 1500s Reformation and Renaissance Roger Ascham (1515-1568) called for greater care and respect for education. 1600s Comenius (1592-1670) championed universal education in Didactica magna. 1600s Oxford and Cambridge scandalous decline in teaching standards. 1600s Vocational academies began to teach law, medicine, commerce, engineering, the arts. 1660 Restoration of the monarchy 'Dissenting Academies' established. 1700s Charity Schools for the poor. 1775 Industrial Revolution began to create demand for mass education.
1800-1900 1801 Henry Addington (Tory) 1804 William Pitt 'The Younger' (Tory) 1806 Lord Grenville (Whig) 1807 Parochial Schools Bill made provision for the education of 'the labouring classes'. 1809 Spencer Percival (Tory) 1811 National Society CE organisation which aimed to provide a school in every parish. 1812 Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of Liverpool (Tory) 1814 British and Foreign School Society set up by liberal Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Jews as an alternative to the National Society. 1820s Robert Owen set up his infant school in New Lanark. 1827 George Canning (Tory) 1827 Frederick Robinson, Viscount Goderich (Tory) 1828 Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (Tory) 1830 Earl Grey (Whig) 1832 Reform Act gave one million people the right to vote. 1834 William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne (Whig) 1834 Sir John Peel (Tory) 1835 William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne (Whig) 1836 Central Society of Education an alternative to the National Society and the British and Foreign School Society, its aim was to keep religion out of schools altogether. 1841 Sir John Peel (Tory) 1846 Lord John Russell (Liberal) 1852 Earl of Derby (Conservative) 1852 Earl of Aberdeen (Tory) 1855 Lord Palmerston (Liberal) 1858 Earl of Derby (Conservative) 1859 Lord Palmerston (Liberal) 1861 Newcastle Report recommended provision of 'sound and cheap' elementary education, led to 1870 Elementary Education Act. 1862 Revised Code (Lowe) 'payment by results'. 1864 Clarendon Report on public (independent) schools, led to 1868 Public Schools Act. 1864 Schools Inquiry Commission appointed on 28 December with HJ Roby as secretary. (Volume 1 Chapter 6 Girls' schools) 1865 Lord John Russell (Liberal) 1866 Earl of Derby (Conservative) 1868 Benjamin Disraeli (Tory) 1868 William Gladstone (Liberal) 1868 Public Schools Act based on the 1864 Clarendon Report. 1868 Taunton Report recommended a national system of secondary education based on the existing endowed schools, led to 1869 Endowed Schools Act. 1869 Endowed Schools Act based on the 1868 Taunton Report. 1869 Headmasters' Conference established. 1870 Elementary Education Act (The Forster Act) introduced compulsory universal education for children aged 5-13 but left enforcement of attendance to school boards. 1871 Code of Regulations created an infant stage below Standard 1 for the 5-7 age range. 1874 Benjamin Disraeli (Tory) 1880 William Gladstone (Liberal) 1880 Education Act (The Mundella Act) tightened up school attendance laws. 1884 Samuelson Report report of the Commission on Technical Education. 1885 Marquis of Salisbury (Conservative) 1886 William Gladstone (Liberal) 1886 Marquis of Salisbury (Conservative) 1888 Local Government Act created county councils and county borough councils which later became the framework for educational administration. 1888 Cross Commission reviewed the working of the 1870 Act and recommended public funding for the secular curriculum in church schools (implemented in the 1902 Education Act). 1889 Technical Instruction Act placed technical instruction outside secondary schools. 1889 Intermediate Education Act (Wales) established the Welsh secondary education system. 1891 Education Act elementary education to be provided free. 1892 William Gladstone (Liberal) 1893 School leaving age raised to 11. 1894 Earl of Rosebery (Liberal) 1895 Marquis of Salisbury (Conservative) 1895 Bryce Report the Royal Commission on Secondary Education reviewed the progress made since the 1868 Taunton Report. 1896 Consultative Committee Report on The registration of teachers. 1899 Board of Education Act established the Board of Education. 1899 School leaving age raised to 12.
1900-1944 1902 Arthur Balfour (Conservative) 1902 Education Act (The Balfour Act) established a system of secondary education integrating higher grade elementary schools and fee-paying secondary schools. Abolished school boards and established local education authorities (LEAs). 1904 Secondary Regulations introduced a subject-based curriculum. 1905 Henry Campbell-Bannerman (Liberal) 1906 Education (Provision of Meals) Act allowed LEAs to provide meals for undernourished elementary school children. 1906 Consultative Committee Report Questions affecting higher elementary schools. 1907 Elementary Code improved quality and aims of elementary education. 1907 Education (Administrative Provisions) Act introduced scholarship/free place system for secondary education and required LEAs to provide medical inspections of elementary school children. 1908 Herbert Asquith (Liberal) 1908 Consultative Committee Report School attendance of children below the age of five. 1909 Board of Education consultation paper recommended introduction of 'day continuation education' for school leavers. 1909 Consultative Committee Report Attendance, compulsory or otherwise, at continuation schools. 1910 Education (Choice of Employment) Act foundation of careers service. 1911 Consultative Committee Report Examinations in secondary schools. 1911 Edmund Holmes ex-chief inspector of elementary schools published What is and what might be. 1913 Consultative Committee Report Practical work in secondary schools. 1916 David Lloyd George (Liberal) 1916 Consultative Committee Report Scholarships for higher education. 1917 Secondary Schools Examination Council established to administer the new School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. 1917 Lewis Report proposed school leaving age of 14 with no exemptions, followed by attendance for at least 8 hours a week or 320 hours a year at day continuation classes up to age 18. 1918 Education Act (The Fisher Act) implemented recommendations of 1917 Lewis Report. Wide-ranging act extending education provision. School leaving age to be raised to 14 and all young workers to be given right of access to day release education (not immediately implemented - the leaving age was eventually raised by the 1921 Act). 1919 Burnham Committee established to decide on teachers' pay. 1920 Unemployment Insurance Act government given power to link benefits to training. However, no national funding was allocated for training courses, which were instead developed locally. 1921 Education Act school leaving age raised from 12 to 14. 1922 Andrew Bonar Law (Conservative) 1923 Stanley Baldwin (Conservative) 1923 Hadow Report The differentiation of the curriculum for boys and girls made recommendations regarding gender differences. 1923 Secondary education for all became Labour Party policy. 1924 Hadow Report Psychological tests of educable capacity made recommendations regarding the use of intelligence tests. 1924 James Ramsay MacDonald (Labour) 1924 Stanley Baldwin (Conservative) 1926 Hadow Report The Education of the Adolescent proposed junior and senior schools with transfer at age 11, secondary education for all, and increase in school leaving age to 15. 1928 Hadow Report Books in public elementary schools made recommendations regarding the provision and use of books. 1929 James Ramsay MacDonald (Labour) 1929 Report on Mental Deficiency by the Joint Committee of the Board of Education and the Board of Control. Stressed the importance of differentiating between mentally defective children and those whose mental development is merely retarded. (See Hadow 1931 Chapter 6, Section 68) 1931 Hadow Report The Primary School set out the committee's vision of primary education. 1932 Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance recommended that 'Attendance at a Junior Instruction Centre or at a Course of Instruction should everywhere be regarded and enforced as a normal condition in respect of unemployment, whether through the Insurance Scheme or in the form of Unemployment Assistance.' 1933 Hadow Report Infant and Nursery Schools the last of the six Hadow Reports. 1935 Stanley Baldwin (Conservative) 1936 Education Act authorised building grants of up to 75 per cent for new denominational 'Special Agreement' senior schools. 1937 Neville Chamberlain (Conservative) 1938 Spens Report Secondary education with special reference to grammar schools and technical high schools recommended tripartite system of secondary schools. Also said school leaving age should be raised to 16 - this didn't happen until 1973. 1940 Winston Churchill (Conservative) 1943 Norwood Report Curriculum and examinations in secondary schools backed the tripartite system recommended by the 1938 Spens Report. 1944 McNair Report The supply, recruitment and training of teachers and youth leaders recommended rationalisation of teacher training provision, a three year course and salary increases. 1944 Fleming Report examined how independent schools could be integrated into the state system - it was never implemented. 1944 Education Act (The Butler Act) major act which replaced almost all previous education legislation. Replaced the Board of Education with the Ministry of Education.
1945-1978 July 1945 Clement Attlee (Labour) July 1945 Ellen Wilkinson 1945 Model Articles set out duties of school governors. 1945 Percy Report made recommendations regarding technological education in colleges and universities. 1945 Scotland's Advisory Council on Education recommended a comprehensive system for all secondary pupils aged 12 to 16 with a common core curriculum and a common leaving exam. 1946 Barlow Report recommended more university places for science students. 1946 Education Act set out arrangements for the management of voluntary and controlled schools. 1946 Free milk provided for all pupils. February 1947 George Tomlinson 1947 Clarke Report School and life the first CACE report looked at the transition from school to life. Many recommendations, especially increased funding for schools. 1947 School leaving age raised to 15. 1947 Area Training Organisations 13 ATOs were established in England and one in Wales to coordinate teacher training. 1948 Employment and Training Act established the Youth Employment Service. Training would not be a condition of benefits. 1948 Clarke Report Out of school followed up the 1947 Clarke Report - recommended spending on out of school facilities for children and parents. 1948 British Nationality Act gave Commonwealth citizens recognition as British subjects. October 1951 Winston Churchill (Conservative) November 1951 Florence Horsbrugh October 1954 Sir David Eccles 1954 Gurney-Dixon Report Early leaving the first major review of the working of the 1944 Act. May 1955 Anthony Eden (Conservative) 1955 Underwood Report Maladjusted children recommended that LEAs should set up Child Guidance Services. 1956 Colleges of Advanced Technology selected technical and FE colleges were upgraded to this status. In the mid-1960s most of these became the 'new universities'. January 1957 Harold MacMillan (Conservative) January 1957 Viscount Hailsham September 1957 Geoffrey Lloyd 1958 Carr Committee reported that employers were overwhelmingly opposed to vocational instruction provided by schools. October 1959 Sir David Eccles 1959 Crowther Report 15-18 wide-ranging report on the education of 15-18 year olds. Recommended provision of FE for 15-18 year olds, especially school-leavers. Questioned the value of day release provision for apprenticeships. 1960 Beloe Report Secondary school examinations other than GCE led to the introduction of the Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE). July 1962 Sir Edward Boyle 1962 Education Act required LEAs to provide students with grants for living costs and tuition fees. Placed a legal obligation on parents to ensure that children received a suitable education at school or otherwise - failure to comply could result in prosecution. Made LEAs legally responsible for ensuring that pupils attended school. 1962 Curriculum Study Group set up by the Minister. Opposition to it led to the establishment of the Schools' Council in 1964. October 1963 Alec Douglas-Home (Conservative) 1963 Newsom Report Half our future looked at the education of 13-16 year olds of average and less than average ability. 1963 Robbins Report Higher education major report on college and university education. Recommended the extension of HE as a universal provision for all with the necessary ability. 1963 Middle Schools championed by West Riding of Yorkshire CEO Alec Clegg. April 1964 Quintin Hogg October 1964 Harold Wilson (Labour) October 1964 Michael Stewart 1964 Lockwood Report established the Schools' Council to disseminate ideas about curricular reform in England and Wales. 1964 Education Act (The Boyle Act) facilitated the introduction of middle schools. 1964 Industrial Training Act central government became directly involved in employers' training practices. 1964 Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) established as a result of the 1963 Local Government Act which abolished London County Council and replaced it with the Greater London Council (GLC). 1964 DES The Ministry of Education was renamed the Department of Education and Science and the Minister became the Secretary of State. January 1965 Anthony Crosland 1965 Remuneration of Teachers Act 1965 Circular 10/65 required LEAs to submit proposals for comprehensivisation. Withdrawn later by Circular 10/70. 1965 Circular 600 Scotland's version of Circular 10/65. 1965 Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) introduced in England and Wales. 1966 Local Government Act made various changes in funding between central government and LEAs. Section 11 dealt with the funding of education for immigrant children. 1966 Polytechnics established. August 1967 Patrick Gordon-Walker 1967 Plowden Report Children and their primary schools arguably the best known of all education reports, it promoted child-centred education and was much maligned by traditionalists. April 1968 Edward Short 1968 Newsom Report Public Schools Commission - first report commissioned by the Labour government, recommended the integration of independent schools into the maintained sector. Never implemented. 1968 Summerfield Report Psychologists in the education service review of their role. 1968 Dainton Report Science and technology in higher education prompted by reduction in numbers of science students. 1968 School Meals Agreement teachers were no longer obliged to supervise children at lunchtimes. 1968 (1) Education Act laid down rules about changing the character of a school (eg to comprehensive). 1968 (2) Education Act required polytechnics and other LEA colleges to have governing bodies. 1968 Middle schools the first opened in Bradford and the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1969 Haslegrave Report promoted technical and business education. 1969 Children and Young Persons Act gave LEAs responsibilities for children not receiving education or in need of care and control. June 1970 Ted Heath (Conservative) June 1970 Margaret Thatcher 1970 Circular 10/70 Conservative government circular withdrawing Labour's circular 10/65. LEAs were no longer compelled to go comprehensive. (Withdrawn later by Circular 4/74). 1970 Donnison Report Public Schools Commission - second report led to the abolition of direct grant schools in 1975. 1970 Education (Handicapped Children) Act transferred responsibility for education of severely handicapped children from health authorities to LEAs. 1970 Durham Report The fourth R Church of England report on church schools and religious education. 1971 Education (Milk) Act limited the provision of free milk in schools. 1972 James Report major report on teacher education and training. 1972 Local Government Act (implemented in 1974) reduced the number of LEAs from 163 to 104. 1973 Russell Report adult education. 1973 Education Act postgraduate students were no longer eligible for LEA grants. 1973 Education (Work Experience) Act allowed LEAs to organise work experience for final year school students. 1973 Employment and Training Act required LEAs to set up careers services; established the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) under the Department of Employment, the Employment Service Agency and the Training Services Agency. 1973 National Health Service Reorganisation Act transferred the school health service from LEAs to Area Health Authorities. LEAs were still responsible for dental and medical inspections. 1973 School leaving age raised to 16. 1973 Circular 7/73 halved the number of places for student teachers. February 1974 Harold Wilson (Labour) March 1974 Reginald Prentice 1974 Circular 4/74 reaffirmed the Labour government's intention to proceed with comprehensivisation. 1974 The William Tyndale Affair chaos at a badly managed school gave ammunition to the writers of the 'Black Papers' and helped prepare the way for Callaghan's 1976 Ruskin Speech. 1974 Finer Report special needs of one parent families. 1974 Swann Report The flow into employment of scientists, engineers and technologists. 1974 Assessment of Performance Unit (APU) established by the DES to 'promote the development of methods of assessing and monitoring the achievement of children at school'. June 1975 Fred Mulley 1975 Education Act extended the provisions of the 1962 Education Act relating to student grants. 1975 Bullock Report A Language for Life major report on the teaching of English. 1975 Sex Discrimination Act had effects on school admissions, appointments and curricula. 1975 Direct Grant Grammar Schools (Cessation of Grant) Regulations indicated how grants for these schools were to be phased out. April 1976 Jim Callaghan (Labour) September 1976 Shirley Williams 1976 Race Relations Act 1976 Education Act gave the Secretary of State the power to ask LEAs to plan non-selective systems (repealed by the Conservatives in 1979). 1976 Callaghan's Ruskin Speech began 'The Great Debate' about education. 1976 Neville Bennett's Black Paper Teaching styles and pupil progress attacked 'progressive' education. 1976 Layfeld Committee local government finance. 1977 Taylor Report A new partnership for our schools recommendations about the management of schools, implemented in the 1980 Education Act. 1977 Education in Schools: A Consultative Document published by the DES. 1978 Oakes Report management of higher education. 1978 Waddell Report recommended a single exam at age 16 to replace the GCE O Level and CSE. (In the event, the GCSE was not introduced until 1986). 1978 Warnock Report Special educational needs major report on provision for children and young people with special needs. 1978 HMI Primary Survey major report on primary education in England. 1978 Youth Opportunities Programme introduced for 16-18 year olds.
1979-1997 May 1979 Margaret Thatcher (Conservative) May 1979 Mark Carlisle 1979 Education Act allowed LEAs to maintain selective systems by repealing Labour's 1976 Act. 1979 Mansell Report A basis for choice recommended rationalising provision of non-specific vocational courses for school leavers. 1979 Aspects of Secondary Education HMI publication. 1979 LEA Arrangements for the School Curriculum required LEAs to publish curriculum policies. 1980 Education Act a major act which instituted the assisted places scheme (public money for children to go to private schools), gave parents greater powers on governing bodies and over admissions, and removed the obligation on LEAs to provide school milk and meals. 1980 A Framework for the School Curriculum HMI publication. 1980 A View of the Curriculum HMI publication. 1980 Galton and Simon ORACLE survey Observational research and classroom learning important investigation into teaching and learning. 1980 White Paper A new training initiative: a programme for action set out the first plans for the Youth Training Scheme (YTS). September 1981 Sir Keith Joseph 1981 Rampton Report West Indian children in our schools The interim report of the Committee of Enquiry into the education of children from ethnic minority groups. (The final report was Swann 1985 which is also online - see below). 1981 Education Act (following the 1978 Warnock Report): gave parents new rights in relation to special needs. 1981 Circular 6/81 LEA curriculum policy. 1981 The school curriculum DES publication giving advice to LEAs on curriculum development. 1981 Employment and Training Act abolished the Employment Service Agency and the Training Services Agency. 1982 Cockcroft Report Mathematics counts major report on the teaching of maths. 1982 Thompson Report review of the Youth Service. 1982 Employment and Training Act removed trades unions from decisions about the costs of training to employers. 1982 Industrial Training Act set up a regulatory framework for industrial training boards. 1982 Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) launched. Aimed to stimulate TVE for 14-18 year olds, administered by MSC. 1983 TVEI pilot schemes began. 1983 Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE) established to set standards for initial teacher training courses. 1983 Circular 8/83 required LEAs to report on progress developing curriculum policy. 1983 Youth Training Scheme (YTS) one year scheme introduced. 1984 Education (Grants and Awards) Act introduced Education Support Grants (ESGs) - central government funds given to LEAs for specific purposes. 1984 Schools' Council abolished its work was shared between SEC (nominated by the Secretary of State) and SCDC (not to 'concern itself with policy'). 1984 Green Paper Parental influence at school proposed more parent power. 1985 White Paper Better schools proposals implemented in 1986 (2) Education Act. 1985 Better schools - a summary DES booklet summarising the White Paper. 1985 HMI Survey: Education 8-12 in Combined and Middle Schools 1985 The Curriculum from 5 to 16 (Curriculum Matters 2) important HMI publication conceptualising the curriculum as 'areas of learning and experience'. 1985 Quality in schools: evaluation and appraisal DES publication based on surveys by HMI of practice in a small number of schools and LEAs. 1985 Swann Report Education for All The final report of the Committee of Enquiry into the education of children from ethnic minority groups. (The interim report was Rampton 1981 which is also online - see above). 1985 Green Paper Education and training for young people announced major expansion of YTS from April 1986. May 1986 Kenneth Baker 1986 GLC and ILEA abolished on 31 March. 1986 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) common 16+ exam system replaced GCE O Level and CSE. 1986 (1) Education Act required LEAs to give governors information on funding. 1986 (2) Education Act required LEAs to state policies, governors to publish annual reports and hold parents' meetings; laid down rules on admissions, political indoctrination and sex education; abolished corporal punishment; ended Secretary of State's duty to make annual reports. 1986 National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) established to promote National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). 1986 YTS extended to two years. 1987 Specific Grants for INSET (In-Service Training). 1987 Education 'Reform' Bill consultation documents published. 1987 Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act abolished the negotiating procedures set up by the 1965 Act. Secretary of State imposed teachers' pay and conditions until 1991. 1987 White Paper Higher education. 1988 Education 'Reform' Act major act establishing the National Curriculum, testing regime, Local Management of Schools (LMS) etc. 1988 Black Report The National Curriculum Task Group on Assessment and Testing (TGAT) set out the structure of tests and school league tables. 1988 Kingman Report made recommendations about the teaching of English. 1988 Higginson Report review of A Levels. 1988 Local Government Act the infamous Section 28 of this Act forbade local authorities from 'promoting teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship'. (Section 28 was repealed by New Labour in November 2003). 1988 White Paper Top-up loans for students. 1988 Employment Act introduced bridging allowance for young people waiting to take up YTS place. MSC renamed the Training Commission. 1988 Social Security Act required 16 and 17 year olds to register for YTS. 1988 Youth Training Guarantee All 16 and 17 year olds were to be in education, employment or training. 1989 Personal and social education from 5 to 16 (Curriculum Matters 14) HMI publication. 1989 Elton Report Discipline in schools a response to concerns about lack of discipline in schools. July 1989 John MacGregor 1989 Employment Act abolished the Training Commission. 1990 Education (Student Loans) Act introduced 'top-up' loans for HE students and so began the diminution of student grants. 1990 Rumbold Report Starting with quality Committee of Inquiry report into the quality of the educational experience offered to 3 and 4 year olds. 1990 YTS renamed Youth Training. November 1990 John Major (Conservative) November 1990 Kenneth Clarke 1991 School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act established a review body but gave the Secretary of State the final say. 1991 Parents' Charter gave parents the right to information about schools and their performance (updated in 1994). 1991 Training Credits/Youth Credits Employment Department began pilot schemes. 1991 Polytechnics granted university status. 1991 White Paper on higher education recommended expansion of student numbers. April 1992 John Patten 1992 Education (Schools) Act established Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) - privatised schools inspection body. 1992 White Paper Choice and diversity: a new framework for schools. 1992 Further and Higher Education Act removed FE and sixth form colleges from LEA control and established Further Education Funding Councils (FEFCs), unified the funding of higher education under the Higher Education Funding Councils (HEFCs), introduced competition for funding between institutions, abolished the Council for National Academic Awards. 1992 Discussion paper Curriculum organisation and classroom practice in primary schools (popularly known as the 'Three Wise Men Report') commissioned by Kenneth Clarke. 1992 DFE the Department of Education and Science was renamed the Department for Education. 1993 Dearing Report The National Curriculum and its assessment a major review which recommended a reduced NC. 1993 Education Act changed the funding of GM schools, laid down rules for pupil exclusions and for 'failing' schools, abolished the NCC and SEAC and replaced them with the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA), defined special educational needs. 1993 National Commission on Education (independent of government) published its final report Learning to succeed: a radical look at education today and a strategy for the future. July 1994 Gillian Shephard September 1994 Chris Woodhead becomes HMCI/Head of Ofsted 1994 Education Act established the Teacher Training Authority (TTA) and regulated student unions. 1994 Special Needs Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs came into force. 1994 Modern Apprenticeships pilot schemes announced. 1995 Modern Apprenticeships introduced. 1995 Youth Credits introduced - Youth Training name dropped. 1995 DfEE the DFE was renamed the Department for Education and Employment. 1996 Education (Student Loans) Act extended the provision of student loans. 1996 Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Act introduced an unsuccessful voucher scheme for nursery education which was later withdrawn by Labour, and allowed governors of GM schools to borrow money. 1996 Education Act huge act mainly consolidating all previous education acts since 1944. 1996 School Inspections Act consolidated previous legislation on school inspections. 1996 White Paper Self-government for schools. 1996 Dearing Report review of vocational qualifications for 16-19 year olds. (Its recommendations were largely ignored). 1996 Jobseekers Act laid down rules about the relationship between study and eligibility for the Job Seeker's Allowance. 1997 Education Act wide-ranging but much watered down because of the forthcoming general election. It abolished NCVQ and SCAA and replaced them with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
1997-2007 May 1997 Tony Blair ('New Labour') May 1997 David Blunkett 1997 Education (Schools) Act abolished the assisted places scheme. Proposed binding home-school agreements (not implemented). 1997 Dearing Report review of higher education. 1997 Kennedy Report reviewed under-participation in further education. 1997 National Traineeships introduced. 1997 White Paper Excellence in schools proposals were implemented in the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act. 1997 Investing in Young People announced by DfEE. Its aim was to increase participation in post-16 education. 1997 Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations set out the provisions for mandatory awards made by LEAs under the 1962 Education Act. 1997 Green Paper Excellence for all children: meeting special educational needs set out five year plan. 1998 Education (Student Loans) Act transferred provision of student loans to the private sector. 1998 School Standards and Framework Act encouraged selection by specialisation, changed the names of types of schools, limited infant class sizes, established Education Action Zones etc. 1998 Teaching and Higher Education Act established the General Teaching Council (GTC), abolished student maintenance grants and required students to contribute towards tuition fees. 1998 Select Committee Report Disaffected Children looked at the 14-19 age group. 1998 Education Action Zones the first 12 EAZs were established. 1999 Modern Apprenticeships expanded to 82,000 places. Investors in Young People developed further and renamed ConneXions. 1999 Moser Report Improving literacy and numeracy: a fresh start National Literacy Strategy and National Learning Targets. 1999 Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pilot schemes aimed at greater take-up of and achievement in post-16 education. 1999 Fresh Start scheme aimed to revitalise 'failing' inner-city schools. 1999 Excellence in Cities (EiC) three year initiative began. 2000 Ripon Grammar School survived the first parental ballot on selection. 2000 City academies David Blunkett announced the government's intention to create a network of academies - effectively private schools paid for by the state. December 2000 Mike Tomlinson becomes HMCI/Head of Ofsted June 2001 Estelle Morris 2001 DfES the education department was renamed the Department for Education and Skills. 2001 White Paper Schools - achieving success proposed large increase in number of schools run by religious organisations. 2001 National Assembly for Wales announced its intention to create a fully comprehensive system of secondary schools. May 2002 David Bell becomes HMCI/Head of Ofsted 2002 Education Act implemented the proposals in the 2001 white paper. 2002 City academies the first 3 opened. 2002 Languages for all: languages for life the government's strategy for the teaching of foreign languages. October 2002 Charles Clarke 2003 City academies 9 more opened. 2003 Workforce remodelling a government initiative aimed at reducing teachers' workload by employing more unqualified classroom assistants. 2003 Green paper Every Child Matters led to the 2004 Children Act. 2004 University top-up fees MPs voted - by a small majority - to allow universities to charge variable fees. 2004 Building schools for the future a massive school rebuilding programme. 2004 The Children Act based on the 2003 green paper Every Child Matters. 2004 Wales Welsh education minister Jane Davidson announced that tests for 11 and 14 year olds would be scrapped. 2004 Five year strategy for children and learners formed the basis for the next education white paper. 2004 Academies (the 'City' had now been dropped). 5 more opened. 2004 Tomlinson Report 14-19 Curriculum and Qualifications Reform report of the working group chaired by former chief inspector Mike Tomlinson. December 2004 Ruth Kelly 2005 White paper 14-19 Education and Skills rejected most of 2004 Tomlinson Report's recommendations. 2005 White paper Higher standards, better schools for all proposed independent trust schools. Led to 2006 Education and Inspections Bill. May 2006 Alan Johnson 2006 Education and Inspections Act passed only with Tory support. 2006 University top-up fees UCAS revealed that 15,000 fewer students had started university compared with the previous year. October 2006 Christine Gilbert becomes HMCI/Head of Ofsted 2006 Primary Review (independent of government) sponsored by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and led by Professor Robin Alexander. 2007 Teaching 2020 a paper setting out the government's vision for schooling in the future. 2007 School leaving age the government announced its intention to raise the SLA to 18, possibly in 2013.
Acknowledgements Chitty C (2004) Education Policy in Britain Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Bell R and Jones G Youth Policies in the UK Keele University Mackinnon D and Statham J (1999) Education in the UK: Facts and Figures London: Hodder and Stoughton/Open University Number 10 website British prime ministers 
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