workers

Fishers education act 1919

• improvements in the availability of education and improved standards

• Raised school leaving age from 12 to 14

• Abolished all fees in state junior schools

• Widened the provision of medical inspection, nursery schools and special needs education

• Schools had nurses

However, cuts in government spending during Great Depression and a lack of resources prevented any significant change until after WW2

Post- war difficulties and harships

• high Cost of living and competition for jobs meant that many struggled to afford cost of living

• This led to strikes:

• 1919 Glasgow engineering unions went on strike - demanding a 40 hour week -the government sent troops to break up the strike

• In 1920s unemployment rose especially in traditional industries such as ship building and textiles

1926 general strike

March 1926 - the Samuel commission reported: no increase Ito the working day, wages should be cut and mine owners should begin to modernise pits.

About 3 million workers went on strike - almost 100% in some unions

At first the strike was successful and peaceful however after a few days attitudes began to harden. This led to tensions between strikers and police and some buses were set on fire - opposition to the strike grew.

After the strike, very litttle changed - numbers of workers in trade unions dropped rapidly - some employers even cut wages.

Impact of the Great Depression generally

• led to high unemployment

• In 1932 there were 3.4 million unemployed which was 17% of the workforce compared to 1.5 million in 1929

Impact of Great Depression on people

• ship builder - gt depression caused bankruptcy, factories closing and millions losing jobs. America stopped buying British goods

• Miners - others countries do not buy coal and resources from Britain - 1 in 5 workers had no jobs

• Unemployed man in 1936 - means testing introduced - sending someone to your home to check your income - cut unemployment benefits

Lots of homelessness and poverty for all - cannot afford to buy food for kids which causes malnourishment and long term health issues - trapped in a cycle of poverty

Jarrow march 1936

• protest by workers in the north

• Shipyard factories closed down cartel (cut down supply to increase price) of ship building companies

• They marched to London to ask the government to provide more work and show they were fit for it - took a petition signed by over 1000 people

• Short term failure - attitudes did not change - ignorance from the rich - ignored by government - benefit payments were stopped during the march

• Long term success - did not back down - inspired the poor - when workers came back from the war they demanded to never be unemployed - solved unemployment as there were more jobs available in war production

Special areas act 1934

• Gave 2 million pounds to regions most badly affected by the depression eg. Tyneside, Cumberland and south wales

• Money was not much to solve problems and help industries however in the worst hit areas industry had already collapsed

• It also gave tax cuts and low rents to businesses that moved to special areas - seldom enough to tempt businesses to relocate

Unemployment act 193

• Attemped to set out different types of benefits available to the unemployed

• Stopped ‘means testing’ for benefits but this benefit was only paid for 15 weeks

• A ‘dole was a lower payment given to unemployed people who did not pay NI contributions or had 15t weeks NI benefits.

This was not sustainable and provided limited help

1942 Beveridge report

• led to the establishment of the welfare state in 1945

• Addressed the ‘five giants’ (problems facing British society) - want, ignorance, squalor, idleness, disease.

• We still have the welfare state so this has been. Lasting change

The 1944 Butler Education act

• introduced tripartite education system: grammar schools, secondary Moderna and technical schools

• Supposed to help all students get a better education

• The 11+ exam led to problems - secondary moderns less funded than grammar - parents needed to get children a tutor to pass the exam - only richer kids could afford tutors - also lots of pressure to pass

• Technical schools - taught woodwork, metalwork, cooking and life skills

• It was positive because it means everyone had to go to school and get educated

The education system changed again in 1956

• Introduction of comprehensive system - one eductaion for all

• Grammar schools continued in some regions

The 1948 foundation of the NHS

Strengths:

• Created better overall health in Britain - mobile x ray clinics led to early diagnosis and identification - children don’t miss school

• Doctors had the choice to do private healthcare as well but had to do NHS work too - paid loads - ‘we are going to choke their mouths with gold’ -Health minister - doctors became very rich

Weaknesses:

• Taxes increase - national insurance

• Oppposition from BMA (British medical association) - not going to get paid enough - want private patients not be told what to do by the government

1962 Education act

introduced grants for university students allowing more people to go to university without needing to pay

1988 GCSE’s

GCSEs were a combination of GCE or O-levels and GSE’s – introduced one exam system that everyone did at 16

Previously GCE was seen as more academic and more highly regarded by employers

1988 Educuation Act

most important education act since 1944 – major changes - introduction of the national curriculum introduction of the national curriculum which all schools had to follow in the state system

Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1986

Stated that a local authority

“shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or

“promote the teaching in any maintain school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”

This lasted until 2000 in Scotland and until 2003 in England and Wales

1990 Student loans

introduced for university students – ended system of grants

The loans were to be repaid gradually once a student started to earn above an income threshold

2008 Education and skills act

Change the school age from 16 to 18 – all young people either to be in education or training