Education in Britain

The history of (school) education

Middle Ages: Education was closely tied to the church and monasteries.
1534ff: The Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII led to a significant loss for education and learning.
Endowed schools: (late Middle Ages / early modern period) Established by rich individuals, these included so-called public schools/grammar schools frequented by sons of the rich, e.g., Eton (1440), Harrow (1572), Westminster (1540).
Early modern period: Secular schools and Church of England schools were founded, along with charity schools and dame schools.
The Industrial Revolution: This period saw a decline in literacy.
Sunday Schools: Provided religious instruction along with some literacy, reflecting class and ideology.
19th century: The Church of England gradually lost its monopoly on education.
1833: The first government grants for education were introduced.
1870 Forster Act / Education Act: This established and financed an elementary school system. The Monitorial System was in use.
By 1880s: Free and compulsory primary education was available in most of Britain for ages 5 to 10.
1902 Balfour Act: Established secondary and technical schools.
1918 Fisher Act: Increased the school leaving age to 14.
1944 Butler Act: This act made state schooling free and compulsory up to age 15 and divided it into three stages:
- Primary schools (5-12 years)
- Secondary schools (12-15 years)
- Post-school training
Local Education Authorities (LEAs) were introduced to decide on the system.
1944 Butler Act: Secondary schools were divided into grammar and secondary modern schools. Grammar schools were often old foundations for more academic children, while secondary modern schools were more practical.
- The eleven-plus exam determined placement.
The ideal was free education for all classes as part of the British Welfare state.
Problems: Grammar schools were better equipped and more esteemed. There were issues surrounding class and selection.
Since 1960s: Labour governments replaced the system with comprehensive schools (co-educational), though local differences remained, and grammar schools continued to exist in some places.

The school system today

The state school sector educates 94% of children, and education is free and compulsory from 5 to 16/18.
The state school sector is divided into:
- Pre-school / nursery education (3-4)
- Primary schools (5-11)
- Secondary schools (11-16/18), 87% of which are comprehensive, i.e., non-selective. However, there have been recent changes.

Comprehensive schools

Division of pupils into ‘sets’ (A, B, C) according to ability and interest in subjects such as English or foreign languages (‘streaming’ or ‘setting’).

Independent school sector

Independent school sector (fee-paying) great variety
Tri-part division in independent school sector:
- Pre-preparatory school (4-8)
- Preparatory school / prep school (8-13)
- Public schools (13-18) or other independent schools (11/13-18)

The Public Schools

Privately-funded schools, include famous schools like Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester.
Mainly old endowed schools (endowed “for the public”).
(Formerly) schools of elite.
Boarding schools, formerly single-sex.
Traditionally: concentration on classics.

Public-school ethos

Prefect system.
Division into houses → loyalty.
Sports, games ethics, and empire-building.
Still: importance of networking and tradition.

School Organisation

School day: approximately 8 or 9 a.m. to approximately 3 or 4 p.m., with a lunch break including school lunch.
School year: divided into 3 terms (autumn, spring, summer) with 2-week holidays at Christmas and Easter, 1-week at half-term, and a 6-week holiday in the summer.
School-leaving age: students are required to stay in education or training until the age of 18.

School ‘forms’

4 years old – Reception year
5 years – Year 1
6 years – Year 2
…
15 years – Year 11
Sixth form (upper and lower): 16 to 18

National Curriculum

To standardize knowledge and keep it up to date (Education Act of 1988).
5 Key Stages in Curriculum with SAT-test (ages 7, 11, 14, 16 and 18 [18: non-compulsory])
Certain knowledge expected in a variety of subjects, including English, history, mathematics, ‘citizenship,’ and ‘personal, social and health education.’

Exams

Set by independent examining boards.
GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education):
- Usually, 6 or 7 subjects, typically including English, maths, and a foreign language.
- Grades: A to G; age: 16.
- Welsh: compulsory in Wales.
AS-levels (Advanced Subsidiary):
- After the first year of sixth form.
- Usually, 4 subjects plus key skills test; age: 17.
A2-levels:
- Usually, 3 subjects; age: 18.

Schools and Religion

Historically close connection between church and education.
Today: state schools are non-denominational; religious education is non-denominational and compulsory.
Importance of ‛faith schools’, ca. 1/3 of schools (mainly Anglican, but also Catholic, Muslim and Jewish).

New Types of Schools

Under Labour (Blair Government):
- Establishment of City Technology Colleges, etc. to enhance education in science and technology.
- Support of voluntary schools controlled by faiths.
- Problems of ‘failed’ schools (turned into academies).
The Tory-Liberal Government :
- More academies (Academies Act of 2010).
- Out of LEA control, controlled by Ofsted.
- Community-based.
- Money and sponsoring.
- Increasing selectivity?
- Greater freedom from National Curriculum.
- Reasons (?): cheaper? Neo-liberal ideology? School as community? Greater say for parents?
Establishes new division: maintained vs non-maintained schools (the former: still under LEA control).

Recent Debates

Class and education; education and austerity.
Education and migration; education and diversity.
T-Levels (from 2022-3).

Specialities of the English School System

Often single-sex schools.
School assemblies.
School uniforms.
Importance of schools’ ratings; schools compete for pupils.

Higher Education

Approximately 50% of young adults in the UK attend higher education.
89 universities and 60 institutes of higher education in the UK (e.g. Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts; Royal College of Music).
Open University.

The Universities in the UK - 4 types

Oxford and Cambridge as traditional English universities (founded in 13th c.).
Traditional Scottish universities: St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh (founded in 15th and 16th c.).
‘Redbrick’ / civic universities e.g. Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester; created between 1850 and 1930; originally technical bias, catered for local people.
Campus universities (3rd type) founded between WWII and 1960s e.g. York, Sussex, and East Anglia, often rural areas tend to emphasize ‘new subjects’.
‘New universities’ (4th type) former polytechnics, given university status e.g. Oxford Brookes University.

The Universities

High competition: acceptance depends on A-level results and interviews.

Degrees

Bachelor (Bachelor of Arts, BA, or Bachelor of Science, BSc); usually three years.Marks: first; 2:1 (upper second); 2:2 (lower second), third, pass Honours.
Master (at least one year).
PhD (at least three years).

The Universities- Finances

Finances (fees, grants, and costs of living).
Living: halls of residences vs. student houses.

Facts about Oxford University

Oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Structure: 38 colleges, oldest colleges: University College, Balliol College, and Merton College (13th c.).
Over 20,000 students.
98.2 percent of those taking A-levels who enter the University achieve grades of 3 As or better!
On average: 5 applications for each place.

Oxford has a main library called the Bodleian, with more than 100 libraries overall.

Brexit and the Universities

End of Erasmus programmes.
British universities and European funding?
Working in the UK.
In short: what will happen to the international standing of British universities?

Other Important Terms

Russell Group
Monitorial System / Bell-Lancaster method

Summary

Importance of class and education
Evolution of the system