The Maltonian Web

Timeline - Education

• 1811 The National Society was formed. It aimed to build National Schools in every parish, with the intention of promoting education. Affiliated to the Church of England.
• 1840 The Grammar Schools Act allowed grammar schools to teach a wider range of subjects, not just Latin and Greek as had previously been the case. "Boarding and, especially, sport became the most important element of education at these schools. H.H. Almond, the headmaster at Loretto, famously listed the educational priorities at his school as ''First character, second physique, third intelligence, fourth manners, fifth information'"(Schoolsmith 2017)
• 1868 The Taunton Commission identified three grades of parents for which schooling would be provided: gentry, middle class and working class. Grade 1 would continue to receive the Classics, up to and beyond the age of 18. Grade 2 would receive Latin, English, maths, science, and a modern language, up to the age of 16. Grade 3 would offer on Latin, just reading, writing and arithmetic, up to the age of 14.
• 1869 The Endowed Schools Act formally stratified education into "public schools (mostly boarding with a classical education, preparation for university), grammar schools (day schools to age 16), and third grade schools sending children into employment at 14." (Schoolsmith 2017)
• 1870 The 1870 Elementary Education Act (The Forster Act) required the establishment of non-denominational elementary schools for children aged five to 13 – nationwide. Schools could charge parents no more than nine pence a week to educate a child. Compulsory for boys and girls aged 5 -10. After 10, until the " required standard "was reached. Board Schools were built. Fees were still charged.
• 1880 Compulsory education up to the age of 10.
• 1881 Elementary education became free.
• 1893 School leaving age raised to 11
• 1899 School leaving age raised to 12
• 1902 The 1902 Education Act (The Balfour Act)LEAs (Local Education Authorities) came in to being with the ability to raise taxes and fund schools.
• 1904 The Board of Education requires a four year subject-based course of English, geography, history, foreign language, mathematics, science, drawing, manual work, physical training, and, for girls, housewifery.
• 1918 School Certificate Examinations were established. Generally taken at age 16, with Fail, Pass, Credit or Distinction grades being awarded. Six subjects including maths and English were required for a cetificate to be awarded. Higher School Certificate was generally taken at age 18. Both were aimed at grammar schools.
• 1918 The school leaving age was raised to 14.
• 1944 The 1944 Education Act is passed under Rab Butler's guidance. It raises the leaving age to 15, and sets up the grammar, secondary modern and technical system. For the first time state education became free for all. Primary schools would teach ages 5 - 11, secondaries 11 - 15 and beyond.
• 1951 GCE O-level and A level examinations replace the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate
• 1965 CSEs (Certificate of secondary education) were introduced, essentially for secondary modern pupils. Circular 10/65 (Comprehensive Schools) encouraged, but not require, LEAs to introduce comprehensive education.
• 1974 The first year of the Raising of the School Leaving Age (RoSLA), to 16. Many schools received funding for RoSLA blocks - cheap build, often pre-fabricated buildings to accommodate the extra pupils resulting from changing the leaving age from 15 to 16.