History of Education in the Uk
Historically education, in all its various forms and across a plethora of societies, has existed for thousands of years; at its most basic level ensuring the survival and continuation of the human race whilst providing enculturation and socialisation. This is a far cry from what we see today; a compulsory formal education system with a centralised curriculum that is state funded via taxation and free at the point of delivery. This essay will examine the historical origins and developments of the British education system, with particular emphasis on the development of education from World War Two to the present day and key political legislative acts and ideology behind them.
In pre 19th century Great Britain formal education was very much restricted and class based. Public and grammar fee paying schools offered education for the wealthy middle and upper classes whilst charity and church schools provided a very basic, low standard of education for only one third of children. (Haralambos, 2004).
Taylor et al (2004) proposes that the ideological underpinning of W.E. Forster’s 1870 Elementary Education Act was due to global industrialisation. It was felt by many that in order to perpetuate economic expansion and remain competitive with rival countries, namely Germany and USA, a literate and numerate labour force was needed. However, the idea of educating “the great unwashed” was by no means universally accepted. Those in power were concerned about the consequences of having a literate but largely oppressed mass of people.
When the 1870 Elementary Education Act was instated it was the first government legislative act that made elementary education available and, in successive years, compulsory for all children. Elementary education consisted of the three R’s ‘reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic’, Biblical knowledge and ‘morality’. (Haralambos 2004). Renowned author HG Wells argued that this was “an act to educate the lower class for employment on lower class
In pre 19th century Great Britain formal education was very much restricted and class based. Public and grammar fee paying schools offered education for the wealthy middle and upper classes whilst charity and church schools provided a very basic, low standard of education for only one third of children. (Haralambos, 2004).
Taylor et al (2004) proposes that the ideological underpinning of W.E. Forster’s 1870 Elementary Education Act was due to global industrialisation. It was felt by many that in order to perpetuate economic expansion and remain competitive with rival countries, namely Germany and USA, a literate and numerate labour force was needed. However, the idea of educating “the great unwashed” was by no means universally accepted. Those in power were concerned about the consequences of having a literate but largely oppressed mass of people.
When the 1870 Elementary Education Act was instated it was the first government legislative act that made elementary education available and, in successive years, compulsory for all children. Elementary education consisted of the three R’s ‘reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic’, Biblical knowledge and ‘morality’. (Haralambos 2004). Renowned author HG Wells argued that this was “an act to educate the lower class for employment on lower class
Cited: in Derek Gillard 2011). Gillard D. (2011) Education in England: a brief history www.educationengland.org.uk/history Haralambos and Longley Haralambos and Holborn. (2002) Themes and perspectives, London, Colins. Moore, Stephen Taylor et al. (1997) Sociology in focus, Ormskirk, Causeway Press.