Comprehensive schools: success or failure?

?

Comprehensive schools: success or failure?

Advantages

  • Although it was a circular and not compulsory, many authorities responded and by 1970, only 8 local authorities had failed to draw up plans for comprehensive schools.
  • By 1970 there were 1,145 comprehensive schools, catering for 1/3 of state educated pupils.
  • By 1974 there were 2000 comprehensive schools
  • The system was now fair and there were no longer class divides because all students went to the same school, gained the same chances and future was not only determined by the 11+ exam

Disadvantages

  • The circular was not a requirement and so some grammar schools still remained
  • By 1964 only 1/10 of pupils were being educated in comprehensive schools.
  • Merges and changes of schools caused initial disruption in education
  • Private schools were not abolished and so the upper classes still gained the best education
  • Comprehensives downgraded standards from the grammar schools

Evaluation

Although the Circular 10/65 did have many disadvantages, there were lots of problems with the Butler Act and this did help to combat these issues. However, Ruth Kelly subsequently argued that the idea of the comprehensives was a good one but that the focus was mainly on ending the 11+ and not enough on providing a good quality of education.

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar History resources:

See all History resources »See all Modern Britain - 19th century onwards resources »