The Tripartite System

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academic Grammar manual meritocracy Modern passed school Technical Tripartite
Education for all began in 1870 and in 1880 school attendance was made compulsory for all children up to the age of 10. In 1918 the leaving age rose to 14, in 1947 to 15 and in 1972 to 16. There has been a huge expansion in education this century.
1944 Butler Education Act
This introduced the concept of , that children should be treated equally and be given equality of opportunity by the education system. Each child should be given equal chance to succeed based on their ability, not their parents' ability to pay.
Three type of school were proposed:-
Grammar Schools
Secondary Schools
Secondary Technical Schools
Children took an examination at the age of 11 (the '11+' exam), which was a form of I.Q. test. From the results of the test is was determined which a child would go to. Children who passed the test were considered more and best suited to the Grammar school. Children who failed the test went to the Secondary Modern or Technical school.
This system was known as 'The System' (because of the three types of school). In practise very few schools were built so children either went to Grammar or Secondary Modern schools.
The belief was that only a few bright children (an elite) would benefit from the high-level academic education that the school offered. This also ensured that the top jobs in society would be filled by especially well educated people. Universities would receive students of high quality from such schools.
The Secondary Modern and Technical schools were filled with children who had not the 11+ exam and were therefore thought not to be suited to academic schooling. These schools were to provide the skills and training necessary for the workforce. Therefore they provided the workers needed for industry.
By the 1960s there were many critics of this system......