In 1902 Parliament passed a new Education Act, which radically reorganised the administration of education at local level. All elementary schools were placed in the hands of local education authorities under the control of the county and county borough councils.

The Act also, for the first time, made significant provision for secondary and technical education. Councils were encouraged, though not compelled, to subsidise existing grammar schools and to provide free places for working-class children. More ambitiously, they could set up new secondary 'grammar' schools. The expansion of secondary education was slow to develop, however, and the schools tended to cater mainly for the middle classes. (UK Parliament, 2023, par. 3-5)

To what extent did the 1902 Education Act promote equality?

The plans for post-war secondary education in Britain aimed to remove the inequalities which remained in the system. The proportion of 'free places' at grammar schools in England and Wales increased from almost a third to almost half between 1913 and 1937. However, when poorer children were offered free places, parents often had to turn them down owing to the extra costs involved.

The Act provided free secondary education for all pupils. (UK Parliament, 2023, par. 1-2)

To what extent did the 1944 Education Act promote equality?

"'This report finds little evidence to suggest that comprehensive schools are becoming less socially selective, strong evidence that things have not improved since 2017 and some clear evidence pointing to increasing levels of social selection in comprehensive admissions in some parts of the system,' it concluded." (Jenkins, 2024, par. 12)

To what extent do comprehensive schools promote equality?

"Grammar schools select all or most of their pupils based on examination of their academic ability, usually at age 11. There is a general prohibition against state funded schools selecting pupils based on academic ability. Grammar schools that have had selective admissions arrangements in place since the 1997/98 school year are an exception to this and are permitted to continue to select by ability.

The general prohibition against academic selection in state schools prevents the establishment of any new grammar schools. However, existing grammar schools can expand, providing that any expansion onto a new site is a change to an existing school and not a new school." (UK Parliament, 2023, par. 1)

The source puts foward the idea that grammar schools in England are likely to increase in number.

Professor Harris added: “The school environment is so diverse and the potential opportunities, with the best will, can’t be recreated at home. There is no replacement for school.” (BBC, 2024, par. 25)

To what extent do you agree with Professor Harris?

To what extent do you agree with the opinion presented in the video?