IV. Study the following information on the changes throughout the educational system in Great Britain in the 1990s.

Politics and Education

Changes in educational policy in Britain have frequently been the result of political decisions or changes of government. For example, the Labour government which came to power in 1964 immediately encouraged the spread of comprehensive schools and the abolition of selection at eleven. In the 1980s and 1990s the Conservatives made radical changes throughout the education system. Labour continued to change parts of the system from 1997 onwards.

Schools in 1988

A. State schools controlled by local authorities.

b. Local authorities decide school budgets, including books, teachers’ salaries, and cleaning.

c. Children go to the school whose “catchment area” they live in. This is usually, but not always, the nearest school to their home.

D. All pupils study religion (the only subject required by law).

e. Schools assess children’s progress by their own internal tests.

Conservative Government Changes

A. Primary school children study English (and Welsh in Wales), maths, science, history, geography, art, music and physical education. Secondary-school pupils study a modern language up to the age of sixteen in addition.

B. Parents choose the school their children go to.

C. All children are assessed by national tests at the ages of seven, eleven, fourteen and sixteen.