The labour gov - comprehensive schools

• What did this government replace and why?

  They replaced the Tripartite system with comprehensive schools, with the aim to create equality of opportunity which was not found under the tripartite system. So they created one type of school - comprehensive that all pupils would attend
• How did they achieve this move?

  In 1965, the labour gov directed all Local Educational Agencies (LEA) to create proposals to move away from selection at age 11
• How is comprehensive schools useful for mixed ability students? - strength

  As weaker students can learn from the more able students through mixed ability teaching. Also late developers can flourish in comprehensive schools better than secondary modern as they can move between sets based on changing ability
• What does comprehensive schools introduce for all students? - strength

  Equality of opportunity
• What did comprehensivisation mean for parents? - weakness

  That parental choice was lacking as pupils just went to the nearest school in the catchment area
• Did comprehensive schools benefit the WC? - weakness

  No due to setting and streaming within schools meant that they produced a similar result to the Tripartite system as WC students are more likely to end up in lower sets. Schools also lacked uniformity - there were good and bad schools.
• What is a summary of this policy?

  • Comprehensive schools replaced the Tripartite system to create equality of opportunity which they achieved through the labour government creating proposals to move away from the 11+
  • It also encouraged mixed ability teaching so later developers can flourish through moving sets
  • However parental choice was lacking due to pupils just going to their nearest schools