1944 Butler Act (Tripartite system)

• Age of compulsory education was raised to 15 years. 
• Introduced tripartite (three parts): 

  • Grammar - teaches a highly academic curriculum such as Literature, classics etc - have the 11+ which is an IQ test - around 20% of students went there
  • Secondary modern - still an academic school but not as academic as a grammar school - around 75% of students went there
  • Secondary technical - vocational (work related and taught work related skills) - around 5% of students went there
• Positive impacts:

  • Raising the age benefits the working class as they stay in education longer. 
  • Helps higher achieving students as they are in a school with other higher achieving students. 
  • Having three different schools means that they will meet the needs of more of the pupils. 
  • Secondary technical students are aimed to prepare students to become scientists.
• Negative impacts:

  • Having different schools creates a divided/unequal society. 
  • The middle class is more likely to pass the 11+ because they pay for tutors. 
  • Some people can’t pass the 11+ but are still able to get good qualifications and some who do pass struggle to get good qualifications.