The development of comprehensive education for the 11–16 age group in England 1944–1987

Abstract

It is often difficult to make comparisons between the English education system and other European models for two reasons: first, the lack of uniformity within the English system; second, the absence in England of a concept of middle school which parallels other European structures. The term “middle school” in England applies either to the 8-12 age group or to the 9-13 age group, that is, a transition period between primary and secondary. Only a few local education authorities have middle schools in that sense, but the transition from primary to secondary schooling has sometimes been regarded as a problem by other local authorities. In England, for most children the crucial years are 11 (transfer from primary to secondary) and 16 (the year of the external examination which provides them with access to employment or to the next stage of education). This paper will therefore be concerned with the development of comprehensive schools generally, but will focus as much as possible on those years which compare with the Swedish middle school and the Federal Republic of Germany’s Gesamtschule.