Education Act 1918

The Education Act 1918 (8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. 39), often known as the Fisher Act, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was drawn up by H. A. L. Fisher. Herbert Lewis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, also played a key role in drawing up the Act. The Act applied only to England and Wales; a separate "Education (Scotland) Act 1918" applied for Scotland.

Education Act 1918
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to make further provision with respect to Education in England and Wales and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. 39
Territorial extent England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent8 August 1918
Other legislation
Amends
Repeals/revokes
  • Elementary Education Act Amendment Act 1872
  • Education Code (1890) Act 1890
  • Elementary Education Act 1891
  • Elementary Education (School Attendance) Act 1893
  • School Board Conference Act 1897
  • Elementary Education (School Attendance) Act (1893) Amendment Act 1899
  • Education Act 1901
  • Education Act (1901) (Renewal) Act 1902
  • Education (Provision of Working Balances) Act 1903
  • Education (Small Population Grants) Act 1915
  • Elementary Education (Fee Grant) Act 1916
Amended by
Relates toEducation (Scotland) Act 1918
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Education Act 1918 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
Education (Scotland) Act 1918
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to make further provision with respect to Education in Scotland and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. 48
Territorial extent Scotland
Dates
Royal assent21 November 1918
Other legislation
Relates toEducation Act 1918

This raised the school leaving age to fourteen and planned to expand tertiary education. Other features of the 1918 Education Act included the provision of ancillary services (medical inspection, nursery schools, centres for pupils with special needs, etc.).

By the 1920s, the education of young children was of growing interest and concern to politicians, as well as to educationalists. As a result of this rising level of public debate, the Government of the day referred a number of topics for enquiry to the Consultative Committee of the Board of Education,[1] then chaired by Sir William Henry Hadow. Altogether the Hadow Committee published three very important reports – 1926, 1931 and 1933.

These reports led to major changes in the structure of primary education. In particular, they resulted in separate and distinctive educational practice for children aged 5–7 (infants) and those aged 7–11 (juniors).

The reports recommended child-centred approaches and class sizes of no more than thirty. These recommendations marked a triumph of 'progressive' educational thought and practice over the more 'traditional' ideas and proved to be popular with many policy makers and teachers alike.

References
  1. Brehony, K. J. (1994). "The 'School Masters Parliament: the origins and formation of the Consultative Committee of the Board of Education 1868–1916." History of Education 23(2): 171–193.
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