Education Act 1980

The Education Act 1980 was an Act of Parliament relating to education in England and Wales. The Act gave local authorities greater autonomy, and had a large effect on the lives of children.

Education Act 1980
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to amend the law relating to education.
Citation1980 c. 20
Dates
Royal assent3 April 1980
Other legislation
Repeals/revokesEducation (Milk) Act 1971
Status: Amended
Text of the Education Act 1980 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Passage through Parliament

The Education Bill referred to education in England, Wales and Scotland. The Education Bill received its second reading on 5 November 1989.[1] In mid-February 1980, the Bill was in the Report Stage, and passing through the House of Lords in late February 1980, and the Committee Stage in the second week of March 1980. The House of Lords sat late into the evening on Monday 10 March and Tuesday 11 March 1980, with 299 amendments.[2] The Third Reading of the Bill was passed on Monday, 31 March 1980.[3]

Effects of the Act

School meals

The Act abandoned the compulsion of proper meals being served in education. The NAHT believed that children being allowed to bring in snack food for lunchtime, instead of being given appropriate meals, would be unsuitable for their health.[4] The NAHT threatened that its headteachers could ban snack food.

Caroline Walker, a nutritionist and food campaigner said that - left to their own devices, many children will buy sugary and/or fatty foods for lunch. In many cases, that would largely happen.[5]

References
  1. Times November 1979, Diana Geddes
  2. Times Monday 10 March 1980, page 2
  3. Times 1 April 1980, page 10
  4. Times Monday 26 November 1979, page 4
  5. Times Friday 4 January 1980, page 2
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