School Life UK

Copyright Queen Elizabeth’s Academy Trust © 20111

SCHOOL LIFE IN 60’s – 80’s – Present DaySCHOOL LIFE IN 60’s – 80’s – Present Day

The results of the research questionnaire proposed at the Romania meeting The results of the research questionnaire proposed at the Romania meeting and carried out in the UK using a sample size of 10 persons per decade.and carried out in the UK using a sample size of 10 persons per decade.

Q1.Q1. What age did you have to start school?

• The starting age for students in the UK varied from 4 to 5 across all three decades.

Q1aQ1a. What was the compulsory school leaving age?

• During the 60’s students could leave school at 14 but if they were going on to take exams then the leaving age was 15-16.

• During the 80’s 16 was the leaving age.

• The UK now has a policy of keeping young people in education until 18 although post 16 requirements can be fulfilled in further education colleges and/or some form of day release apprenticeships in a work place.



Q2.Q2. In order to graduate school: What exams did you have to take?

• In the 60’s the UK had a two tier state education system, Grammar schools and Secondary schools. If you were a grammar school student then you took ‘O’ Levels and if you were secondary then it was CSE’s. There were also available in some schools City & Guilds for students studying areas such as motor mechanics (although this wasn’t common until the 70’s).

• The 80’s saw the demise of the grammar school and the advent of the comprehensives. During this transition period students could take both CSE’s and ‘O’ Levels but later came the GCSE.

• Present day education in the UK offers the students many avenues of accreditation such as BTEC, Diploma, NVQ, International Baccalaureate (IB), etc. But still the most common qualification is the GCSE.





Q2a.Q2a. In order to graduate school: What subjects did you have to take?

• In the 60’s there was less choice for the CSE students than the ‘O’ Levels and it was dependant on the individual schools. However, the results of the questionnaire showed that English, Math and Science were compulsory with other subjects such as French, History, Geography, Art, etc. being optional.

• The 80’s results also showed that the compulsory subjects were Math, English & Science with optional subjects completing the timetable. However, there is now the emergence of more specialised subjects being undertaken, e.g. Business studies & Computer studies.

• Present day schools are able to specialise in certain disciplines and along with the compulsory subjects such as Math, English & Science it is possible to make other subjects compulsory according to their specialism, i.e. Technology, Sport, Humanities, etc. It is worth noting that with changes in governments comes changes in policies that effect the education system.




Q2b.Q2b. In order to graduate school: What qualifications did you get?

• The 60’s results showed that most received ‘O’ Levels

• The 80’s results revealed a mixed result of ‘O’ Levels and CSE’s

• Present day results are predominantly GCSE’s with a small number also receiving GNVQ’s.

Q2c.Q2c. In order to graduate school: What was the minimum mark for passing the exams?

• The results for this particular question were too varied to come to an accurate conclusion but a safe answer if one had to be given would be a 40% mark would give a pass of some kind.




Q3.Q3. How was the marking system in your times?

• The results for this question were vague but it was generally interpreted as What was the level range? The 60’s & 80’s results depended on qualification and was either A – U for ‘O’ Levels and 1 – 8 for CSE’s. The present day is also as varied depending on qualification but the most common qualification (GCSE) is A* - G.

Q4.Q4. What subjects did you have to study in high school?Q4a.Q4a. What subjects could you choose to study?

• The results to this are the same as question (2a.) as the UK does not have a separate high school system and only in the 60’s did the primary schools test juniors with the (11+ exam) to ascertain if they would attend a grammar school or not.




Q5.Q5. Did you use to where a uniform?

• The results for this were identical in that all the samples stated that they wore a uniform. However, it is important to say that not all schools today have uniforms in the UK.

Q6.Q6. How did you feel about wearing a uniform?

• The results for this were varied with the majority of 60’s students feeling proud.• 80’s students stating that they were ok with it but pushed the boundaries of how it was worn.• The present day results were mixed with some stating they were proud and others not liking it at all.

Uniform at Queen Elizabeth’s Academy Trust




Q7.Q7. What method did teachers use in classes?The following options were offered as multiple choice answers. It is possible to see how teaching methods have changed substantially in the UK over the decades.

• The teacher commanded (frontal teaching)• Group work• Pair work• Games• Practical activities• Use of media (modern technology, worksheets, etc.)

What method did teachers use in classes?60's Results

46%

9%0%0%

45%

0%

The teacher commanded (frontal teaching) Group w ork

Pair w ork Games

Practical activities Use of media (modern technology, w orksheets, etc.)

What method did teachers use in classes? 80's Results

43%

8%4%4%

33%

8%

The teacher commanded (frontal teaching) Group w ork

Pair w ork Games


What method did teachers use in classes? Present day

22%

16%

22%3%

11%

26%

The teacher commanded (f rontal teaching) Group w ork

Pair w ork Games





Q8.Q8. How much were parents involved in your school life and how?

• The 60’s results showed that parents didn’t really get involved with the schools expecting teachers and schools to be solely responsible for the students education.

• The 80’s results showed an increase in parent interaction with schools mostly around parent evenings and some extra curricular activities such as sporting events, etc.

• Present day results show a much larger proportion of parents being involved in their child's education ranging from parents evenings, open days, sports activities, parent governors and active involvement with their learning.




Q9.Q9. Were there any physical punishments?• During the 60’s results the overwhelming majority answered yes.• The 80’s results were varied depending on the part of the decade they were at school, i.e. early 80’s = yes and late 80’s = no. This was because of changes in the law in the UK forbidding the use of physical punishment.• Present day results are 100% no

Q9a.Q9a. If yes, what sort of punishments?• 100% of yes answers stated that they received some form of corporal punishment (beating, hitting, cane, etc.)

Q10. Q10. What were the main reasons for being punished in any way?• Across all decades were the same results: Talking when teacher is, disruptive behaviour, smoking, fighting, lack of effort and incorrect uniform.




In conclusion school life in the UK has changed In conclusion school life in the UK has changed considerably in areas such as teaching methods, considerably in areas such as teaching methods,

discipline, leaving age and subject choice but in many discipline, leaving age and subject choice but in many ways school life appears to be very similar when ways school life appears to be very similar when

compared across the generations especially in areas compared across the generations especially in areas such as uniform and compulsory subjects.such as uniform and compulsory subjects.



Research carried out and Research carried out and analysed by Queen Elizabeth’s analysed by Queen Elizabeth’s

studentsstudents• Anju GastonAnju Gaston

• James GoodmanJames Goodman• Maria Grant (De Torres)Maria Grant (De Torres)

Supervised by Mr P. Chudley Supervised by Mr P. Chudley (Technology teacher @ Queen Elizabeth’s).(Technology teacher @ Queen Elizabeth’s).

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