education acts

In Britain, series of measures from the late 19th century onwards which provided for state education for all. The 1870 Education Act was the effective start of state-financed education in England and Wales. Existing grants to charity schools were substantially increased and provision was made for local authorities to finance additional schools out of the rates. A series of subsequent acts made elementary education free and compulsory by 1891. H A L Fisher's 1918 Education Act attempted to raise the school leaving age to 14, and some provision was intended for further training. Rab Butler's pioneering act of 1944 organized a Ministry of Education and intended that schooling be compulsory to the age of 16, though this took many years to achieve. The 1980s and 1990s saw a variety of education acts which restricted the ability of local authorities to determine the pattern of education by enforcing a National Curriculum and regular testing in all state schools.