ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the changing educational and social context in Britain since the Second World War, and also to relate this to the experience and effects of education policy. It includes nursery education, primary education, secondary education, further education, higher education and adult and continuing education, and the discussion will focus on England, Wales and Scotland during this period. The chapter examines education policy in three key phases of education reform since the Education Act of 1944 and the end of the Second World War, making particular reference to the principal reports and legislation bearing on the different aspects of education. It traces the general continuities and changes of educational policy over this time. The overarching legislation for education during this time, besides a very large amount of relatively minor amendments in particular areas and legislation affecting Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in particular, were the Education Act of 1944 and the Education Reform Act of 1988.
