ABSTRACT
The 1944 Education Act formally established primary education as the first of ‘three progressive stages’ into which the statutory system of public education in England and Wales was to be organized. This organization still remains, albeit with some minor modifications, such as those resulting from the creation of middle schools which straddle the primary and secondary stages. Under the 1944 Act, the Minister of Education was made responsible for the education of the people of England and Wales, and the local education authorities were made responsible, ‘under his control and direction’, for providing ‘efficient education’ throughout the three stages of primary education, secondary education, and further education. The extract also includes the clauses on the act of worship and religious instruction and the clause outlining the duty of each parent to ‘cause’ his child ‘to receive efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise’.
