The Education system in the UK is particularly complex and diverse. It was not until the end of the 19th century that every child could attend school.
Only a few privileged were indeed educated academically before the Elementary Education Act (Forster Act) of 1870. This led to the establishment of a school board and state-funded elementary schools in England and Wales. In Scotland state-funded schools were established in 1872 and in Northern Ireland in 1923. In spite of these laws, many children did not go to school, especially those who came from middle class families relying on them for money.
Compulsory school was introduced in 1944 thanks to the Education Act (Butler Act) that aimed at creating universal "education for all" through state provision of free and compulsory schooling for children aged 5 to 15.
The education system was divided into elementary (5-12 year olds) and secondary (12-15 year olds) tiers. It also created a Ministry of Education working with Local Education Authorities (LEA). Pupils aged 11 would take an exam called the Eleven Plus (11+) whose results determined the type of secondary education they would follow:
- Grammar Schools for "brighter" pupils;
- Secondary Moderns for "less clever";
- Technical Schools for "non-academic"
The system was much controversial and the Eleven Plus test became less widespread in the 1960s because many pupils who failed found themselves unfulfilled academically. Not going to a Grammar School also closed many doors professionally. Those schools were seen as the privilege of the Middle Class. Out of the 1,300 Grammar Schools existing in the 1960s, there are only 163 left today. Only a small minority of pupils still take the 11+ exam.