Plowden Report 2179258 186113121 2008-01-22T14:15:22Z K8tmoon 4731670 /* External links */ added link to ioe and national archives. The '''Plowden Report''' is the unofficial name for the 1967 report of the [[Central Advisory Council For Education]] (England) into [[Primary education]] in England. The report, entitled ''Children and their Primary Schools'' reviewed [[Primary education]] in a wholesale fashion. The collation of the report took around 3 years. The Council was chaired by [[Bridget Plowden|Lady Bridget Plowden]] after whom the report is named. == Context == The report was commissioned by [[Minister of Education|Education minister]], [[Edward Boyle, Baron Boyle of Handsworth|Sir Edward Boyle]] in 1963. He requested that the council "consider primary education in all its aspects and the transition to secondary education." [http://www.dg.dial.pipex.com/documents/plowden00.shtml] At that time, the last such investigation into the nature of primary education had been undertaken by the [[Hadow Committee]] led by Sir [[William Henry Hadow]] in the early 1930s. During the time of collating the report, the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Government]] of the day introduced [[circular 10/65]] requesting that [[local education authority|local education authorities]] submit plans to replace the [[Tripartite System|tripartite system]] and [[eleven plus]] examination with [[comprehensive system|comprehensive schooling]]. The administration also made clear its intention to [[Raising Of School Leaving Age|raise school-leaving age]] to 16 (from the then 15). In the years leading up to, and during the collation of the report, prevalent thinking in educational psychology was highly influenced by the work of such people as [[Jean Piaget]] who published a seminal work on the matter in 1962. ==Main Findings== The report was widely known for its praising of [[child-centred]] approaches to education, stressing that "at the heart of the educational process lies the child". Recommendations in the report included those listed below: * All schools should have a programme for contact with children's homes (Ch. 4) * Primary schools should be used as fully as possible out of ordinary hours (Ch. 5) * A national policy of 'positive discrimination' should favour schools in deprived neighbourhoods (Ch. 5) * Training college should expand opportunities for teachers to train in teaching English to immigrants (Ch. 6) * Surveys of primary education should be undertaken every 10 years (Ch. 8) * Nursery education should be available to children at any time after they reach the age of three (Ch. 9) * A three-tier system of [[First school|first]], [[Middle school|middle]] and [[Secondary school]]s, with transfer at ages 8 and 12. (Ch. 10) * Authorities maintaining selection should not rely on intelligence and attainment tests. (Ch. 11) * The infliction of physical pain as a method of punishment in primary schools should be forbidden. (Ch. 19) * The maximum size of primary school classes should be reduced (Ch. 20) * The term 'slow learner' should be substituted for 'educationally sub-normal'. (Ch. 21) * More men teachers are needed in primary schools (Ch. 25) == Implementation == By the time the report was returned to the [[Ministry of Education]], the change of government had led to the appointment of [[Anthony Crosland]] as minister. He received the report in 1967, but implementation of the recommendations was piecemeal. In some areas, local education authorities themselves implemented changes themselves, such as the introduction of three-tier education systems in many places. Similarly, over the 40 years, many of the recommendations which first appeared in the report, have evolved and appeared in legislation under other guises, such as the widespread introduction of state-funded [[nursery school|nursery provision]], and [[Educational Action Zone]]s ==New Primary Review== A new review of primary education in England began on [[2 October]] [[2006]] under the leadership of Professor Robin Alexander under the title [[Primary Review|The Primary Review]]. ==Primary Sources== The official records of the Plowden committee are held in the records created or inherited by the Department of Education and Science, and of related bodies [[The National Archives]]. The personal papers of Bridget Horatia Plowden, including records regarding the Plowden Report are held the in the Archives of the [[Institute of Education]], University of London, (Ref: DC/PL) [http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=9347&9347_0=15327]. ==External links== *[http://www.dg.dial.pipex.com/documents/plowden.shtml Plowden Report Full Text] * [http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=9347&9347_0=15327 Papers of Bridget Horatia Plowden at the Institute of Education, University of London Archives]. * [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk The National Archives]. [[Category:History of education]] [[Category:Education policy]] [[Category:Education in England]]