Education Reform Act 1988 Article Index for
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Information About

Education Reform Act 1988




The main provisions of the Education Reform Act are as follows:

1. Grant Maintained Schools (GMS) were introduced. Primary and Secondary Schools could, under this provision, remove themselves fully from their respective Local Education Authorities and would be completely funded by central Government . Secondary schools also had limited selection powers at the age of 11.

2. The Local Management Of Schools (LMS) was introduced. This part of the act allowed all schools to be taken out of the direct financial control of Local Authorities . Financial control would be handed to the head master and governors of a school

3. The National Curriculum (NC) was introduced.

4. 'Key Stages' (KS) were introduced in schools. At each key stage a number of educational objectives were to be achieved.


COMMENCEMENT


The Act was brought into force by section 236. Sections 1, 2(1)(a), 2(2), 3, 4, 14, 15, 20 to 22, 23(1), 25, 33 to 45, 46 to 105, 112, 113, 116, 119, 137 to 151, 153 to 201, 202 to 208, 212, 213, 217, 219 so far as related to grant maintained schools, 221 to 225, 227(1), 230 to 236, 237(1) so far as relating to Part I and paragraphs 60, 81, 82 and 102 of Schedule 12 and 238, and Schedules 2 to 6, 8 so far as related to the Education Assets Board , 9 to 11 and Part I and paragraphs 60, 67, 81, 82 and 102 of Schedule 12 came into at Royal Assent on 29 July 1988 . Sections 2(1)(a), 2(3), 6, 8, 9, 10(1), 11 and 13 and Schedule 1 came into force two months later on 29 September 1988 . The remaining provisions of the Act came into force following commencement orders.