Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

A lecture by Dr Paul Wakeling, Department of Education, University of York

In this talk I will examine the phenomenal expansion of higher education in Britain and its consequences for social mobility. Within living memory, university attendance has shifted from being a rare pursuit even amongst the most privileged in society, to something which is experienced by almost half of young people. Despite this apparent opening up of universities to those from all backgrounds, new kinds of inequality have appeared between those attending different kinds of universities. I will review the evidence on differences in university intakes and outcomes, reflecting on how these echo divisions in secondary schooling from the past. I will argue that, when it comes to inequalities, British education appears doomed to repeat a ‘rule of three’, merely increasing the age at which selection takes place. While the old ‘eleven plus’ examination has largely disappeared, the path taken at 18 appears equally binding on young people’s futures.

Member’s report

In 1944 the tripartite system of free secondary education was established in Britain, with an exam taken at 11 to decide whether pupils entered a grammar, secondary modern or secondary technical school. Although difficult to enter, the grammar school became a great leveller of social class. But by 1957 the system began to fragment. One alternative, presented by Stuart Mason, Leicestershire’s Director of Education, was for a two-tier system of comprehensive schools for 11-15s, and junior colleges for 16-18s, and from 1965, LEAs were encouraged to change to a comprehensive system.

There was a parallel expansion of higher education, which changed from educating an academic elite to today educating 50% of young people, with increasing numbers of postgraduates. The Open University, and the polytechnics, which became universities in 1992, provided opportunity for all. However, it appears that the tripartite division first established in the 1940s merely takes place later, at 18, and limits to meritocracy are still evident. Continuing social class inequalities may be reflected at A level, while the advantages of wealth and inheritance still mean that greater members of an elite graduate from London and Oxbridge universities compared to other universities in the Russell Group and elsewhere.

Catherine Brophy