Catalogue description Central Advisory Council for Education (England): Minutes, Papers and Reports

In 1945, the Central Advisory Council for Education (England), was set up by the Minister of Education under section 4 of the Edcuation Act, 1944, to conduct investigations and advise the Minister on general education matters A similar council was also set up for Wales. The two Central Advisory Councils replaced the Consultative Committee set up under the Board of Education Act, 1899.

The first enquiry undertaken by the council in February 1945 was based upon terms of reference proposed by itself: "To consider the education of boys and girls who will leave school between the ages of 14 and 16 in relation to their needs after they leave school, and to enquire whether the methods and content of education could, with benefit, be modified to give a better preparation that at present for beginning life in the community." Its report was published in 1947 under the title School and Life. The council also investigated in 1947 The Education of the Young Worker and reported to the Minister in 1948.

In 1947, the Minister asked the council's chairman, Sir Fred Clarke - "to consider and report on the natural interests and pursuits of school children out of school hours; the provision made for these outside their home, the value of such provision and the desirability of further or different provision and the extent to which school work and activities can and should be related to and develop these interests." The council's report, entitled Out of School was presented to the minister and published in 1948. Several other investigations were undertaken by the council between 1948 and 1954; the reports of these investigations were not published.

In March 1956, the Minister reconstituted the council with Sir Geoffrey Crowther as the chairman and requested it "to consider the education of boys and girls between 15 and 18, and in particular to consider the balance at various levels of general and specialised studies between these ages and to examine the inter-relationship of the various stages of education." In 1957, the minister added to these terms of reference by asking the council in Circular 326 to include in their report their views on "the place of examinations below the level of that for the General Certificate of Education in the education of boys and girls between 15 and 18." The findings of the council, entitled 15 to 18, but generally referred to as the Crowther Report were presented to the minister and published in two volumes in 1959 and 1960.

In March 1961, the minister asked the reconstituted council under the Chairmanship of Lord Amory, who was later succeeded by Mr John Newsom "to consider the education between the ages of 13 and 16, pupils of average or less than average ability who are or will be following full-time courses either at schools or in establishments of further education. The term education shall be understood to include extra-curricular activities."

The report, entitled Half our Future and popularly referred to as the Newsom Report was presented and published in August 1963.

Immediately after the publication of the Newsom Report, the minister asked the council as again reconstituted under the chairmanship of Lady Plowden "to consider primary education in all its aspects and the transition to secondary education." The council's report was presented in November, 1966, and published in two volumes in 1966 and 1967 under the title Children and their Primary Schools.