The Education Act of 1880 made it compulsory for all children in the UK to attend school between the ages of 5 and 10. The 1918 Education Act saw that rise to 14; in 1944 it went to 15. In 1972, the age crept up to 16, and finally in a gasp of heroic ambition, 2013 saw it hit 18 for full time education. Children, history insisted, had to be in school, for their own good, and for the good of society. And largely, society agreed with that.
That is, until March 2020, when every school, nursery and college sent them all home again. Suddenly not only did children not have to be in school, but they also weren’t allowed to be. A model that had been unquestionable, indubitable, was suddenly shaken like a snow globe. ‘Is schooling mandatory or not?’ people asked it. ‘Ask again later,’ replied the ball.
For many children, this new normal meant a world where school did not figure very largely
Suddenly everything we thought was axiomatic about education was flipped on its head.
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