Hockey 2010
#49
Born again atheist
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
#51
Re: Hockey 2010
I suspect the schooling experience of most people on here, was a direct result of Tony Crosland's quasi-religious quest to, in his own words, "destroy every ******g grammar school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland."
#52
Born again atheist
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Hockey 2010
Nonetheless hockey in England appears to be thriving.
#53
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: The City by the Mall
Posts: 862
Re: Hockey 2010
He's a bit before my time, but didn't he also have a lot to do with getting rid of the Polytechnics?
#54
Re: Hockey 2010
New labour would have liked to have gone for the grammars but settled for soft targets like fox hunting instead.
I went to a comprehensive which was streamed anyway so I never quite understood what the fuss was about. In fact it was in one of the authorities which set up a first/middle/high system to permanently erase any association with transfer at 11.
#55
Born again atheist
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Hockey 2010
Maggie got rid of them by declaring that they were really universities after all so as to deflect EU criticism of the low university enrollment in britain.
#56
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: The City by the Mall
Posts: 862
Re: Hockey 2010
...I could vaguely remember his name having something to do with Polytechnics, but that would make more sense.
#57
Re: Hockey 2010
As Novo pointed out, he was instrumental in setting up vocational higher education. As direct result of increasing working class demand for higher education, a loose following of the recommendations of the Robbins report, and Wilson's hard on for technology, polytechnics were seen as vital portals that could accommodate demand and help Britain out of its reliance on manufacturing old stuff. They also didn't really want loads of bright 'oiks' competing with thick posh kids for their classics courses.