Margaret Thatcher’s UK School Reforms – Aims, Impact, and Legacy

Abstract

Rarely have changes to state funded education in the United Kingdom (UK) been as significant or lasting as during the 1970 - 1990 period, under the direction of Education Secretary, and then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. This article will establish Thatcher’s place in the timeline of UK state funded education before discussing the major changes to educational policy and teaching practice during the Thatcher premiership, including the complex socio-economic, cultural, and political context of these changes. Of particular interest is the 1988 Education Act and the legacy this has had on UK schools and education.