A review of the development of the education service in the borough of Chesterfield 1944-1967

Abstract

The thesis examines the growth of the Education Service in the Excepted District of the Borough of chesterfield from 1944 to I967. The negotiations leading to the granting of Excepted District status and the formulation of the Scheme of Delegation are discussed, together with the establishment of Managing and Governing bodies of schools and the production of the Development plan for the Borough. The Major and Minor works building programmes are examined and related to the proposals of the Development plan. The evolution of a transfer procedure is described end an analysis is made of the philosophy of Secondary Education maintained by the Borough Education Officer of the day which gave rise to a system of Secondary Schools which attracted interest and acknowledgement at national level and of the factors which caused dissatisfaction with the system in the late 1950's. The resulting discussion leading towards the reorganisation of Secondary Education and the effect of Circulars 10/65 and 10/66 on the decisions of the Council are also examined. The growth of Special Services, Further Education and the Youth Service and the Library Service within the functions delegated by the Scheme of Divisional Administration is outlined. The introduction of i.t.a. and French in the Primary Schools is included in the survey. The successful growth of the service in all its aspects is shown to be a justification for the belief expressed in 1944 that the small Authority of Chesterfield was well able to manage its own affairs within the Scheme of Delegation. The influence of the Borough's geographical position within N.E. Derbyshire, together with the willingness of the Local Education Authority to support bids for the provision of various establishments serving the Borough and N.E. Derbyshire, thus augmenting the development of the Borough Education Service, is analysed.