Ministry of Education (United Kingdom)

The Ministry of Education (1944–1964) was a central government department governed by the Minister of Education, with responsibility in England and Wales for:

  1. Promoting the education of people;
  2. Developing educational institutions;
  3. Developing policy to provide a comprehensive educational service;
  4. Securing the effective execution of the education policy by local education authorities[1]

The Ministry of Education was created by the Education Act 1944.[1]

Scottish education was subject to the Education (Scotland) Act 1945 (8 & 9 Geo. 6. c. 37) whereby the Scottish Office, under the Secretary of State for Scotland, undertook similar responsibilities to the Ministry of Education but for Scotland.[2]

Northern Irish education was subject to the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 1947, passed by the Northern Ireland parliament at Stormont, which provided powers to the Minister of Education to:

  • appoint members of the Northern Ireland Advisory Council for Education
  • appoint additional members of education committees for Northern Ireland local education authorities[3]
  1. ^ a b "Education Act". Legislation.gov.uk. Section 1. 1944 – via The National Archives.
  2. ^ "Education (Scotland) Act". Legislation.gov.uk. Part III - Administration & Staffing. 1945 – via The National Archives.
  3. ^ "Education Act (Northern Ireland) 1947". Legislation. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014 – via Education England.