Records of the Schools Branch and successors

Records of the School Branch and predecessors (the Elementary and Secondary Branches) and successors, reflecting their responsibilities for the administration of elementary, primary and secondary schools.

Registered files are in ED 183, ED 207 and ED 269. General files on primary, secondary and general education are in ED 147.

Schools' digest files for elementary and primary education are in ED 161 and for secondary education in ED 162.

Primary and secondary schools' development plans are in ED 152. School history sheets which give basic details for each school are in ED 185.

Precedent folders are in ED 190. Minutes, papers and reports of the Public Schools Commission (Newsom and Donnison Commission) are in ED 148. Records of committees administered by Schools Branches 1, 2 and 3 are in ED 282.

The Grant Maintained Schools Database, ED 278.

Schools Branch 4: Registered Files (S4 series), ED 289.

ED 186 and ED 187 are not used.

• Department of Education and Science, Schools Branch, 1964-1973
• Department of Education and Science, Schools Branch 1, 1973-1992
• Department of Education and Science, Schools Branch 2, 1973-1992
• Department of Education and Science, Schools Branch 3, 1975-1992
• Department of Education and Science, Schools Branch 4, 1988-1992
• Ministry of Education, Schools Branch, 1944-1964

Topics

Education

The Schools Branch was established following the re-organisation of educational provision after the 1944 Education Act. It took over the functions of the Elementary and Secondary Branches which were abolished, and also took responsibility for nursery schools from the Medical and Special Services Branch, and for technical schools from the Technical Branch.

In 1973 the Schools Branch was split into Branch 1 and Branch 2, and was later further split in three and, from 1988, four branches. The branches became responsible for the following services: organisation and supply of schools; the school building programme; school government; direct grant and independent schools; European schools; school attendance and admission; boarding education; education of service children; voluntary schools; nursery schools; land questions; the school leaving age; school meals and milk; transport and other welfare services; the school health service; educational provision for handicapped children; the Educational Disadvantage Unit; the education of immigrants; race relations; urban and inner city programmes and policy; safety in schools; the curriculum; careers education and guidance; liaison between schools and industry; school examinations; the Schools Council; educational technology; broadcasting; and the Assessment of Performance Unit.