Page "Tripartite system of education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland" Paragraph 38

Labour had won the 1964 election, and Anthony Crosland became Secretary of State for Education in January 1965.

He was an adamant critic of the tripartite system, and once angrily remarked, " If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to destroy every last fucking grammar school in England.

And Wales.

And Northern Ireland.

" Soon after he came to office he issued Circular 10 / 65.

This asked LEAs to begin planning the switch from the Tripartite System to the Comprehensive System, withholding funding for new school buildings from those that did not comply.

This change would be reinforced by the 1968 Education Act.

By 1970, 115 LEAs had had their reorganisation plans approved.

Thirteen had had theirs rejected, and a further ten had defied the Labour government and refused to submit any plans at all.