The Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40) is legislation that introduced multiple changes to the education system in England and Wales, including the introduction of Key Stages and the National Curriculum. It replaced many rules and structures that had been in place since the 'Butler' Education Act 1944.

Provisions

The main provisions of the Education Reform Act are as follows:

Commencement

Use of the word 'degree'

The Act uses a common technique in UK legislation in that it makes it illegal to offer or advertise any qualification that appears to be, or might be mistaken for, a UK degree. This restriction is then removed in respect of qualifications from bodies on a list maintained by statutory instrument.

Religion

The act required "broadly Christian" acts of worship in schools. The National Muslim Education Council objected and requested that the wording to be changed to "the worship of the one supreme God". This requirement was built upon in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.