The History of Special Education in England: Divisions, divergences and coalitions

A key concept developed in the nineteenth century to divide young people was the distinction between the ‘educable’ and the ‘ineducable’. While those identified as educable gained the right (and were required) to be educated, those labelled ineducable were excluded. Despite changes of terminology, that remained the case until 1970. Between 1970 and 1993 came a period of ‘divergence,’ in which Special and Ordinary education developed in separate directions informed by different underlying philosophies. While all young people were now educated, it was questionable whether education really meant the same thing in both sectors. Finally, from 1994 we can see an era of ‘coalition’ – but this has been paradoxically characterised by conflict over the meaning of inclusion.