First school

A first school or lower school was the first part of the 'three tier' school system, the others being middle school and upper school in rural areas of England and Wales. Virtually all have now either been merged into primary schools or converted to infant schools or junior schools.

History

The notion of first schools was mooted by the Plowden Report of 1967 which proposed a change to a three tier model including first schools for children aged between 5 and 9, middle schools for 9-13 year-olds, and then Upper or High Schools for 13-16 year-olds. First schools were officially introduced into the first areas to use them in September 1968.

In practice, this model is used:

Other options were implemented in different authorities, including using the term primary school in place of first school.

Some English local education authorities have introduced first schools since the 1960s.