The National Education Service
Encyclopedia
"The National Education Service" is the fifteenth episode of the BBC
comedy series Yes, Prime Minister
and was first broadcast 21 January 1988.
meets with the government Chief Whip
and Party Chairman. They are both concerned at the lack of progress made with education policy. They warn that if nothing is done, Hacker may be heading for Opposition
.
The Prime Minister
has sent for Sir Humphrey Appleby
. When the Cabinet Secretary
enquires of Bernard
the reason, his subordinate explains that the Party Chairman has presented a paper to Hacker that details the current disintegration of comprehensive education
. Sir Humphrey vehemently disagrees, as in his view the system does all that is asked of it: i.e., it keeps the children out of mischief while their parents are at work. He further explains that educational standards have nothing to do with it because the sole reason for the policy was to remove class distinction within the teaching profession, and make all salaries comparable. The civil service
has apparently maintained the status quo by telling Labour
and Conservative
governments that selective education is either divisive or expensive respectively. The mandarin adds that this keeps everyone content while they educate their own children privately
.
Hacker calls in Sir Humphrey and wishes his advice. The PM ridicules the current state of affairs by referring to bizarre questions on modern exam papers. He points out that some subjects, such as Latin
, are hardly taught at all nowadays. Sir Humphrey agrees with him, at the same time demonstrating his fluency in the language — much to Hacker's bemusement — and pointedly remarks that his own academic upbringing is of little use if he can't call upon it in conversation with the country's Prime Minister. Hacker argues that the school leaving age was raised to 16 so that children could learn more when in fact they are learning less. However, Sir Humphrey enlightens him that the real reason was to keep jobless teenagers off the streets and therefore out of the unemployment figures. The Cabinet Secretary wholeheartedly concurs that education policy is a "joke" and will remain so as long as it is in the hands of local government
. He counsels centralisation — thus increasing the power of the civil service.
At the suggestion of Dorothy Wainwright, his political advisor, the PM visits St Margaret's School, where the students have introduced their own commercial enterprise and give all the profits to charity. The trip goes well, and the pupils present their guest with one of their products as a gift: a wooden stool. The visit is covered by the media, and Hacker, his wife, Annie, and Dorothy watch the report in the flat above 10 Downing Street
. They all agree that the school is a fine example, and Annie and Dorothy wonder why there can't be more like it. Then Dorothy has an idea: if parents were allowed to choose their school and it got paid per pupil, the quality of education would increase dramatically. When Hacker argues that the Department of Education and Science
wouldn't wear it, Dorothy advises that it should simply be abolished and that all administration is transferred to the town halls. They decide to put it to Sir Humphrey.
The Cabinet Secretary is predictably horrified at the proposal, and insists that parents are the worse sort of people to make such choices (even though his own school, Winchester
, was selected by his parents). The PM suspects that the DES will block the plan, and, rather verbosely, Sir Humphrey confirms this. Hacker and Dorothy then deliver their coup de grâce and inform him that the department is to be abolished. The mandarin is incredulous, but even so, is unable to produce a convincing case for its retention, save for financial and legal considerations. The PM ends the discussion with a Latin expression of his own: "Q.E.D.
"
Sir Humphrey has a chat with his predecessor, Sir Arnold Robinson, who is similarly alarmed at the scheme. They discuss usual civil service delaying tactics, but it seems that in this case none are applicable. Sir Arnold admits that that proposal is actually a "very good idea", but he is adamant that it mustn't be allowed to happen since it will undermine the civil service. He notes that the only people in the country in favour of it are the parents and children, and that "everyone who counts" is against it. They decide to let events take their course, with a little helping hand from the DES itself. In the meantime, Sir Humphrey must come up with a "political weapon" of his own.
Bernard unwittingly provides Sir Humphrey's ammunition when he mentions to his superior that the stool presented to the PM during his visit to St Margaret's School was made of wood that was stolen from a government YTS
workshop. Sir Humphrey smugly presents this new information to the PM, which stops him in his tracks. Hacker was seen on television praising St Margaret's as an "example to Britain", and now Sir Humphrey pictures the likely news reports: "The Prime Minister has sat on the fence for so long that now he's become one." The only way that the prosecution can be stopped is via the DES — and Hacker decides that the threat of abolition is just that: an idle thought that won't be pursued.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy series Yes, Prime Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
and was first broadcast 21 January 1988.
Plot
Jim HackerJames Hacker
James George Hacker, Baron Hacker of Islington, KG, PC, B. Sc. , Hon. D. C. L. was a fictional British politician. He was the Minister of the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs, and later the Prime Minister, in the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister...
meets with the government Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
and Party Chairman. They are both concerned at the lack of progress made with education policy. They warn that if nothing is done, Hacker may be heading for Opposition
Official Opposition (UK)
Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, or the Official Opposition, in the United Kingdom is led by the Leader of the Opposition. This is usually the political party with the second-largest number of seats in the House of Commons, as the largest party will usually form Her Majesty's Government...
.
The Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
has sent for Sir Humphrey Appleby
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
. When the Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
enquires of Bernard
Bernard Woolley
Sir Bernard Woolley GCB is one of the three main fictional characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Derek Fowlds.-Character:...
the reason, his subordinate explains that the Party Chairman has presented a paper to Hacker that details the current disintegration of comprehensive education
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
. Sir Humphrey vehemently disagrees, as in his view the system does all that is asked of it: i.e., it keeps the children out of mischief while their parents are at work. He further explains that educational standards have nothing to do with it because the sole reason for the policy was to remove class distinction within the teaching profession, and make all salaries comparable. The civil service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
has apparently maintained the status quo by telling Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
governments that selective education is either divisive or expensive respectively. The mandarin adds that this keeps everyone content while they educate their own children privately
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
.
Hacker calls in Sir Humphrey and wishes his advice. The PM ridicules the current state of affairs by referring to bizarre questions on modern exam papers. He points out that some subjects, such as Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, are hardly taught at all nowadays. Sir Humphrey agrees with him, at the same time demonstrating his fluency in the language — much to Hacker's bemusement — and pointedly remarks that his own academic upbringing is of little use if he can't call upon it in conversation with the country's Prime Minister. Hacker argues that the school leaving age was raised to 16 so that children could learn more when in fact they are learning less. However, Sir Humphrey enlightens him that the real reason was to keep jobless teenagers off the streets and therefore out of the unemployment figures. The Cabinet Secretary wholeheartedly concurs that education policy is a "joke" and will remain so as long as it is in the hands of local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
. He counsels centralisation — thus increasing the power of the civil service.
At the suggestion of Dorothy Wainwright, his political advisor, the PM visits St Margaret's School, where the students have introduced their own commercial enterprise and give all the profits to charity. The trip goes well, and the pupils present their guest with one of their products as a gift: a wooden stool. The visit is covered by the media, and Hacker, his wife, Annie, and Dorothy watch the report in the flat above 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
. They all agree that the school is a fine example, and Annie and Dorothy wonder why there can't be more like it. Then Dorothy has an idea: if parents were allowed to choose their school and it got paid per pupil, the quality of education would increase dramatically. When Hacker argues that the Department of Education and Science
Department of Education and Science
The phrase Department of Education and Science refers to government departments in the UK or Ireland* For the former Irish government department, see Department of Education and Skills...
wouldn't wear it, Dorothy advises that it should simply be abolished and that all administration is transferred to the town halls. They decide to put it to Sir Humphrey.
The Cabinet Secretary is predictably horrified at the proposal, and insists that parents are the worse sort of people to make such choices (even though his own school, Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, was selected by his parents). The PM suspects that the DES will block the plan, and, rather verbosely, Sir Humphrey confirms this. Hacker and Dorothy then deliver their coup de grâce and inform him that the department is to be abolished. The mandarin is incredulous, but even so, is unable to produce a convincing case for its retention, save for financial and legal considerations. The PM ends the discussion with a Latin expression of his own: "Q.E.D.
Q.E.D.
Q.E.D. is an initialism of the Latin phrase , which translates as "which was to be demonstrated". The phrase is traditionally placed in its abbreviated form at the end of a mathematical proof or philosophical argument when what was specified in the enunciation — and in the setting-out —...
"
Sir Humphrey has a chat with his predecessor, Sir Arnold Robinson, who is similarly alarmed at the scheme. They discuss usual civil service delaying tactics, but it seems that in this case none are applicable. Sir Arnold admits that that proposal is actually a "very good idea", but he is adamant that it mustn't be allowed to happen since it will undermine the civil service. He notes that the only people in the country in favour of it are the parents and children, and that "everyone who counts" is against it. They decide to let events take their course, with a little helping hand from the DES itself. In the meantime, Sir Humphrey must come up with a "political weapon" of his own.
Bernard unwittingly provides Sir Humphrey's ammunition when he mentions to his superior that the stool presented to the PM during his visit to St Margaret's School was made of wood that was stolen from a government YTS
Youth Training Scheme
The Youth Training Scheme was the former name in the United Kingdom of an on-the-job training course for school leavers aged 16 and 17, managed by the Manpower Services Commission...
workshop. Sir Humphrey smugly presents this new information to the PM, which stops him in his tracks. Hacker was seen on television praising St Margaret's as an "example to Britain", and now Sir Humphrey pictures the likely news reports: "The Prime Minister has sat on the fence for so long that now he's become one." The only way that the prosecution can be stopped is via the DES — and Hacker decides that the threat of abolition is just that: an idle thought that won't be pursued.
Episode cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Eddington Paul Eddington Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:... |
Jim Hacker |
| Nigel Hawthorne Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
| Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds is an English actor, known for playing Bernard Woolley in popular British television comedies Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and Oscar Blaketon in the long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat.... |
Bernard Woolley |
| Deborah Norton Deborah Norton Deborah Norton is an English actress best known for her appearances in Yes, Prime Minister and A Bit of Fry and Laurie.- Personal life :... |
Dorothy Wainwright |
| John Nettleton John Nettleton (actor) John Nettleton is an English actor.One of his most notable roles was that of Sir Arnold Robinson, the Cabinet Secretary in Yes Minister and President of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in the follow-up Yes, Prime Minister... |
Sir Arnold Robinson |
| Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott is an English actress. She was born to Winifred Doris, née Dibble and Alan Hoddinott , who married in 1934 in Langport.... |
Annie Hacker |
| Peter Cartwright Peter Cartwright (actor) Peter Cartwright is an actor who has made hundreds of appearances in television, film and on radio and has worked extensively in the theatre, both in the provinces and London's West End.... |
Jeffrey Pearson, Chief Whip |
| Jerome Willis Jerome Willis Jerome Willis is a prominent British stage and screen actor with more than 100 screen credits to his name.Willis had a leading role in the ITV drama series The Sandbaggers as Matthew Peele. He also appeared in Z Cars as DCS Richards, Within These Walls as Charles Radley, and Doctor Who as... |
Party Chairman |